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A     H  ISTO  R  Y 


OF    THE 


I^XH  fTalntl 


OF 


STRATFORD 


AND     THE     CITY     OK 

BRIDGEPORT 


CONNECTICUT. 


BY 

Rev.  SAMUEL   ORCUTT, 

AUTHOR    OF    THE    HISTORIES    OF    WOLCOTT,    TORRINGTON,    NEW    MILFORD, 
DERBY    AND    INDIANS    OF   THE    HOUSATONIC    VALLEY. 


PART    I. 


PUBLISHED    UNDER    THE    AUSPICES    OF    THE 

FAIRFIELD    COUNTY    HISTORICAL    SOCIETY. 

1886. 


PRESS   OF   TUTTLE,    MOREHOUSE    &    TAYLOR, 
NEW    HAVEN,    CONN. 


PREFACE. 

HE  task  of  making  this  book,  such  as  it  is,  is 
ended.  The  work  upon  it  as  the  history  of 
one  of  the  oldest  towns  in  the  State,  includ- 
ing one  of  the  youngest  and  most  pros- 
perous cities,  has  been  very  attractive  and 
entertaining,  and  the  only  regret  the  author 
has  concerning  it  is  that  the  income  from  the 
sale  of  the  work  would  not  pay  for  another  year's  labor,  by 
which  a  degree  of  completeness,  somewhat  satisfactory, 
might  have  been  attained.  This  is  especially  applicable  to 
the  genealogies,  which  in  their  present  state  are  only  the 
beginning  of  what  might  have  been  secured ;  which  is  true, 
after  all  the  gratuitious  labor,  put  upon  them  for  several 
years,  contributed  by  the  Rev.  B.  L.  Swan,  formerly  pastor 
in  Stratford,  Bridgeport  and  Monroe,  in  which  he  collected 
a  large  amount  of  historical  facts  which  have  made  the  work 
much  more  complete  than  it  otherwise  would  have  been. 

The  author  has  also  profited  yqvj  much  from  the  re- 
search and  historical  collections  made,  during  many  years 
of  thoughtful  gathering  by  R.  B.  Lacey,  Esq.,  Major  W. 
B.  Hincks  and  George  C.  Waldo,  Esq.  Many  items  which 
they  had  gathered  were  as  seed  producing  a  hundred  fold, 
when  improved.  This  is  particularly  true  of  Mr.  Lacey  as  to 
his  collections  and  memory  concerning  old  Stratfield  Soci- 
ety and  the  city  of  Bridgeport,  and  the  public  are  to  be  con- 
gratulated upon  the  fact  that  this  part  of  the  book  was  written 
largely  under  his  eye,  while  yet  his  memory  was  in  its  sun- 


i  V  Preface. 

niest  noontide  and  his  physical  strength  nothing  abated. 
It  is  also  probable  that  but  for  his  interest  in  the  matter  of 
local  history,  this  work  would  not  have  been  commenced, 
and  certainly  without  his  counsel  and  aid  at  various  points 
in  its  progress  it  would  have  been  very  difficult  to  have 
gone  on  with  the  work  to  its  completion. 

The  aid  received  by  the  most  cordial  and  continuous 
commendatory  support  of  the  Fairfield  County  Historical 
Society,  and  the  financial  support  rendered  by  several  of 
its  members,  have  been,  not  only  greatly  helpful  to  the 
work,  but  without  these  the  enterprise  would  have  gone 
no  further  than  the  publication  of  the  first  one  hundred 
and  eighty  pages.  Much  cordial  friendly  aid  has  been 
rendered  by  the  town  clerks,  Mr.  Henry  P.  Stagg  of 
Stratford,  and  Mr.  Daniel  Maloney  of  Fairfield,  they  hav- 
ing spared  no  effort  for  the  success  of  the  work. 

The  author  has  great  pleasure  in  acknowledging  the 
honor  and  value  bestowed  upon  the  work  by  those  persons 
who  have  contributed  illustrations  to  it,  especially  the  steel 
plate  prints,  which  are  first-class  in  respect  to  the  art  of  en- 
graving and  of  very  great  satisfaction  in  such  a  historical  book. 
It  is  due  also  to  say  that,  with  a  few  exceptions  of  no 
particular  importance,  whatever  errors  may  be  found  in 
the  book  the  fault  lies  with  the  author  and  not  with  the 
proof-readers  at  the  office  of  publication. 

It  is  a  matter  of  some  considerable  satisfaction  that 
such  a  memorial  work,  although  costing  the  untiring  effort 
of  three  years  of  most  diligent  labor,  however  imperfect  it 
ma)'  be,  is  a  realized  fact. 

The  Author. 


CONTENTS. 


Chapter 

I- 

Chapter 

II- 

Chapter 

III- 

Chapter 

IV- 

Chapter 

V- 

Chapter 

VI 

Chapter 

VII 

Chapter 

VIII 

Chapter 

IX- 

Chapter 

X 

Chapter 

XI 

Chapter 

XII- 

Chapter 

XIII- 

Chapter 

XIV- 

Chapter 

XV- 

Chapter 

XVI- 

Chapter 

XVII 

Chapter 

XVIII 

Chapter 

XIX 

Chapter 

XX 

Chapter 

XXI- 

Chapter 

XXII- 

Chapter 

XXIII- 

Chapter 

XXIV- 

Chapter 

XXV- 

Chapter 

XXVI- 

-Stratford  Indians, 
-Indian  Deeds  and  Reservations, 
-Indian  Deeds,  Wars  and  Relics, 
-Cupheag  Plantation, 
-The  First  Planters, 
-The  First  Planters  (continued), 
-Conflicts,  Wars,  Witchcraft, 
-The  Church  of  Christ  in  Stratford, 
-Progress  Amidst  Difficulties,   . 
-New  Settlers  and  Enterprises, 
-Pushing  into  the  Wilderness, 
-Beginning  the  Eighteenth  Century, 
-Eighteenth  Century  (continued), 
-Ecclesiastical  Progress     . 
-The  Revolutionary  War,  .         .• 
-After  the  War, 
-Stratfield  Society, 
-Stratfield's  Early  Settlers. 
-The  Borough  of  Bridgeport,    . 
-Ecclesiastical  History, 
-The  City  of  Bridgeport,    . 
-The  City  of  Bridgeport  (continued), 

-Huntington 

-The  Town  of  Trumbull,    . 
-The  Town  of  Monroe, 
-Stratford  Concluded, 
Genealogies 


Page 
I 

20 

44 

71 

84 
107 

J37 
164 
181 

239 
269 
292 
314 
347 
370 
404 
465 
504 
585 
620 

693 
796 

955 
1007 
1083 
1097 
1115 


STEEL   PLATES. 


George  B.  Hawley, 
Isaac  Sherman, 
Nathaniix  Hewit, 
John  Brooks 
Alfred  Bishop, 
Nathan  Buckingham,     . 
Hanford  Lyon, 
Wheeler  &  Wilson  Compan 
Nathaniel  Wheeler,     . 
I.  DeVer  Warner, 
Eaton,  Cole  and  Burnham 
Frederick  W.  Parrott, 
Julius  W.  Knowlton, 
James  W.  Beardsley, 
Daniel  N.  Morgan, 
Phineas  T.  Barnum, 
William  H.  Noble, 
E.  Ferris  Bishop,   . 
Robert  Hubbard,    . 
William  B.  Hall, 
Alfred  C.  Hobbs, 
Rowland  B.  Lacey, 
Henry  R.  Parrott, 
Sidney  B.  Beardsley, 
Philo  C.  Calhoun, 
Civilian  Fones, 
Jacob  Kikfer, 
David  B.  Lockwood, 
James   Staples, 
William  H.  Stevenson, 
Thomas  J.  Synnott, 
Curtis  Thompson, 
Russell  Tomlinson, 
Amos  S.  Treat. 
Thomas  L.  Watson, 
Andrew  L.  Winton, 
Nathaniki.  S.  Wokdin, 
Thomas  C.  Wordin, 
Peter  W.  Wren,     . 
Thomas  Punderson, 
Plumb  N.  Fairchild, 
John  W.  Sterling, 


Com 


Page 
536 
594 
648 
650 
696 
708 
716 
724 
728 
740 
764 
766 

774 
800 
806 
840 
856 
862 
868 
869 
872 
892 
896 
900 
902 
904 
906 
908 
910 
912 
914 
918 
920 
922 

923 
924 
926 
928 
930 
998 
1060 


ENGRAVINGS  ON  WOOD. 


Page 

Falls  Mountain 26 

Warhaumaug's  Monument, 28 

Junction  of  Housatonic  and  Naugatuck,        ...  33 

Indian  Field,  at  New  Milforu, 37 

William  Sherman, 42 

Stratford  Village  Lots, 105 

Stratford  Village,  First  Lois, 185 

Pews  in  the  Stratford  Episc.  Church 352 

Interior,  Cong.  Church,  Stratford,         .        .        .        .  411 

Log-House  of  1665 466 

Historic  Oak,  Bridgeport, 468 

Stratfield  Second  Meetinghouse, 482 

Porter  Property, 489 

Old  Mile  Stone, 521 

Bridgeport  First  Bank .  596 

Bridgeport  Second  Bank 598 

United  Bank  Building 606 

Bridgeport's  First  Churches, 632 

First  Cong.  Church,  Bridgeport 638 

Silver  Tankard, 640 

Second  Cong.  Church,  Bridgeport, 644 

St.  Augustine's  Church 668 

High  School  Building, 682 

Public  School  Buildings 684 

Plan  of  School  Buildings, 686 

Public  Library  Building, 689 

Map  of  Bridgeport,  1824 692 

Elias  Howe,  Jr 735 

Howe  Machine  Company 737 

Warner's  Manufactory, 740 

Residence  of  Doct,  Warner 742 


Enoravinos  on    Wood. 


Bridgeport  Knife  Company, 
Bridgeport  Organ  Company, 
Pembroke  Iron  Foundry. 
Bridgeport  Burnt  District, 
Seaside  Park, 
People's  Savings  Bank, 
Bridgeport  Savings  Bank,    . 
Connecticut  Bank, 
Monumental  Bronze  Company, 
Atlantic  House,     . 
Elm   House,      .... 
Evening  Post  Building, 
Bridgeport  Hospital,    . 
Gate  of  Mt.  Grove  Cemetery. 
Iranistan,         .... 
Royal  Honors  to  Tom  Thumb, 
Tom  Thumb  before  the  Queen, 
Castle  Garden, 
Elephant  Ploughing,     . 
Marriage  of  Tom  Thumb,     . 

Waldemere 

Barnum's  Winter  Quarters, 

East  Bridgeport,   . 

Telford  Premium, 

Residence  of  F.  J.  Lockwood, 

Sterling  Residence  (Heliotvpe) 

Residence  of  Israel  Beach, 

Residence  of  Elias  Welles, 


Page 

748 

754 
758 
769 
796 
802 
804 
808 
813 
S18 
818 
825 
834 
836 
S38 
842 
S42 
844 
844 


850 

852 

886 

908 

1 102 

II 24 

1329 


ERRATA. 


Page  20  and  157 — C.  "  H."   Hoadley  should  be  C.  J.  Hoadlev. 

Page  152 — Bottom  of  the  page  the  date  "  1662."  should  be  1692. 

Page  157 — "  Winfield  "  Benham  should  be  Winifred  and  her  daughter  Winifred. 

Page  135 — "  Robert,"  should  be  Thomas  Tomlinson. 

Page  223 — Rev.  "Jackson,"  should  be  Rev.  Joshua  and  Sarah  Leavitt. 

Page  226 — The  name  "  Patterson"  should  be  Batterson. 

Page  390 — Mrs.  Benjamin  Fairchild  died  1874,  aged  88. 

Page  454 — The  Lasper  K.  "  Whitney"  should  be  Whiting. 

Page  454 — J.  W.  "  Dufow,"  should  be  Dufour. 

Page  454 — The  name  "  Hendric"  should  be  Hendee. 

Page  454 — Lasper  K.  "  Whitman,"  should  be  Whiting. 

Page  455 — "  A.  W."  Lewis,  should  be  W.  A.  Lewis. 

Page  505 — Under  the  title   Benjamin   Hubbell   should  read,   Polly,  who  m.  Gale 

Ensign  and  had  Howell. 
Page  535 — ^The  record  should  be  Abigail  Hurd,  not  "  Rebecca." 
Page  550 — "  Charles  H."  should  be  Charles  R.  Brothwell. 
Page  601 — I2lh  line  from  bottom  "  1692  "  should  be  1792. 
Page  627 — Thaddeus  "Barr"  should  be  Burr. 
Page  642 — "  Billings,"  should  be  Phillips  Academy. 
Page  675 — "Harwinton"  should  be  Rev.  Daniel  Harrington. 
Page  704 — The  title  should  be  Parallel   Railroad  Company,  and   H.   R.   Parrott, 

president  of  the  company  as  well  as  of  the  directors. 
Page  754 — "Griffin"  should  be  Grippin. 
Page  721 — "  Northnagle  "  should  be  Nothnagle. 
Page  791 — "Both  sides  of  Wall    and    State"  should  be  both    sides  of  Bank   and 

State  streets. 
Page  1 166 — Brown,  Dea.  "Isaiah,"  should  be  Josiah. 
Page  1247 — L.  N.  Middlebrook  was  graduated  in  1848,  not  "  1828." 
Page  125  r — The  name  Nicoll,  should  be  Nicolls,  making  it  Sir   Richard  Nicolls  ; 

but  on  page  1258,  the  name  is  correct  as  Nicoll. 


HISTORY    OF    STRATFORD. 


CHAPTER  I. 


STRATFORD    INDIANS. 


NDIAN  history,  under  whatever  circum- 
^.^  stances  found,  excites  a  melancholy  sympa- 
thy, which  partakes  of  extreme  loneliness  as 
if  one  were  lost  in  an  interminable  wilder- 
ness from  which  there  could  be  no  escape 
by  the  ingenuity  or  power  of  man.  As  we 
pass  over  the  site  of  their  ancient  wigwams, 
although  not  a  stick  or  stone  is  left  to  mark 
the  place,  we  seem  to  be  traveling  amid  the 
ruins  of  some  ancient  Persian  or  Egyptian 
city,  long  celebrated  for  its  beauty  and  mag- 
nificence and  from  which,  although  the  glory 
has  all  faded  or  crumbled  to  dust,  we  hesi- 
tate to  depart,  as  though  expecting  still  to 
see  the  forms  of  the  long-departed  coming 
forth  to  newness  of  life,  to  exhibit  the  wonders  of  ancient 
days.  Occasionally  we  discover  about  traditional  localities, 
some  stone  implement,  arrow-head,  pestle  or  axe,  that  seems 
as  a  spirit  resurrected  by  enchantment  to  portray  the  marvel- 
ous, wild  life  that  wrought  it,  for  the  severest  needs  of  earth, 
which  is  like  the  recovery  of  some  long-lost  painting  of 
kingly  banquet  or  national  pride  and  glory.  The  hatchet, 
although  of  stone,  was  the  Indian's  ensign  of  renown ;  the 
bow  and  arrow,  his  national  flag  of  wild  but  unconquerable 
liberty,  and  his  tent,  because  it  was  not  immovable,  declared 


2  History  of  Stratford. 

an  inheritance  in  a  vast  continent  ralher  than  a  few  circum- 
scribed acres  of  walled  distributions. 

Sometimes  the  rolling  waters  of  a  mighty  river,  or  the 
heights  of  immense  mountain  ranges  barred  his  progress  for 
a  time,  but  no  mountain  was  too  high  and  no  valley  too  low 
for  the  unwearied  feet  of  the  Red  man  in  the  greatness  ot 
his  freedom  and  the  inexhaustible  resources  of  his  physical 
strength.  Nothing  but  the  mighty  ocean  ever  stayed  his 
wandering  footsteps,  until  the.  white  man  took  possession  ot 
the  rocky  and  sandy  shores  of  the  Algonkin  country,  after- 
wards called  New  England;  when  "the  poor  Indian"  fled  to 
the  inland  wilderness  as  if  pursued  by  a  devastating  pesti- 
lence ;  nor  has  he  yet,  after  nearly  three  hundred  years,  found 
a  sure  resting  place.  To  him  the  shores  of  Long  Island 
Sound  were  an  enchanted  countr}-,  in  the  abundance  it  gave 
to  supply  his  wants,  and  the  beauty  of  its  climate  and  scener}' 
reminding  him  of  the  native  tropical  clime  of  his  ancestors. 

Here  on  these  shores  he  had  dwelt  man}-  ages,  when  the 
glittering  sails  of  the  white  man  came  bearing  the  pilgrim 
planters  to  their  new  life  of  freedom.  In  the  winter  many  of 
them  had  retired  to  the  sheltered  valleys  of  the  inland  wilder- 
ness, where  they  secured  their  dail)'  food  by  the  hunter's 
sport,  and  then  in  the  spring  they  returned  to  their  old  sea- 
side haunts,  just  as  their  white  successors  now,  in  the  same 
season  of  the  year,  fiee  from  the  hot  breath  of  the  inland  val- 
leys to  the  cool  breezes  of  the  New  England  coast.  These 
"  children  of  the  wilderness  "  have  been  called  "  Red  men," 
*'  wild  Indians,"  "  savage  beasts,"  but  with  all,  they  have 
exhibited  a  manliness  of  character  and  rectitude  of  life,  ac- 
cording to  the  instructions  received,  that  leaves  no  room  for 
boasting  by  those  who  now  inhabit  the  same  beautiful  coun- 
try. To  these  untutored  inhabitants  the  pilgrim  immigrants 
were  rather  unceremoniously  introduced,  and  to  them  in 
turn  they  gave  a  cordial  welcome,  nol  knowing  what  the  final 
result  would  be.  And  now,  after  the  lapse  of  ages,  the  pen 
of  the  historian  is  importuned  for  some  memorial  record, 
which,  although  inadequate  to  the  object  sought,  shall  be  as 
a  brief  epitaph  to  commemorate  the  greatness  of  those,  of 
whom  there  is  now  nothing  but  ashes  and  fragments  left. 


Pootatuck  River.  3 

On  the  shores  of  Long  Island  Sound  various  clans  or 
settlements  of  these  Indians  were  found  by  the  incoming- 
English,  which  belonged  to  the  same  general  class, — the  M07 
hicans,  the  name  having  been  localized  or  modified  to  Mohe- 
gans  in  the  south-eastern  part  of  the  state.  Those  on  the 
Housatonic  river  appear  to  have  retained  a  system  of  general 
government,  with  head-quarters  at  New  Milford,  and  when 
their  lands  further  south  had  been  sold  they  gradually  re- 
turned thither,  and  thence  to  Scatacook  and  to  Pennsylvania. 
Tradition  and  implements  found,  indicate  that  at  first  the 
Indians  came  from  the  Hudson  river — the  Mohicans — to  the 
valley  of  the  Housatonic  in  the  vicinity  of  the  town  of  Kent, 
and  finding  several  falls  in  the  river,  to  them  of  unusual 
grandeur,  they  named  it  Pootatuck,  meaning  '  falls  river.' 
This  was  the  only  name  to  the  river  when  the  first  white  set- 
tlers came,  and  those  natives  inhabiting  its  valley,  were  the 
Pootatuck  Indians,'  but  being  settled  at  that  time  in  quite 
large  numbers  at  various  places,  were  spoken  of  by  their 
local  names.  There  are  also  evidences  that  these  local  clans 
retained  the  general  name  of  Mohegan  Indians,  speciall}- 
as  this  is  the  tradition  now  among  the  intelligent  survivors 
of  all  these  clans. 

The  first  Indian  settlement  on  this  river,  south  of  the 
Massachusetts  line,  seems  to  have  been  in  the  southern  part 
of  Kent,  near  what  is  now  called  Bull's  Bridge,  and  after- 
wards, two  or  three  miles  north  where  a  few  families  still 
reside.  This  locality  they  named  Scatacook,  or  Schaghti- 
coke,  signifying  the  confluence  of  two  streams,^  which  is  true 
where  what  is  now  called  Ten  Mile  River  comes  into  the 
Housatonic  a  little  below  Bull's  Bridge. 

The  second  settlement  was  made,  probably,  at  New  Mil- 
ford,  called  Weantinock,  which  remained  the  capital,  or  place 
of  the  great  council-fire  for  the  whole  tribe  (or  all  the  clans) 
on  the  river,  until  that  territory  was  sold  to  the  New  Milford 
company  in  1703.      Thus  gradually  the  Indians  made  their 

'  Indians  of  the  Housatonic  Valley,  6  to  12. 

^  See  Indian  Names  of  Conn.,  by  J.  H.  Trumbull,  and  Indians  of  the  Housa- 


4  History  of  Stratford. 

settlements  down  the  river  until  they  reached  Long-  Island 
Sound  ;  and  afterwards  they  dwelt  on  the  Sound  more  largely 
in  the  summer  than  in  the  winter  on  account  of  fish,  oysters 
and  clams,  and  of  the  hunting  inland  in  the  winter. 

The  CupJieags  and  Pequannocks. 

When  the  English  first  came  to  Stratford  they  found 
there  a  settlement  of  Indians,  their  local  name  being  Cuph- 
eags,  the  name  denoting  'a  harbor'  or  'a  place  of  shelter,' 
literally,  '  a  place  shut  in.''  The  clan  was  small,  and  was 
governed  by  Okenuck,  who  soon  after,  if  not  at  that  time, 
resided  at  Pootatuck — now  Shelton — whither  his  people  re- 
moved soon  after  Stratford  village  was  settled.  Okenuck 
was  the  son  of  Ansantaway  of  Milford,  and  his  brother 
Towtanimow,  son  of  Ansantaway,  was  sachem  or  chief  at 
Paugasitt. 

The  name  Pequannock^  means  'cleared  field,'  land 
'opened'  or  'broken  open,'  and  was  applied  by  the  Indians 
to  the  tract  of  land  on  the  east  side  of  Uncaway  river  (which 
river  is  now  called  Ash  creek)  extending  northward  to  the 
old  King's  Highway  and  southward  to  the  Sound,  including 
two  or  three  hundred  acres  of  land,  on  which  were  probably 
several  pieces  of  a  kind  of  open  woods,  as  well  as  the  Indians' 
planting  ground.  This  name  was  not  applied  to  the  water 
now  called  Pequannock  river,  but  to  the  beautiful  plain  as 
above  described  and  now  constituting  the  western  portion  of 
the  city  of  Bridgeport.  On  this  plain  "  at  the  north  end  of 
the  cove  in  the  Black  Rock  harbor"  was  the  old  Indian 
planting  field,  limited  to  about  one  hundred  acres,  and  on  this 
field  was  the  old  Indian  Fort,  standing  near  the  end  of  the 
cove  where  now  is  the  flower  garden  of  Mr.  James  Horan. 
In  1752,  the  General  Assembly  in  describing  the  boundaries 
of  the  Stratfield  Society  gives  the  precise  location  of  this 
fort.' 

'  Indian  Names,  J.  H.  Trumbull. 
*  Indian  Names,  J.  H.  Trumbull. 

*"  General  Court,  October,  1752.     Whereas,  in  the  setting  oif  the  parish  of 
Stratfield,  it  so  happened  that  the  act  of  this  Assembly  setting  off  said  parish  did 


The  PequiDuiock  Indians.  5 

The  Pequannock  Indians  were  more  numerous  than  any 
other  clan  from  New  London  west,  on  the  shore  of  the  Sound. 
They  had  three  encampments  or  villages  of  wigwams;  one 
on  the  west  bank  of  the  Unco  way  river,  as  we  may  hereafter 
see  in  the  testimony  of  Thomas  Wheeler,  one  at  the  Old 
Fort,  and  one  at  the  foot  of  Ciolden  Hill  on  the  south  side; 
the  last,  some  years  later;  is  said  to  have  contained  about  one 
hundred  wigwams.  The  one  on  the  west  side  of  Uncoway 
river  was  at  the  head  of  a  cove  near  a  fresh  water  pond,  just 
south  of  the  old  King's  Highway,  and  a  few  rods  west  of  the 
mile-stone  which  is  standing  one  mile  east  from  Fairfield  vil- 
lage, on  that  old  highway,  south  of  which  the  Indians  had  a 
planting  field  which  afterwards  constituted  a  part  of  the  terri- 
tory called  by  the  first  settlers  the  Concord  field.  This  place 
we  are  told  in  a  future  chapter  by  Thomas  Wheeler,  was  the 
old  established  place  of  i-esidence  for  the  Sachem  of  the 
Pequannock  tribe  many  generations. 

There  seems  to  have  been,  at  first,  no  reservations  of  land 
for  the  Indians  at  Cupheag,  or  Stratford  village,  and  none 
elsewhere  in  the  town  except  at  Golden  Hill,  and  this  was 
not  measured  to  them  until  twenty  years  after  the  first  set- 
tlers came,  or  until  1659.  The  planting  ground  at  the  Old 
Fort,  in  the  edge  of  Fairfield,  was  retained  by  the  Indians  as 
their  planting  ground  until  168 1,  when  it  was  sold,  and  after 
that  the  field  at  the  Old  Fort  was  called  the  Old  Indian  field, 
and  is  so  referred  to  frequently  on  the  Fairfield  records. 

Stratford  and  Fairfield  Conquered  and  Ceded  Territory. 

It  appears  by  various  authorized  records,  that  the  terri- 
tory of  Stratford  and  Fairfield  was  not  at  first  purchased  of 

not  settle  and  fix  the  line  dividing  between  the  said  first  society  and  said  parish 
any  nearer  the  south-westerly  extent  of  both  said  societies  than  where  said  line 
intersects  the  country  road  [the  King's  highway]  near  Jackson's  mill,  so-called 
[now,  1884,  Moody's  mill]  .  .  .  which  line  runs  from  said  country  road  southerly 
as  the  river  or  creek  runs  on  which  Jackson's  mil!  stood,  commonly  known  by 
the  name  of  Uncoway  River  or  creek,  till  it  comes  due  west  from  the  north  end 
of  the  cove  in  the  Black  Rock  harbor,  which  said  cove  heads  or  terminates  at,  or 
near  the  place  called  the  Old  Fort,  and  then  to  run  straight  from  said  creek  to  the 
head  of  said  cove,  and  so  straight  to  the  sea  or  Sound."     Col.  Rec,  x.  147. 


6  History  of  Stratford. 

the  Indians,  as  has  been  asserted  by  all  historians,  but  was 
held  nearl}'  twenty  years  as  conquered  and  ceded  territory, 
and  so  declared  by  the  General  Court,  but  afterwards,  as  a 
matter  of  friendliness  to  the  Indians,  was  purchased  by  vari- 
ous agreements  and  deeds. 

At  the  time  the  whites  came,  Oueriheag  was  Sachem  ot 
the  Pequannocks,  with  his  dwelling-place  on  the  west  side  of 
Uncoway  river,  but  a  large  part  of  his  people  were  dwelling 
on  the  east  side  of  that  river — at  the  "  old  field  "  and  at  the 
foot  of  Golden  Hill. 

The  settlements  of  Stratford  and  Fairfield  were  com- 
menced under  the  supervision  of  the  Connecticut,  in  distinc- 
tion from  the  New  Haven  C(;lony,  and  the  territory  was 
granted  to  them  b}'  the  General  Court  to  which  the  Indians 
had  previously  given  it  in  regular  form  in  1638.  On  neither 
of  the  town  records  are  there  any  Indian  deeds  recorded 
earlier  than  1656,  and  in  1681  when  all  former  deeds  are  men- 
tioned in  the  final  sale,  no  reference  is  made  to  any  as  having 
been  given  earlier  than  1656.  Nothing  is  said  in  the  records 
in  regard  to  the  purchase  of  this  territory,  until  1656,  when 
we  find  the  following  statement  made  by  the  court  at  Hart- 
ford : 

"  This  Court,  at  the  request  of  Stratford,  do  grant  that 
theire  bounds  shall  be  12  myle  northward,  by  Paugusitt 
River,  if  it  be  att  the  dispose,  by  right,  of  this  Jurisdiction."^ 

This  action  of  the  Court  was  soon  proclaimed,  and  the 
Pequannock  Indians  denied  the  right  of  Stratford  to  the  ter- 
ritory as  thus  described,  as  the  Court  intimated  would  prob- 
ably be  the  case.  The  immediate  cause  for  the  desire  that 
the  Court  should  hx  the  boundary  of  the  Stratford  plantation, 
was  the  fact  that  a  tract  of  land  had  just  been  sold  by  the 
Indians  in  the  western  part  of  Fairfield,  and  considerable 
trouble  had  arisen  between  the  settlers  and  the  Indians,  in 
consequence  of  the  cattle  and  swine  of  the  whites  trespassing 
on  the  Indians'  corn  at  Pequannock.  One  item  is  thus  re- 
corded : 

"General  Court,  October,  1651.  Upon  the  complaint  of 
the  Deputies  of  Stratford  to  this  Court,  in  behalf  of  Richard 

«  Col.  Rec,  i.  281. 


Stratford  Bounds.  7 

Buttler,  against  an  Indian  named  Nimrod,  tliat  wilfidl}'  killed 
some  swine  of  said  Buttler's,  this  Court  consenteth  that  Mr. 
Ludlow  may  prosecute  the  said  Indian  according  to  order 
made  by  the  commissioners  in  that  respect.'" 

Another  reason  for  this  desire  by  the  Stratford  planters 
was  that  the  Indians  being  quite  numerous  at  Fairfield,  the 
settlers  there  were  pushing  them  over  on  the  Stratford  terri- 
tory as  much  as  possible  to  make  room  for  themselves,  as  was 
acknowledged  afterwards.  There  had  been  several  efforts 
made  b}'  the  General  Court  to  settle  the  boundaries  between 
Stratford  and  Fairfield  and  the  Indians  at  Pequannock  com- 
mencing'soon  after  these  places  began  to  be  settled;  and 
also  it  is  shown  that  these  Indians  having  agreed  to  pay 
tribute  to  the  Connecticut  Court,  as  conquered  and  protected 
subjects,  as  appears  from  the  records,  neglected  to  fulfill  their 
agreement. 

"  General  Court,  February,  1640.  It  is  ordered  that  Mr. 
Haynes,  Mr.  Wells,  and  Capt.  Mason  shall  go  down  to  Paqua- 
nucke  to  settle  the  bounds  betwixt  them  and  the  plantations 
on  both  sides  of  them,  according  as  they  judge  equal,  as  also 
to  hear  and  determin  the  difference  betwixt  the  inhabitants 
of  Cupheag  amongst  themselves.  They  also  with  Mr.  Lud- 
low, are  to  require  the  tribute  ot  the  Indians  about  those 
parts  that  is  behind  unpaid,  due  by  articles  formerly  agreed 
upon,  as  also  to  inquire  out  the  particular  Indians  that  are 
under  engagement,  within  the  limit  of  the  ground  belonging 
to  them,  and  upon  refusal,  to  proceed  with  them  as  they  shall 
see  cause.'"  The  next  June  the  Court  ordered  that  "the 
mapfistrates  shall  send  for  the  tribute  of  the  Indians  about 
Cupheag,  Uncoway  and  there  about,"  and  that  another  com- 
mittee should  survey  between  the  two  plantations.  Again  in 
General  Court,  1648:  "It  is  ordered,  that  Capt.  Mason  shall 
go  to  Long  Island  and  to  such  Indians  upon  the  mayne  as  are 
tributaries  to  the  English,  and  require  the  tribute  of  them, 
long  behind  and  yet  unpaid,  and  to  take  some  strict  and 
righteous  course  for  the  speedy  recovering  thereof,  and  it  is 

•>  Col.  Rec,  i.  226.  ^  Col.  Rec,  i.  62. 


8  History  of  Stratford. 

judged  equall  and  allowed  that  he  shall  have  the  one-half  for 
his  paynes." 

Not  onl}^  did  the  Indians  neglect  to  pay  their  tribute,  but 
they  committed  depredations  in  many  ways  and  manifested 
so  much  hostilit}^  from  1643  to  1655,  that  the  plantations  on 
different  occasions  kept  soldiers  on  watch  nights  and  Sun- 
days, and  at  several  times  called  out  the  militia.  Also,  the 
Indians  made  continued  trouble  by  their  demands  for  pay  for 
their  lands,  for  after  the  Court  had  given  its  decision,  in  1656, 
the  Milford  Indians  made  a  claim  to  some  of  the  land  within 
the  Stratford  territory.  Ansantawa}'  was  chief  then  at  Mil- 
ford,  and  he  gave  a  deed^  for  all  the  land  his  people  claimed 
on  the  west  side  of  the  Housatonic  river,  and  leaves  the  Eng- 
lish to  give  him  whatever  they  should  see  fit,  thus  indicating 
that  his  claim  had  but  little  real  merit. 

In  order  to  secure  satisfaction  among  the  Indians,  and 
quiet  to  their  English  neighbors,  the  Connecticut  Colony 
made  another  effort  to  settle  the  matter  among  all  parties,  by 
the  following  order: 

"Hartford,  March  7,  1658-59.  By  the  Court  of  Magis- 
trates. This  Court  having  taken  into  consideration>the  busi- 
ness respecting  the  Indians  pertayning  to  the  plantations  of 
Stratford  and  Fayrefeyld  and  finding  in  the  last  agreement 
made  with  the  Indians  while  Mr.  Willis  and  Mr.  Allin  were 

*  Ansanta-May' s  Deed  to  Stratford. 

"This  present  writing  declareth,  we  Ansantawaj'  and  my  wife  do  make  over 
and  alienate  unto  the  Inhabitants  of  Stratford  all  our  right  in  a  tract  of  land  being 
as  far  as  the  River  called  the  further  milne  river  by  Woronoke  and  westward  as 
far  as  the  bounds  of  us  our  Paugusit  Indians  lies,  with  the  English  of  the  afore- 
sayd  Town  and  mark  the  trees  as  our  bounds  did  goe  before  it  was  alienated  to 
the  English  as  abovesayd.  We  also  do  engadge  that  no  other  Indians  shall  l<ay 
any  charge  unto  any  of  the  aforesayd  lands,  and'we  doe  leave  it  to  the  town  afore- 
sayd  to  give  us  for  this  land  as  they  shall  see  good  and  meet.  And  we  doe  give 
free  liberty  for  the  aforesayd  Town  their  cattle  to  go  beyond  that  further  milne 
River  northward  and  north-west  as  they  did,  peaceably  and  quietly;  we  and  Pau- 
gusit Indians  doe  thus  agree  as  witness  our  hands  in  the  name  of  the  rest.  This 
Febu.  22,  1658." 

The  recorder  of  this  deed  says:  "  This  is  a  true  copy  of  a  bill  of  sale  signed 
by  Ansantaway,  his  wife  and  Towtanamy  the  chief  Sagamore,"  but  he  was  mis- 
taken, for  he  did  not  transcribe  the  Indian  names,  for  the  deed  is  without  any  sig- 
natures. 


New  Indian  Papers.  9 

down  there,  that  those  two  plantations  aforementioned  are 
ingaged  to  asure  and  alow  unto  those  respective  Indians  per- 
tayning  to  each  town  sufitient  land  to  plant  on  for  their 
subsistance  and  so  to  their  heayres  and  sucsessors : 

"  It  is  therefore  ordered  by  this  Court,  and  required  that 
each  plantation  forementioned  exercise  due  care  that  the 
agreement  made  by  the  magistrates  be  fully  attended  without 
unnecessar}'  delay,  that  so  the  Indians  may  have  no  just 
cause  to  compla3'ne  agaynst  the  English,  but  rather  may  be 
incouraged  to  attend  and  observe  the  agreement  on  their 
parts,  that  peace  may  be  continued  on  both  sides  ;  and  further 
it  is  desired  that  the  Indians  may  be  allowed  to  improve 
theire  antient  fishing  place  which  they  desire. 

"  To  the  Constables  of  Stratford  to  be  forthwith  published 
and  sent  to  Fayrfiyld  to  be  published  and  recorded  by  the 
Register.'"" 

Three  days  after  the  above  record  the  Court  took  further 
action  : 

"  March  10,  1658-59.  This  Court  having  considered  the 
agreement  with  the  Indians  as  also  for  other  reasons  as  par- 
ticularly that  which  the  town  of  Fayrfe3'ld  pleaded  why  their 
bounds  should  be  enlarged  was  because  they  might  provide 
for  theire  Indians  which  were  many,  do  therefore  order  that 
the  towne  of  Fayrfeyld  shall  forthwith  attend  the  order  as 
above  sent  from  the  magistrates  and  alow  and  lay  out  unto 
theire  Indians  that  formerly  did  and  now  do  belong  unto 
that  plantation,  sufitient  planting  land  for  the  present  and 
future,  that  so  there  may  be  no  disturbance  twixt  the  Indians 
and  the  town  of  Stratford  about  any  former  improprieties 
which  we  find  are  renownced  for  the  future  by  the  last  agree- 
ment. And  the  Court  judges  that  the  Indians  that  have  for 
so  many  and  several  years  been  inhabitants  of  Fayrfeyld 
bounds  shall  now  and  for  future  be  acounted  as  those  that  do 
properly  belong  to  that  plantation. 

"  Mr.  Camfield  and  the  deputies  of  Norwoke  are  apointed 
to  see  this  efected  by  Fayrfeyld  men  or  do  it  themselves. 

Daniel  Clarke,  Secretary." 

'°  Stratford  Records. 


lO  History  of  Stratford. 

About  a  month  later  a  paper  vv^ns  recorded  giving  the 
agreement  made  between  the  two  towns  as  above  referred  to. 

The  great  hindrance  in  settling  the  boundaries  between 
these  two  plantations  and  the  Indians  was  the  open  or  cleared 
land  on  the  east  side  of  what  is  now  called  Ash  Creek,  form- 
erly Uncoway  River.  It  was  good  soil,  and  probably  much 
of  it  cleared  besides  the  portion  which  the  Indians  had 
planted  for  many  years,  called  afterwards  the  Indian  field. 
This  is  revealed  in  part  by  a  paper  from  John  Strickland," 
giving  the  reason  that  Fairfield  wanted  more  room,  and  so 
desired  the  Indians  pushed  over  east  on  Stratford  territory, 
but  the  old  line  was  retained  while  a  tract  of  land  was  set  oft 
for  the  Indians  on  Golden  Hill,  and  they  retained  their  old  field 
at  the  head  of  Black  Rock  Cove  until  1681,  when  they  sold  it 
to  Fairfield.  There  were,  probably,  several  hundred  acres  of 
partially  cleared  land,  now  constituting  the  western  part  of 
the  city  of  Bridgeport  and  Sea-Side  Park,  of  which  the 
Indian  field  containing  about  one  hundred  acres,  with  their 
fort,  formed  a  central  part. 

In  the  spring  of  1659,  the  question  of  title  or  right  to  the 
land  in  the  plantations  of  Stratford  and  Fairfield  was  brought 
before  the  General  Court  at  Hartford  and  settled.  The 
Indians  agreed  that  if  the  English  could  prove  that  they  had 
received  the  land  by  purchase,  gift  or  conquest,  it  should  be 
theirs;  w^hereupon  a  number  of  men  gave  their  testimony  in 
writing  under  oath  on  the  subject,  and  the  Court  decided  in 
favor  of  the  plantations,  and  the  affidavits  were  recorded  in 
the  town  book,  and  they  are  here  produced  in  foot-notes 
because  of  various  items  of  historical  interest.  These  papers 
are   prefaced  on  the   records   with  the  statement:    "A  Rec- 

"  The  Testimony  of  John  Strickland.  "  I  John  Strickland,  of  Huntington 
Long  Island  having  formerly  lived  at  Uncoway  now  called  Fayrfeyld  do  remem- 
ber that  I  was  deputed  with  some  others  to  treat  with  Stratford  men  about  the 
bounds  of  those  towns  and  accordingly  we  mett,  we  of  Uncoway  desired  some 
inlargement  of  our  bounds  towards  Stratford  because  we  were  burdened  with 
many  Indians,  and  to  my  best  remembrance  it  was  by  Stratford  men  granted  and 
by  us  all  concluded  that  we  of  Uncoway  should  keep  our  Indians  upon  our  own 
bounds.  John  Strickling,         his  mark. 

April  23.  1659. 

Taken  upon  oath  before  me.  Thomas  Benedict." 


New  Indian  Papers.  1 1 

ord  of  several  letters  presented  to  the  Court  of  Hartford, 
whereby  together  with  other  evidences  the  town  of  Stratford 
proved,  and  the  Court  granted  a  clear  right  to  their  land 
in  reference  to  Paquannock  Indians  with  whom  they  had 
to  do." 

The  first  paper  is  by  the  Rev.  John  Higginson,"  of  Guil- 


is  "  ^    Testimony  of  Mr.  Higison  late  pastor  of  the  church  at  Guilford. 

"  Being  desired  to  expose  wt  I  remember  concerning  the  transaction  between 
the  English  at  Conneckticott  and  the  Indians  along  the  Coast  from  Ouilipioke  to 
the  Manhatoes  about  the  land,  the  substance  of  it  I  can  say  is  briefly  this  : 

"  That  in  the  beginning  of  the  year  163S,  the  last  week  in  March  Mr.  Hop- 
kins and  Mr.  Goodwin,*  being  employed  to  treat  with  the  Indians  and  to  make 
sure  of  that  whole  tract  of  land  in  order  to  prevent  the  dutch  and  to  accommodate 
the  English  who  might  after  come  to  inhabit  there,  I  was  sent  with  them  as  an 
interpreter  (for  want  of  a  better)  we  having  an  Indian  with  us  for  a  guide,  acquainted 
the  Indians  as  we  passed  with  our  purpose  and  went  as  far  as  about  Narwoke 
before  we  stayed.  Coming  thither  on  the  first  day  we  gave  notice  to  the  Sachem 
and  the  Indians  to  meet  there  on  the  second  day  that  we  might  treat  with  them  all 
together  about  the  business.  Accordingly  on  the  second  day  there  was  a  full 
meeting  (as  themselves  sayd)  of  all  the  Sachems,  old  men  and  Captaynes  from 
about  Milford  to  Hudson's  River.  After  they  had  understood  the  cause  of  our 
coming  and  had  consulted  with  us  and  amongst  themselves,  and  in  as  solemn  a 
maner  as  Indians  used  to  do  in  such  cases  they  did  with  an  unanimous  consent 
approve  their  desire  of  the  English  friendship,  their  willingness  the  English 
should  come  to  dwell  amongst  them  and  professed  that  they  did  give  and  surren- 
der up  all  their  land  to  the  English  Sachems  at  Coneckticott  and  hereupon  pre- 
sented us  with  two  parcells  of  wampem  the  lesser  they  would  give  us  for  our 
mesage,  the  greater  they  would  send  as  a  present  to  the  Sachims  at  Coneckticott, 
it  being  not  long  after  the  English  conquest  and  the  fame  of  the  English  being 
then  upon  them. 

"It  being  moved  among  them  which  of  them  would  go  up  with  us  to  signifie 
this  agreement  and  to  present  their  wampem  to  the  Sachem  at  Coneckticott,  at 
last  Waunetan  and  Wouwequock  Paranoket,  offered  themselves,  and  were  much 
applauded  by  the  rest  for  it.  Accordingly  those  two  Indians  went  up  with  us  to 
Harford.  Not  long  after  there  was  a  comitee  in  Mr.  Hooker's  barne,  the  meeting 
house  then  not  buylded.  where  they  two  did  apeare  and  presented  iheir  wampum, 
(but  ould  Mr.  Pinchin  one  of  ye  magistrates  there  then)  taking  him  to  be  the  inter- 
preter,  then  I  remember  I  went  out  and  attended  the  business  no  farther,  so  that 
what  was  further  done  or  what  writings  there  were  about  the  buysness  I  cannot 
now  say,  but  I  supose  if  search  be  made  something  of  the  business  may  be  found 
in  the  records  of  the  Court,  and  I  supose  if  Mr.  Goodwin  be  inquired  of  he  can 

*Mr.  Edward  Hopkins  and  Mr.  William  Goodwin  were  among  the  principal 
planters  at  Hartford. 


12  History  of  Stratford. 

ford,  Conn.,  in  which  he  states  that  the  land  was  given  to  the 
Connecticut  Colony  in  1638,  and  gives  the  reasons  why  the 
Indians  did  it,  namely,  for  the  security  thereby  obtained. 
These  are  corroborated  by  the  fact  that  Towtanemow,  Saga- 
more at  Paugassett,  gave  to  Lieut.  Thomas  Wheeler  of  Fair- 
field, about  forty  acres  of  land,  what  is  now  the  southern  part 
of  Birmingham  village,  in  Derby,  if  he  would  come  and 
reside  upon  it,  which  he  did  some  five  or  six  years;  then  sold 
the  land  and  improvements  for  two  hundred  pounds  money. 

This  paper  of  Mr.  Higginson  informs  that  a  convention 
was  held  with  the  Indians  from  New  Haven  to  the  Hudson 
river,  at  Norwalk  in  the  last  week  in  March  (as  we  now  reckon 
time),  1638,  he  himself  being  interpreter,  when  the  Indians 
gave  this  territory  to  Connecticut,  reserving  only  room  to 
plant,  and  the  treaty  was  ratified  with  due  solemnity  at  Nor- 
walk and  at  Hartford,  the  council  being  held  in  Mr.  Hooker's 
barn  at  Hartford  because  the  meeting-house  was  not  then 
completed. 

The  date  of  this  Norwalk  Indian  council  shows  it  to  have 
been  held  about  fifteen  days  before  the  New  Haven  company 
landed  at  Quinnipiac. 

The  next  testimony  is  that  of  Thomas  Stanton,"  who  was 

say  the  same  for  substance  as  I  doe  and  William  Cornwell  at  Sebrook  who  was 
there." 

Mr.  Nicholas  Knell  [one  of  the  first  settlers  at  Stratford]  testifies  to  ye  same 
with  Mr.  Higgison  as  respecting  ye  Indians  giving  ye  land  to  ye  English,  and 
recommended    payment  of  money  to  ye  Indians  as  gratuity  for  ye  gifts. 

Taken  this  3d  Aprill  Nicholas  Knell 

•Guilford  May  5,  1659  John  Higgison." 

"  Testitnony  of  Thomas   Stanton. 

"Loving  friends  I  received  your's  dated  may  the  4th  1659,  by  John  Minor 
wherein  I  understand  of  the  insolent  and  unreasonable  behavior  and  demands  of 
the  natives  in  your  parts  as  chalenging  all  or  the  greatest  part  of  your  land  so 
long  since  by  you  possest.  Their  chalenge  is  that  if  the  English  can  prove  the 
lands  they  possess  were  ever  sould  them  or  given  them  or  conquered  by  them. 

I  much  wonder  at  these  times  ;  this  lesson  they  have  leayrned  but  of  late 
years  certainly.  They  well  know  the  English  did  possess  all  these  parts  as  Con- 
quered lands  for  from  Newhaven  to  Sashquaket  we  did  pursue  the  Pequets,  killed 
divers  at  Newhaven  and  at  Cupheag,  only  one  house,  or  the  k.-irkise  of  one,  we 
iound  at  Milford    without    inhabitants.      At  the  cuting  [off]  of  the  Pequets  all 


Nczv  Indian  Papers.  15 

tor  many  years  the  Indian  interpreter  at  Hartford,  which 
informs  us  that  Connecticut  Colony  conquered  the  Pequots 
and  Pequannocks  at  the  same  time — 1637 — took  hostages  ol 
the  Pequannock  Indians  and  sold  some  of  their  women  into 
servitude  into  Massachusetts.  He  also  says  the  Pequots  had 
conquered  the  tribes  along  the  Sound  west  of  Quinnipiac,  and 
made  them  tributary  before  the  English  came,  and  states  that 
the  Pequannocks  engaged  with  the  Pequots,  as  their  allies,  in 
the  fight  at  Cupheag,  and  also  at  the  swamp  on  the  western 
boundary  of  Fairfield,  The  fight  said  to  be  at  Cupheag  was 
probably  at  Pequannock  river  where  afterwards  a  gun  was 
found  as  shown  by  the  following  record. 

"  General  Court,  April,  1639.     Thomas  Bull  informed  the 

their  friends  and  confederates  fled  also  being  under  the  same  condemnation  with 
them.  Tis  true  some  at  Paquannocke  did  formerly  stand  out  but  the  Pequets  did 
kill  severell  of  them  [i.  e.  in  previous  wars,]  and  conquered  the  country,  [and]  so 
brought  all  the  Indians  at  [on]  Long  Island  and  the  mayne  [land]  their  tributaries 
from  Pequet  to  Accomket  beyond  Hudson  River.  The  English  conquering  the 
Pequets  conquered  them  also  and  took  Captains  from  Sashquaket  [and]  Poquan- 
ocke,  for  they  several  of  them  lived  with  the  Pequets  in  time  of  their  prosperitie 
and  fought  against  the  English  also  at  Sashquaket,  Poquanocke  Indians  fought 
against  us,  likewise  some  of  those  women  are  at  and  the  Bay 

[Massachusetts]  as  captives  to  this  day.  I  have  informed  some  of  the  most 
Rational  Pequets  of  this  and  they  say  that  if  the  English  do  grant  that  the  western 
Indians  may  sell  their  land,  they  [the  Pequots]  may  do  the  like,  for  they  say  their 
land  [the  Pequannocks]  is  conquered  as  well  as  ours.  Severall  of  themselves 
debate  the  poynt  with  them  and  prove  it  to  the  English  before  their  faces.  Also 
since  the  wars  I  can  testify  that  the  Indians  at  Paquanock  did  intreat  Mr.  Haynes 
and  Mr.  Hopkins  [then  Magistrates]  that  some  (?)  of  the  English  would  dwell  by 
them  that  so  they  might  not  be  in  fear  of  their  enemies,  the  uplanders,  and  that 
the  English  should  have  all  their  land  onl)'  providing  them  some  place  for  plant- 
ing ;  which  I  think  is  but  a  reasonable  request,  and  I  hope  you  will  atend  rules 
of  mercie  in  that  case ;  not  that  they  shall  be  their  own  carvers  what  they  will  and 
where  for  exhorbitant  humor  will  cary  them  to  disposes  you  of  your  houses. 
Experience  proves  it;  give  an  Indian  an  inch  and  he  will  take  an  ell.  I  will 
Ingage  myself  to  prove  the  land  as  before  sayd  conquered,  and  if  I  mistake  not 
very  much  the  English  by  gift  firstlie  from  themselves  desiring  as  above  sayd  the 
English  to  come  and  sit  down  upon  it.  I  could  wish  this  matter  had  been  in 
question  in  Mr.  Haynes  days  and  Mr.  Hopkins,  but  the  commanders  of  the  Bay 
[Massachusetts]  soldiers,  and  commanders  of  Coneckticott,  the  antient  Pequets, 
will  prove  it  Conquered  land,  and  I  never  heard  of  other  ground  by  which  the 
English  did  posses  it  but  by  Conquest  and  gift  .  .  .  Not  else  at  present  to  trouble 
you  I  comit  you  to  God  and  rest  your's,  to  love  and  serve  as  God  shall  enable. 

Thomas   Stanton.         Stratford  Records." 


14  History  of  Stratford. 

Court  that  a  musket  with  two  letters,  J.  W.,  was  taken  up  at 
Pequannocke  in  pursuit  of  the  PequaCts,  which  was  conceived 
to  be  John  Woods  who  was  killed  at  the  River's  mouth.  It 
was  ordered  for  the  present  [that]  the  musket  should  be 
delivered  to  John  Woods  friends  until  other  appear,'"^ 

It  has  been  generally  maintained  that  at  the  time  the 
English  came  here  these  Indians  were  tributary  to  the 
Mohawks,  which  has  been  an  error  according  to  this  paper. 

Mr.  Stanton  also  says  "only  one  house  or  the  karkise  ot 
one  we  found  at  Milford  without  inhabitants."  This  was  the 
last  week  in  March,  1637,  two  weeks  before  the  New  Haven 
and  the  Milford  companies  arrived  on  what  is  now  Connecti- 
cut territory.  The  question  arises,  who  built  this  frame  of  a 
house  at  Milford  in,  or  before  1638,  before  any  of  the  Milford 
people  came  there? 

Another  paper  was  given  by  Lieut.  Thomas  Wheeler.'^ 
one  of  the  first  settlers  at  Fairfield,  with  his  father  as  he  him- 
self informs,  and  as  the  records  show,  from   which  place  he 

"  Col.  Rec.  i.  29. 

'^  Lieutenant  Tliomas  Wheeler  s  Testimony. 

"That  in  the  time  of  his  being  an  inhabitant  of  the  town  of  Fayrefeyld  and 
having  several  times  in  discourse  ocation  to  speake  with  some  of  the  cheife  of 
that  companj'  which  are  now  caled  Uncaway  Indians  as  Matawmuck,  Nimrod 
and  Anthony  the  Sagamore's  brother  of  Uncoway,  men  well  known  to  themselves, 
did  relate  to  him  concerning  the  land  now  in  controversie  as  followeth  : 

"  That  th^y  could  la}'  no  clayme  or  chalenge  to  any  of  the  land  on  the  east  side 
[of]  Hawkins'  Brooke  only  they  had  liberty  to  hunt  and  fish. 

"The  ground  of  this  discourse  partly  came  from  this  the  Lieutenant  having  a 
farm  on  the  east  side  of  this  Hawkins  Brooke  and  fearing  least  the  Indians  should 
lay  clayme  to  it  as  well  as  to  the  land  on  the  west  side  of  the  aforesayd  named 
Broke  did  inquire  of  aforesayd  named  Indians  concerning  it.  This  the  Lieutenant 
will  take  his  oath  to,  it  being  legaly  demanded. 

"This  Deponent  further  sayth,  that  Paquanock  Sachem,  the  chief  of  the  Paqua- 
nock  Indians  had  his  place  of  residence  on  the  west  side  of  the  River  com- 
onl}'  called  Unkcaway  River  and  that  it  was  the  proper  wright  of  their  pre- 
disesours  from  generation  to  generation.  This  was  afirmed  to  this  deponent 
by  Ouerlheag  the  cheefe  Sagamore  of  the  Indians  at  the  English  first  coming  here. 
To  this  the  deponent  Lieutenant  Wheeler  offers  to  take  his  oath  legall)'  caled 
thereto. 

Thomas  Wheeler.     Stratford  Rec." 

No  date,  but  it  was  probably  given  in  1659,  it  following  directly  Mr.  Higgin- 
son's  letter. 


New  Indian  Papers.  15 

removed  about  1657  to  Derby,  where  the  Indians  gave  him 
land,  as  heretofore  stated.  Mr.  VVheeler  says,  the  Pequan- 
nock  sachem,  whose  name  was  Queriheag,  being  chief  saga- 
more, when  the  English  first  came,  had  his  residence  on  the 
west  side  of  Uncaway  river,  and  that  it  was  the  home  and 
inheritance  of  his  predecessors  from  generation  to  generation, 
giving  us  some  idea  of  the  importance  and  antiquity  of  this 
tribe.  Hence  it  appears  that  the  Pequannock  Indians  pos- 
sessed the  territory  from  what  is  now  the  Pequannock  river 
to  Sasqua  swamp,'* 

These  Indians  were  numerous  as  appears  from  the  man}' 
names  attached  to  deeds,  and  as  we  are  informed  by  Squire 
Isaac  Sherman,  that  twenty  years  later,  when  some  of  them 
had  removed  farther  north,  there  were  one  hundred  wigwams 
occupied  by  them  at  Golden  Hill.  This  on  a  medium  esti- 
mate would  give  from  five  to  eight  hundred  persons  when 
the  English  first  came  here,  and  they  were  all  Pequannock 
Indians,  as  shown  by  the  names  attached  to  Fairfield  Indian 
deeds. 

Another  testimony    is   that   of  John    Minor,"  one  of  the 

'^  See  Fairfield  Indian  Deed  dated  Mar.  20,  1656,  hereafter. 
'''  "  The  Testimony  of  John  Minor  taken  upon  oath. 

"  Being  desired  to  speake  to  wiiat  I  remember  in  order  to  what  was  spoken 
and  acted  by  the  Indians  or  English  about  Captain  Beebee's  action  commenced 
against  the  town  of  Stratford  at  Fayrfeyld  about  Lands.  The  substance  of  what 
I  can  sa}'  is  briefly  thus  without  any  correction  or  bias  of  affection  contrary  to 
truth  and  equity. 

"  Being  desired  by  the  Court  then  at  Fayrfeyld  with  James  Beers  to  treat  with 
the  Indians  of  Pequanocke  who  in  regard  of  the  present  contagion*  were  not 
admited  into  the  meeting  house  when  the  Court  sate  about  the  land  then  in 
debate.  At  our  first  coming  to  them  the  Indians  there  present  did  all  agree  in 
one  that  they  had  never  given  any  land  particularly  to  Captain  Beebee  but  that 
they  gave  it  to  Mr.  Hopkins  and  Mr.  Haynes  and  the  other  comtee  of  Conecticoate 
Generally.  Having  received  this  answer  we  went  a  little  remote  from  the 
Indians. 

"The  better  to  certifie  each  other  how  we  understood  them,  several  words 
passed  between  us  but  at  last  I  related  to  the  aforesayd  Beers  what  I  understood 
as  above  sayd.  James  Beers  contradicted  me  saying  he  understood  it  otherways, 
whereupon  we  went  to  the  Indians  a  second  time  before  we  went  into  the  Court 
and  they  confirmed  the  same  and  sayed  Captain  Beebee  had  no  particular  interest 

*The  contagion  was  a  severe  sickness  in  the  winter  or  spring  of  1663. 


1 6  History  of  Stratford. 

early  settlers  and  prominent  men  of  Stratford,  for  many- 
years  an  interpreter  between  the  English  and  Indians  and  he 
was  also  town  clerk  of  Stratford.  His  statement  was  taken 
for  the  particular  purpose  of  disproving  the  claims  of  one 
Captain  Be'ebe,  in  1662,  but  it  also  shows  that  the  Indians 
declared,  at  that  time,  that  the  land  was  given  to  Mr. 
Hopkins  and  Mr.  Haynes  twenty-four  years  previous,  as 
stated  by  Rev.  John  Higginson.  In  4;his  paper,  also,  Mr. 
Minor  states  incidentally,  that  there  was  then  a  "  contagion  "^ 
among  the  Indians,  in  consequence  of  which  they  were  not 
permitted  to  go  into  the  church  at  Fairfield,  where  the  Court 
held  its  proceedings,  and  he  also  reveals  the  efforts  made  by 
unprincipled  men  to  turn  the  Indians  from  truth  and  right, 
for  selfish  purposes. 

The   decision    of   the    Court    was    rendered    in    1659,    and 
Golden  Hill  reservation  was  then  laid  out. 

Golden  Hill  Reservatiojt.^^ 

"  General  Court,  May,  1659.  This  Court  having  consid- 
ered the  business  respecting  the  Indians  at  Paquanack,  and 
the   difference   twixt  Stratford   and   Fairfield  about  the  said 


in  any  land  from  them  but  they  gave  it  as  above  sayd.  Several  questions  I  pro- 
pounded to  the  Indians  at  this  time  so  that  now  James  Beers  sayd  I  understood 
them  well  enough  and  as  we  were  going  from  the  Indians,  as  before  Captain 
Beebee  being  a  little  ways  from  us  James  Beers  caled  to  him,  Captayne  said  he 
the  land  is  gone,  the  Indians  now  uterly  disown  any  perticular  gift  to  you.  Then 
gone  it  is  says  he. 

"We  now  both  agreeing  that  we  understood  the  Indians  aright  went  into  the 
Court  house  to  return  our  answer  to  the  Court.  Whilst  we  were  abroad  before 
we  went  into  Court  Captayne  Beebee  went  to  the  Indians  and  the  Captayne's 
Sonn.  What  they  sayd  to  the  Indians  I  know  not  but  presently  before  we  had 
delivered  to  the  Court  what  the  Indians  had  s^yd  there  was  a  caling  out  that  the 
Indians  had  something  more  to  say.  Upon  which  the  Court  desired  us  to  go 
forth  agayne  and  be  fuly  resolved  what  their  minds  were.  At  which  then  coming 
to  them  we  found  them  of  another  turn,  as  may  apear  by  our  testimony  upon 
oath. 

This  shall  legally  if  called  thereto  to  take  my  oath  of  8th,  3d,  1663. 

John  Minor. 
This  action  was  tried  about  Michelmas,  Anno,  1662. 
Taken  upon  oath  this  nth,  3d,  1663. 

Samuel  Sherman.         Stratford  Records." 
'*  Col.  Rec,  i.  335. 


Golden  Hill  Reservation.  17 

Indians;  do  see  cause  to  order  that  according  unto  the  desire 
of  the  Indians  they  may  quickly  possess  and  enjoy  from 
henceforth  and  for  the  future,  that  parcel  of  land  called  Gold 
Hill;  and  there  shall  be  forthwith  so  much  land  laid  out 
within  the  liberties  of  Fairfield  as  the  Committee  appointed 
by  the  Court  shall  judge  fit,  and  in  as  convenient  a  place  as 
may  best  answer  the  desire  and  benefit  of  the  Indians  fore- 
mentioned,  for  the  future.  And  the  said  committee  is  to  see 
so  much  land  laid  out  within  the  bounds  of  Fairfield,  for  the 
use  and  accommodation  of  Stratford  as  that  Golden  Hill  fore- 
mentioned  is,  for  quantity  and  quality,  and  as  may  be  most 
convenient  for  the  neighbors  of  Stratford.  And  in  case  Strat- 
ford men  are  unwilling  to  accept  of  land,  then  the  committee 
shall  appoint  how  much  and  in  what  kind  the  inhabitants  of 
Fairfield  shall  pay  unto  Stratford,  in  way  of  satisfaction.  And 
it  is  ordered  that  this  parcel  of  land  called  Gold  Hill,  sur- 
rendered by  Stratford  unto  Paquanack  Indians,  according  to 
the  premises,  shall  be  full  satisfaction  from  them  unto  the 
Indians  forenamed,  and  that  neither  they  nor  their  successors 
shall  make  any  further  claims  or  demands  of  land  from  Strat- 
ford, but  shall  henceforth  be  accounted  as  Fairfield  Indians, 
or  belonging  to  Fairfield,  to  be  provided  for  by  them  for 
future  as  is  forementioned  in  the  order.  And  it  is  ordered 
that  in  case  these  Indians  shall  wholly  at  any  time  relinquish 
and  desert  Gold  Hill,  that  then  it  shall  remain  to  Stratford 
plantation,  they  repaying  to  Fairfield  the  one  half  of  that 
which  they  received  in  consideration  of  the  said  land. 

"  The  committee  appointed  by  the  Court  to  see  this  order 
put  into  execution  are,  of  Norwalk,  Mr.  Camfield,  Mr.  Fitch, 
Richard  Olmstead,  Nathaniel  Elye,  who  are  to  bound  out  the 
lands  at  Gold  Hill,  about  80  acres,  beginning  at  the  foot  of 
the  hill  where  the  wigwams  stood,  and  to  run  upwards  on  the 
hill  and  within  Fairfield  bounds,  as  is  above  mentioned.  And 
the  said  committee  is  to  make  return  to  the  Court  in  October, 
what  they  do  in  reference  to  this  order." 

TJie  Report  of  the  Coviviittee. 

"  Loving  neighbors  of  Stratford  we  whose  names  are 
underwritten  have  according  to  the  order  we  had  from  Gen- 


1 8  History  of  Stratford. 

eral  Court,  without  any  respect  to  persons  considered  of  the 
value  that  Fairfield  men  shall  pay  to  Stratford  for  the  80  acres 
of  land  that  the  Indians  do  possess  at  Paquanocke  with  a  due 
consideration  of  the  land  and  the  place  where  it  lies,  wherein 
we  are  agreed  and  do  appoint  that  the  Fairfield  men  shall  pay 
to  the  Stratford  men  for  the  80  acres  of  land  that  the  Indians 
do  possess  at  Paquanocke,  twenty  pound  ;  this  to  be  paid  in 
beefe,  porke,  wheat  and  pease.  Of  beefe  2  barrels,  [and]  of 
porke,  good  and  merchantable,  which  we  value  at  twelve 
pound,  and  8  pounds  to  be  payd  in  wheat  and  pease  ; — wheat 
at  4  shillings  6  pense  the  bushill,  pease  3  shillings  6  pense  the 
bushell.  good  and  merchantable,  and  this  to  be  payed  of  Fair- 
field to  Stratford  men  betwixt  this  and  the  first  day  of  March 
next  ensuing.  This  being  our  agreement  we  have  set  to  our 
hands 

Narwoke  May  2,  1660. 

Matthew  Camfeyld 
Thomas  Fitch." 

When  this  settlement  was  effected  in  obedience  to  the 
directions  of  the  Court,  an  arrangement  was  made  directly 
with  the  Indians. 

Agreement  betiveen  the  Indians  of  Peqnannock  and  the  inhabit- 
ants of  Stratford. 

"  Whereas  there  hath  been  a  difference  between  the 
Indians  of  Pequanack  and  the  inhabitants  of  Stratford,  for  the 
issuing  of  which  it  is  agreed  the  Indians  aforesayd  acknowl- 
edging their  former  irregular  carriage  and  misdemeanor  and 
promising  reformation  in  the  particulars  hereafter  mentioned, 
it  is  then  agreed  that  the  aforesaid  Indians  shall  have  liberty 
to  plant  and  improve  the  land  between  the  fence  that  the 
Indians  made  and  the  bounds  which  the  committee  laid  for 
the  aforesaid  Indians,  till  they  shall  forfeit  the  same  in  the 
apprehension  of  the  inhabitants  of  Stratford  by  breaking 
their  engagement  in  the  particulars  following: 

"  The  Indians  do  hereby  ingage  not  to  kill  or  any  wa}' 
molest  our  cattle  and  swine. 


Indian  Obligations.  19 

"  They  ingadge  to  medle  with  none  of  our  corn  or  pease 
to  steale  from  us. 

"  They  do  ingadge  so  to  mayntayne  their  fence  which 
joynes  to  the  fence  of  the  Inhabitants  of  Stratford  that  the 
corn  may  be  secured,  and  if  any  damage  comes  through  any 
defect  in  their  fence  they  are  to  make  satisfaction. 

"They  are  further,  to  keep  up  their  fence  winter  and 
summer  to  prevent  damaging  either  them  or  us. 

"  They  do  further  engadge  to  suffer  none  of  the  in- 
habitants of  Fayrefeyld  and  those  of  the  farmers  to  get  in 
or  drive  any  cattle  through  the  aforesaid  ground  which  the 
Indians  improve,  that  is  to  say  the  whole  bounds  layed  out 
by  the  committee  upon  and  about  Golden  Hill. 

"  The  Indians  aforesaid  are  well  satisfied  with  what  the 
committee  had  done,  every  particular,  and  concerning  the  two 
highways  likewise. 

"These  Indians  have  subscribed  in  the  name  of  all  the 
rest,  this  24th  Aprill   1660. 

Musquattat's         mark  Nimrod's         mark 

Nesuposu's  mark  Nomledge's    mark 

Pechekin's  mark." 

Thus  rested  the  question  of  the  ownership  of  the  Soil  of 
the  Stratford  township  at  the  end  of  twenty  years  of  occu- 
pancy by  the  English.  It  had  not  been  purchased  by  the 
whites,  not  a  rod  square  of  it  so  far  as  has  been  ascertained 
unless  it  had  been  one  piece  bought  by  Moses  Wheeler— deed 
dated  April  12,  1659 — as  he  alleged  in  1684,  but  which  was 
never  recorded  on  Stratford  records,  although  he  said  he 
made  the  purchase  at  the  request  of  the  principal  men  of  the 
town  ;  and  therefore  all  the  statements  by  historians  that 
Stratford  territory  was  purchased  in  1639,  by  Mr.  Thomas 
Fairchild  or  any  others  were  made  for  want  of  information, 
which  might  easily  have  been  obtained  from  the  Stratford 
first  book  of  Town  Records. 


CHAPTER    II. 


A         INDIAN   DEEDS  AND   RESERVATIONS. 


CARCELY  had  the  proceedings  instituted 
lij,  before   the   General  Court  come  to  a  close 
declaring   that    Stratford,   in    1659,    already 
owned   the   land   it  claimed,  before  the  In- 
'WuZ.'t!--'V/'^    dians  began  to  clamor  for  pay  for  their  long 


possessed  inheritance,  and  the  people  of  the 
town  began  to  yield  in  hope  of  obtaining  a 
peaceful  end,  and  to  buy  the  land  at  the 
most  favorable  terms  possible. 

The  first  deed  of  purchase  which  has 
come  to  light  was  recorded  in  the  first  book 
of  land  records  for  the  Colony  at  Hartford 
and  was  received  by  Moses  Wheeler  and 
dated  April  12,  1659,  and  seems  to  have  been 
executed  while  the  question  of  title  was  before  the  Court  at 
Hartford.  It  was  a  deed  of  "a  parcel  of  ground  lying  along 
the  side  of  Potatuck  river,  the  east  end  of  it  being  on  a 
small  river,  which  they  say  is  Nayump,  the  west  end  bound- 
ing to  a  great  rock  [from  which  the  name — nai-ompsk  '  point 
of  rock  '  was  derived]  which  reacheth  the  full  length  of 
all  that  plain  piece  of  ground,  and  also  to  have  two  miles 
and  a  half  of  ground  on  the  upland  and  all  the  meadow 
within  that  bounds.'"  "  Moses  Wheeler  alleged  that  the  pur- 
chase was  made  at  the  solicitation  of  the  principal  inhabitants 
of  Stratford,  to  prevent  it  from  falling  into  other  hands  and 
that  it  cost  him  upwards  of  forty  pounds."*  After  the  Court 
in  1659  decided  that  the  territory  belonged  to  Stratford  with- 


'  Col.  Land  Rec,  i.  213,  214. 

"  Mr.  C.  H.  Hoadly  in  Col.  Rec,  iii.  164. 


Indian  Deeds  of  Stratford.  21 

out  paying-  for  it,  the  town  allowed  Moses  Wheeler  to  keep 
his  land  twenty-five  years  and  then  began  to  lay  it  into  divis- 
ion lots  among  its  own  members  without  regard  to  Moses 
Wheeler,  although  he  was  one  of  their  own  citizens.  But 
they  were  brought  to  time  by  the  General  Court  in  October, 
1684,  by  a  profitable  suggestion,  thus:  "  This  Court  do  rec- 
ommend it  to  the  town  of  Stratford  to  come  to  an  agreement 
with  Moses  Wheeler,  sen.  about  the  purchase  he  made  of  the 
Indians  of  a  tract  of  land  within  their  bounds,"  and  some  of 
the  townsmen  were  required  to  appear  at  the  next  court  and 
report  the  proposition  of  settlement  to  be  ratified  by  the 
Court,  which  they  did  by  giving  Mr.  Wheeler  half  of  the 
land.  Charity  suggests  that  possibly  these  brethren  of  Moses 
Wheeler  had  forgotten,  or  were  taking  a  little  nap  on,  the 
subject  of  the  golden  rule  as  the  reason  why  they  left  him 
with  the  expense  of  the  land  for  twenty-five  years,  without 
fulfilling  their  agreement. 

On  June  5,  1660,  a  little  over  one  year  after  the  Court 
rendered  its  decision  in  favor  of  Stratford,  a  deed  from  the 
Indians  for  Stratford  land  was  received  by  Bray  Rossiter  of 
Guilford,'  and  this  act  by  one  outside  of  the  town,  set  the  ball 


^"June  5,  1660.  An  agreement  betwixt  Wampeagj',  Ansutu,  Wampeug, 
Aquiump  and  Onepenny,  Indians  of  ye  one  party  and  Bray  Rosseter  of  Guilford 
ye  other  party  as  followeth  :  AH  tVie  afores'd  Indians  do  passover,  assign  and  sell 
(for  a  debt  due)  unto  ye  sd.  Bray  Rosseter  one  hundred  acres  of  land  on  ye  west 
side  of  ye  river  yt  passeth  up  by  Stratford  ferry,  (a  little  below  ye  land  of  Milford 
men  at  Paugesutt)  the  said  hundred  acres  to  begin  at  ye  River  and  to  take  all 
ye  breadth  beiwixt  two  small  brooks  and  soe  backward  until  ye  said  sume  be 
made  upp,  with  all  ye  privileges  ot  ye  River  for  fishing  lying  before  ye  said  land, 
and  ye  sd  Indians  doe  further  promise  and  ingage  to  sell  what  other  lands  ye  sd 
Bray  Rosseter  shall  desire  to  buy  behind  ye  same  father  in  ye  woods  uppon  like 
indifferent  terms,  in  witness  our  hands. 

A  marke  of  Wampeagy. 

A  marke  of  Aquiump. 

The  marke  of  Wompeug. 

The  marke  of  Nansuty. 

The  marke  of  Onepenny. 
Wampeagy,  Nansutu  and   Onepenny  desired  to  set  down  ye  names  of  Wum- 
peug  and  Aquiump,  Sagemes,  atlirming  yt  they  consented   unto  ye  same  in  pres- 
ence of,  etc. 

Wampeagy  approved  the  above  before  Andrew  Leete,  Assistant  at  Guilford 
Feb.  28,  1684." 


22  History  of  Stratford. 

moving,  or  rather  set  the  Indians  crazy  to  sell  the  land  they 
had  just  been  told  they  did  not  own.  This  piece  of  land 
seems  to  have  been  on  the  west  side  of  the  Housatonic  about 
one  mile  above  the  two  mile  Island  in  that  river,  but  whether 
Mr.  Rossiter  held  it  or  not  after  1684  has  not  been  ascer- 
tained. 

Another  deed'  was  given  by  the  Indians  of  land  called  by 
the  English  at  the  time  Mohegan  Hills,  bounded  on  the  west 
with  the  "  near  sprayne  "  (or  stream,  or  branch)  of  the  Farmill 
river,  the  date  being  1661,  but  the  naine  of  the  month  being 
obliterated.  The  peculiar  item  in  this  deed  is  the  informa- 
tion that  there  was  then  "  a  hop  garden  hard  by  ye  River 
though  on  ye  other  side."  In  1654  Edward  Wooster  was  the 
first  settler  in  Derby  for  the  special  purpose  of  raising  hops 

*  This  writing  made  ye 1661. 

"  For  and  upon  good  consideration  moving  me  thereunto  I  make  over  alienate 
and  freely  give  to  my  loving  friend  Joseph  Judson  of  Stratford  in  ye  jurisdiction 
of  Connecticot,  to  him,  his  heirs  and  assigns  (to  have  and  to  hold  without  molesta- 
tion or  trouble  from  any  Indian  or  Indians  whatsoever  laying  clayme  or  challenge) 
forever  a  parcell  of  land  bounded  on  the  northwest  by  ye  lower  part  of  Moose  hill, 
on  ye  west  with  ye  nere  sprayne  of  3-e  far  Mill  River,  on  j'e  south  at  ye  parting  of 
ye  spraynes  of  ye  far  Mill  River  called  by  ye  English  )'e  Trapfalls,  and  on  ye  east 
by  ye  northwest  spraine  of  ye  far  Mill  River,  soe  running  to  ye  pine  swamp  at  ye 
head  of  ye  River.  This  parcell  of  land  called  by  ye  English  ye  Mohegan  Hills 
and  by  ye  Indians  Ackquunokquahou  I  Amantaneag  doe  give  as  aforesd  with  all 
ye  privileges  and  appertenances,  the  meadow  or  what  else  belongs  thereto  as  wit- 
ness my  hand  and  seale  ye  day  and  date  above  written. 

There  is  also  a  hop  garden  hard  by  ye  River,  though  on  ye  other  side,  which 
I  doe  also  freely  give  to  aforesaid  Joseph  Judson  and  his  forever. 

The  mark  of        Amantaneag. 
The  mark  of         Akenotch, 

Sagamore  of  Pagasett. 
The  mark  of         Ansantavvay. 
Acquiumps  his  mark. 

Acquiumps  doth  hereby  confirm  this  act  of  Amantaneag's  witness  his  hand 
the  4th  of  loth,  1663. 

Per  me  John  Minor. 

Poidge,  his  mark. 

Patequeno,      his  mark. 

Chepon,  his  mark." 

Witnesses  : 

The  mark  of  Suchsquoke. 
The  mark  of  Wunnubber. 


Indian  Deeds  of  Stratford.  23 

on  the  bottom  land  now  a  little  way  below  Ansonia,  and  here 
in  what  is  now  Huntington  was  another  hop  garden  only 
seven  years  later,  and  may  have  been  there  several  years 
earlier  than  1661, 

There  are  also  in  this  deed  as  well  as  others  that  follow 
several  local  names  of  interest. 

A  second    deed'  was  given   the  same    year,    probabl}-   a 

'  "  This  present  writing  witnesseth  yt  I  Wampegan  who  am  ye  lawful  heir  to  all 
ye  Indian  Rights  and  privileges  yt  did  aforetime  belong  to  ye  Sachems  and  my 
grandfather  and  since  to  other  Sachems  my  uncles  who  were  ye  legall  proprietors 
of  a  great  tract  of  land  lying  west  from  ye  farr  mill  River  at  Woronoke  bounded 
on  ye  east  with  a  pine  swamp  at  ye  east  spraine  of  ye  far  mill  River  bounded  on 
ye  west  wi»h  ye  west  spraine  of  Paquannuck  River,  on  ye  South  with  ye  lower 
part  of  Moose  hill  and  bounded  on  ye  north  with  ye  Assuntokereag  a  place  soe 
named  about  a  mile  and  a  half  north  from  ye  upper  part  of  Moose  hill, 
and  norwest  with  a  place  called  Manantock  running  as  far  as  Pootatuck 
path  ;  I  say  I  Wampegan  doe  not  only  hereby  confirm  what  hath  been  form- 
erly granted  and  freely  bequeathed  to  Joseph  Judson  of  Stratford  in  ye  Jurisdic- 
tion of  Connecticut  by  Weenepes  my  uncle,  I  being  a  witness  to  what  he  did  and 
it  being  for  substance  ye  same  which  I  do  at  present,  but  also  I  doe  hereby  give 
and  freely  bequeath  to  ye  aforesaid  Joseph  J udson  ye  aforementioned  tract  of  land, 
to  him  his  heires  and  assignes  forever  to  have  and  to  hould  without  molestation 
or  trouble  from  any  person  or  persons  Indian  or  Indians  whatsoever  yt  shall  lay 
clayme  or  challenge  to  any  part  of  ye  sd  land  by  virtue  of  any  title  or  interest 
whatsoever  therein  ;  I  say  I  give  and  freely  bequeath  the  aforesaid  land  with  all 
ye  appurtenances  and  privileges  belonging,  as  hunting,  &c.,  with  all  dues 
to  said  land  as  if  I  were  personally  to  enjoy  the  customs  thereto  belonging 
myself.  The  aforesaid  Joseph  Judson  promising  yt  upon  this  consideration 
Wompegan  his  first  cousins  named  Poidge,  Heenummojeck,  Momowetah  shall 
have  free  liberty  to  hunt  for  deare,  &c.,  uppon  ye  aforesd  tract  of  land.  For  ye 
assurance  hereof  yt  this  is  my  act  and  deed  is  written  freely  and  subscribed,  this 
ninth  of  September  one  thousand  six  hundred  and  sixty-one,  gih  Sept.,  1661. 

Wampegan,         his  mark. 
The  mark  of  Akenotch  the 

Sagamore  of  Pagusett. 
The  mark  of  Ansantaway. 

"This  writing  made  ye  I4lh  May,  1662,  witnesseth  yt  I  Acquiumph  upon  good 
consideration  doe  confirm  ye  abovesd  gift  by  Wompegan  or  any  before,  to  Joseph 
Judson  of  Stratford.  I  Acquiumph  Sachem  of  Pootatuck  doe  confirm  ye  same  in 
every  particular  by  subscribing  ye  day  and  date  above  written. 

The  mark  of  Quiump,  Sachem  of 

Pootatuck  being  related  to  Wampegan. 
Poidge,  his  mark. 

Chepenett,  his  mark." 


24  History  of  Stratford. 

month  or  two  later,  of  land  lying  west  from  the  Far-mill 
river,  extending  west  to  the  west  branch  of  the  Pequannock 
river.  "There  was  a  Pootatuck  path  "  bounding  the  land  on 
the  northwest.  Pootatuck  was  at  that  time  the  name  of  the 
Indian  settlement  occupying  land  now  covered  by  the  south- 
ern part  ot  the  village  of  Shelton  in  Huntington,  the  place 
of  the  same  name  in  Newtown  not  being  then  established. 
This  deed  was  given  by  another  party  than  the  latter  previ- 
ous one,  and  was  confirmatory  of  the  other,  3'et  the  same 
Sachem  signed  both.  This  strikingly  illustrates  the  separate 
interests  in  the  lands  by  the  Indians  and  also  the  relation 
between  the  Pequannocks  or  Stratford  Indians  and  the  Pau- 
gasetts,  the  Paugasett  chief  signed  both  deeds. 

A  third  deed"  was  given  in  the  year  1661,  which  was  by 
Towtanimow  and  his  mother  the  wife  of  Ansantaway,  the 
old  chief  of  Milford,  who  also  signed  the  deed.  Towtanimow 
was  the  chief  Sachem  at  Paugassett  at  that  time,  but  died 
that   same   winter,   for  in  the   spring — April,  1662 — Okenuck 


*"  This  indenture  made  the  4th  da)'  of  December,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord 
Christ  one  thousand  six  hundred  and  sixtie  one  between  Towtanamy  and  his 
mother  the  wife  of  Ansantaway  being  the  Chief  Sagamore  of  Pagusit  on  the  one 
parte  and  Samuel  Sherman  and  John  Hurd  and  Caleb  Nichols,  Townsmen  in  the 
name  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Stratford  in  the  colony  of  connecticoute 
on  the  other  part:  Whereas  the  said  Towtanimy  is  now  lawfully  seized  to  him 
and  his  heayers  and  asigns  forever  of  and  in  all  that  plat  of  land  lying  and  being 
between  the  nerer  Milne  River  and  the  father  Milne  River  comonly  so  caled  by 
the  English  and  being  the  bounds  south  and  northeast  upon  Stratford  River  and 
west  with  the  bare  swamp  caled  by  the  Indians  Makoron,  northwest  on  black 
brook's  mouth  :  now  this  indenture  witnesseth  that  the  sayd  tantanimy  and  in  the 
name  of  all  the  rest  ot  the  Indians  of  pawgasit  for  and  in  consideration  of  twelve 
pound  [worth]  of  trading  cloath  and  one  blankit  to  him  in  hand  payd  before  the 
writing  hereof  by  the  say'd  Samuel  Sherman,  John  Hurd  and  Caleb  Nichcols 
and  for  other  considerations  him  the  sayd  towtanamy  thereunto  moving  hath 
given,  granted,  bargained,  sould  enfeoffed  and  confirmed  by  these  presents  do 
give  ....  to  Samuel  Sherman,  John  Hurd  and  Caleb  Nichcols  and  the  inhabi- 
tants of  Stratford  aforesayd  for  ever  all  and  every  part  of  the  sayd  parcell  of  land 
above  written  being  between  the  Mill  Rivers  ;  and  all  the  sayd  Towtanamy's  right 
and  interest  thereunto. 

Towtanomow,  Sagamore,  his  mark. 

Ansantaway,  his  mark. 

Uncktine,  his  mark. 

Chipes,  his  mark." 

Dec.  4,  1661. 


Indian  Deeds  of  Stratford.  25 

•signs  a  deed  in  wliich  he  states  that  he  is  the  only  Sachem  of 
Paugassett. 

In  April,  1662,  a  deed'  was  given  by  Okenongc  (more  com- 
monly called  Okenuck,  on  Derby  deeds)  of  land  at  the  western 
boundary  of  Paugassett  lands,  which  is  a  matter  of  interest 
although  not  quite  explainable.  West  and  northwest  of  this 
land  is  met  the  territory  controlled  and  deeded  by  Pocono, 
then  the  Sachem  at  VVeantinock  (New  Milford),  for  he  gave 
a  deed  in  1671  to  Henry  Tomlinson  for  more  than  twenty 
thousand  acres  apparentl}-  extending  to  or  into  Newtown. 
This  deed  to'  Henry  Tomlinson  was  secured  upon  a  permit 
by  the  General  Court  for  establishing  a  plantation,  and  was 
recorded  in  Stratford,  where  Mr.  Tomlinson  resided,  claim- 
ing seven  miles  in  length,  three  miles  wide  from  the  river  on 
each  side,  or  six  miles  in  breadth,  which  was  to  be  three 
miles  up,  and  three  down  the  river  from  Goody  ear's*  Island  in 
the  Housatonic  just  below  Falls  Mountain  in  New  Milford. 
This  locality,  if  not  the  most,  is  one  of  the  most  sublime,  on 
the  Housatonic  river,  but  the  lower  half  of  the  territory 
covered  by  the  deed  was  of  small  value  in  consequence  of  the 
steep  rocky  hills  along  the  river. 

The  accompanying  cut  is  a  good  representation  of  Falls 


''  "  Know  all  men  by  these  presents  yt  I  Okenotige  ye  only  Sachem  of  Pagasitt 
doe  freely  give  and  bequeath  unto  my  loving  friends  Ensign  Joseph  Judson  and 
Joseph  Hawley  and  John  Minor  of  Stratford  in  ye  Colony  of  Connecticott  a 
parcell  of  Land  bee  it  more  or  less  lying  on  ye  west  of  ye  land  w"=''  ye  aforesd 
Town  of  Stratford  hath  purchased  of  mee  and  it  being  all  yt  lyes  on  ye  west  of 
w'  is  already  purchased  yt  belongs  to  me  and  Pagassett  Indians.  That  I  give  the 
above  sd  tract  of  land  to  ye  aforenamed  persons  to  have  and  to  hold  w^'out 
molestation  or  trouble  by  any  Indian  or  Indians  vv'soever :  I  say  to  them  and 
theire  Heires  forever  as  witness  my  hand  this  22d  April  1662. 

Witnessed  by  us  Okenonge  his  marke." 

Nansantaway's  marke 

Chipps  his  marke  " 

*  Deed  to  Henry  Tomlinson  for  26,880  acres  signed  by  the  following  Indians: 

Pocono,                his  mark.  Mataret,      the      Sachem's  Toto,  his  mark. 

Ocomunhed,       his  mark.  eldest  son.  Mohemat,  his  mark. 

Wesonco,             his  mark.  Tomo,  his  mark,  the  sec-  Chetemhehu,  his  mark. 

Pomuntock,        his  mark.  ond  Son   of  Mataret.  Othoron,  his  mark. 

Ringo,                   his  mark.  Quocanoco,         his  mark.  Papisconas,  his  mark. 

Coshushamock,  his  mark.  Weekpenos,        his  mark. 


; 

-^H 

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,[1!      . 
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l^^^wKnRl^Rs^^^^^^^  ilHIl  1  III lilil li  i  111  i 

ll.' 
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i^s^hir^sSSO^H^BKBSSSSmlKS^Ssnsi^^z 

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Dl^n^HUUillv  :.T[^ul  HHK^vJ^^lvL/^  bU  j^ 

I^H 

■ 

H 

Indian  Deeds  of  Stratford.  2J 

Mountain  at  the  gorge  looking  up  stream  from  the  noi"thcrn 
extremity  of  Goodyear's  Island.  The  river  just  below  the 
gorge  has  been  called  the  Cove  and  Fishing  Place  since  the 
first  settlement  of  New  Milford,  because  here  the  shad  and 
herring  were  stopped  in  their  progress  up  the  river,  and 
hence  afforded  a  great  supply  of  fish  for  the  whole  region  of 
country — shad  having  been  sold  there  many  times  at  one 
penny  each  ;  and  the  most  advantageous  part  of  the  west 
shore  having  been  rented  in  the  early  settlement  of  the  town, 
for  999  years,  for  one  shad  of  every  thirteen  that  should  be 
caught  there.  The  gorge  is  over  half  a  mile  long,  at  the 
upper  end  of  which  are  the  Great  Falls  where  now  is  located 
the  large  Wood-finishing  Mill  built  by  Bridgeport  men,  and 
where  in  olden  times  were  caught  by  Indians  and  whites 
immense  numbers  of  lamprey-eels.  These  falls  are  not  very 
high  but  are  called  the  great  falls  in  comparison  with  smaller 
ones  two  miles  further  up  the  river.  The  Island  was  named 
Goodyear's  Island  from  the  fact  that  Mr.  Stephen  Goodyear 
of  New  Haven  about  the  year  1642  built  a  trading  house 
upon  it  or  near  it,  for  purposes  of  commerce  with  the  Indians. 

The  point  of  rocks  on  the  right  hand  in  the  picture  is 
called  Lover's  Leap  from  a  legend  said  to  have  been  historic 
of  an  ancient  chief's  daughter,  but  the  legend  being  about  the 
same  in  all  its  parts  as  is  told  of  several  other  localities  in 
Connecticut,  receives  but  little  credence. 

The  Indian  name  of  the  Great  Falls  was  Metichawan, 
denoting  an  "  obstruction  "  or  "  turning  back,"'  and  hence 
since  the  fish  stopped  at  the  cove  except  the  eels,  the  name 
may  have  been  applied  more  immediately  to  the  cove  by  the 
Indians. 

The  falls  are  celebrated  as  having  been  the  locality — 
adjacent  on  the  west  bank — where  was  built  the  wonderfully 
ornamented  bark  tent  of  the  renowned  chief  Warhaumaug^ 
the  last  but  one  of  all  the  chiefs  of  the  Indians  of  Western 
Connecticut,  or  of  the  original  Pootatuck  tribe.'" 

The  old  chief  Warhaumaug's    monument  stands  on  the 

*  See  Trumbull's  Indian  Names. 

^^  See  "Indians  of  the  Housatonic  Valley." 


28 


History  of  Stratford. 


hill  a  little  to  the  east  of  Lover's  Leap.  Sometime  within 
later  years  the  white  people  have  piled  the  stones,  which  lay 
scattered  about  for  one  hundred  years  at  the  old  chief's  grave, 
into  a  monumental  pile,  as  represented  in  the  accompanying 
cut.  From  it  there  is  a  beautiful  outlook  over  the  surround- 
ing country,  for  which  reason  the  old  chief  requested  to  be 
buried  there. 


avakhaumaul;  s   monument. 


The  gathering  of  the  Indian  tribes  from  the  south  and 
east  with  the  old  chief  Warhaumaug  at  the  falls  was  the  last 
of  any  considerable  number  until  they  concentrated  at  Scata- 
cook,  where  now  onl}'  a  few  families  are  left. 


Indian  Deeds  of  Stratford.  2^ 

VVarhaumaug  seems  to  have  been  the  chief  "Tom  King" 
of  Turkey  Hills  in  Milford  and  of  Coram  in  Stratford,  in 
1714,  who  coming  to  this  locality  took  his  name,  which 
means  "good  fishing  place,"  from  the  place.  He  died  about 
1735,  being  attended  in  his  last  sickness  by  the  Rev.  Daniel 
Boardman  of  New  Milford. 

Henry  Tomlinson's  deed  was.  reaffirmed"  with  an  addi- 
tional grant  in  1702  extending  it  northward  "  five  miles  and  a 
half  in  length  from  the  Still  River,  to  run  southwest  to  a 
small  brook  called  Susumene  Brook  and  so  in  breadth  three 
miles  on  both  sides  the  great  river."  This  was  given  to 
Richard  Blackleach  and  Daniel  Shelton,  who  had  probably 
inherited  or  purchased  it  from  Henry  Tomlinson  or  his  heirs. 
This  was  the  land  that  John  Read  was  heir  to  from  his  father 
who  resided  in  Stratford  as  one  of  its  first  settlers.  Mr. 
Read,  who  afterwards  settled  at  Reading,  Conn.,  and  from 
whose  family  that  town  took  its  name,  and  who  became  very 
celebrated  in  the  profession  of  law  in  Boston,  sued  the  New 
Milford  company  for  trespass  when  they  settled  there  ;  gained 
his  suit  before  the  Hartford  Court  fifteen  times  but  lost  it  on 
the  sixteenth,  and  then  surrendered  his  claim.'* 

In  the  year  1671,  the  inhabitants  of  Stratford  having 
become  tired  of  purchasing  the  soil  by  piecemeal  which  they 
already  owned,  entered  into  an  agreement  to  purchase  all  the 
claims  of  the  Indians,  within  the  town,  except  the  reserva- 
tions sanctioned  by  the  Court,  and  in  order  to  make  a  full 
end  of  the  matter  brought  it  before  the  General  Court,  by 
their   deputies,    and    the    Court   ordered   a   full   settlement, 

'^  Henry  Tomlinson's  deed  confirmed    with   addition   to   Richard   Blackleach 
and  Daniel  Shelton,  August  9,  1702,  and  signed  b}'  the  following  : 

Poconos,  his  mark. 

Indian  witnesses.  Werneitt,  his  mark. 

Papepetito,         his  mark,  Cush,  his  mark. 

Sachem  of  Oantenocke.  Paquahim,  his  mark. 

Siccus,         his  mark.  Nunhotuho,  his  mark,  the 

Metach,       his  mark.                                                             Indian  interpreter. 
Mattecus,    his  mark, 
Poconos'  son. 

'-  See  History  of  New  Milford,  Conn. 


30  History  of  Stratford. 

appointing  the  deputies  to  attend  the  execution  of  the  matter 
and  make  report.  The  agreement  with  the  Indians,  and  the 
deed  are  both  recorded.  In  this  deed'^  the}'  acknowledge  all 
previous  agreements  and  confirm  all  sales.  They  restate  the 
boundaries  as  follows: 

"The  line  running  from  ye  southward  to  ye  northward 
twelve  miles  as  it  is  now  settled  by  ye  court  and  from  that 
north  line,  ye  north  end  of  it  to  runn  away  easterly  to  a  pine 
swamp  and  so  to  a  little  River  commonly  called  )^e  halfway 
River  and  soe  to  ye  g*  River  called  Stratford  River — the 
north  bounds  being  ye  half-way  River,  ye  east  bounds  Strat- 
ford River  and  ye  South  bounds  ye  Sound  on  ye  Sea,  ye  west 
bounds  Fayrefeyld  as  aforesd." 

It  was  agreed  that  the  Town  of  Stratford  shall  pa}^  or 
cause  to  be  paid  for  and  in  consideration  of  the  premises  of 
Musquatt  or  his  assigns,  ten  coats  and  five  pounds  of  powder 
and  twenty  pound  of  lead.  By  this  purchase  was  secured,  or 
rather  the  Indians  released  from  any  claims,  a  large  propor- 
tion of  what  is  now  the  northern  half  of  the  township  of 
Huntington  in  which  there  were  some  sandy  hills  of  light 
color,  and  hence  the  name  "  White  Hills  Purchase,"  by 
which  the  territory  was  designated  on  the  town  records,  and 
the  name  is  still  retained  in  the  White  Hills  school  districts. 

This  purchase,  which  cost  the  town  of  Stratford  accord- 
ing to  the  tax  list  made  specially  for  this  purpose,  over  £\o, 
quieted  the  Indians  just  thirteen  years,  when  another  squad 
of  claimants  had  grown  up,  or  at  least  made  their  appearance, 
and  doubtless  for  a  consideration — as  whenever  did  they  with- 
out— confirmed  the  previous  sale,  thus:  "  We  whose  names 
are  hereunto  subscribed  have  had  a  full  understanding  of  the 
contents  of  the  above  written  bill  of  sales, — we  do  fully  con- 
cur with  those  that  formerly  signed  the  same,  and  do  appiove 

'^  This   deed    which   secured  particular!}- the  While   Hills  was  dated  May  25, 
1671,  and  signed  by  the  following  Indians  : 

Indian  witnesses.  Musquatt,  his  mark. 

Sucksquo,             his  mark.  Nesumpaw,  his  mark. 

Susqua  James,    his  mark.  Sasapaqun,  his  mark. 

Peonseck,             his  mark.  Shoron,  his  mark. 

Totoquan,             his  mark.  Tackj'mo,  his  mark. 


Indian  Deeds  of  Stratford.  31 

thereof  and  do  oblige  ourselves  and  our  heirs  to  stand 
thereto,  Golden  Hill  as  stated  by  the  Court  excepted."" 

Thus  ended  apparently  all  Indian  claims  to  Stratford 
lands,  except  in  the  reservations  at  Golden  Hill  and  Coram. 
Of  those  who  signed  this  last  release  two  deserve  a  passing 
notice.  Siacus,  who  signed  a  deed  in  Fairfield,  retired  to 
Gaylordsville  in  New  Milford  where  he  resided  some  years 
after  the  Gaylord  family  settled  there  about  1724,  and  where 
the  site  of  his  hut  is  still  pointed  out,  as  having  stood  in  the 
midst  of  an  orchard  of  apple-trees.  He  was  a  kindly  remem- 
bered old  Indian. 

Chickens  was  also  of  the  Pequannock  tribe,  and  removed, 
probably,  first  to  the  Newtown  or  southern  part  of  New 
Milford,  thence  to  Reading,  where  he  claimed  and  held  a  res- 
ervation, and  after  some  years  traded  his  reservation  there 
for  land  at  Ten  Mile  River  near  Kent,  with  John  Read,  and 
became  one  of  the  Kent  tribe.  His  grandson,  Tom  Warrups, 
figured  somewhat  amusingly  as  well  as  patrioticalh'  during 
the  Revolution  at  Reading,"  and  after  some  3'ears  he  removed 
and  settled  on  the  east  side  of  Mount  Tom  in  New  Milford, 
where  he  enjoyed  much  liberty,  lived  cheerfully,  loved  strong 
water,  had  a  wife  who  was  a  complete  slave  in  waiting  on 
him,  but  quite  content  in  her  home.  Nothing  is  known  of  his 
death  and  hence  probably  he  removed  to  Kent  about  18 10. 

The  local  name  Pootatuck,  where  the  southern  part  of 
the  village  of  Shelton  now  stands  in  the  town  of  Huntington, 

"  Confirmation  of  the  White  Hills  sale,  April  2S,  1684. 

Papuree,  his  mark. 

Indian  witness.  Ponamscut,  •    his  mark. 

Nasumpawes,         his  mark.  Acunhe,  his  mark. 

Robin,  his  mark. 

Matach,  his  mark. 

Siacus,  his  mark. 

Chickens,  his  mark. 
Sashwake  James,       his  mark. 

Crehero,  his  mark. 

Nasqurro,  his  mark. 

Cheroromogg,  his  mark. 

'^  Hist,  of  Redding,  65.     Indians  of  Housatonic,  Hist.  New  Milford. 


32  History  of  Stratford. 

was  within  the  original  limits  of  the  town  of  Stratford,  and 
was  occupied  by  Indians,  apparently,  until  1684,  some  forty 
years  after  the  town  began  to  be  settled,  although  it  was  not 
a  reservation.  It  was  probably  the  most  ancient  settlement 
on  that  river  below  Weantinock  and  retained  the  original 
name  of  the  river,  which  was  Pootatuck,  meaning  "  falls 
river"  or  the  river  with  many  falls.  From  the  distribution  of 
relics  as  well  as  the  name  of  the  river  it  is  suggested  that  the 
Mohican,  or  Hudson  river  Indians,  came  through  the  opening 
of  the  mountains  a  little  below  the  present  town  of  Kent, 
Conn,,  and  finding  the  magnificent  cascade  or  falls  at  the 
place  now  called  Bull's  Bridge,  and  on  ascertaining  the  falls 
at  New  Milford  and  at  Canaan,  they  named  the  river  Poota- 
tuck, '  falls  river,'  So  far  as  ascertained,  this  was  the  only 
name  applied  by  the  Indians  to  this  river  when  the  whites 
first  came  here,'*  and  from  it  came  the  general  classification 
of  Pootatuck  Indians  to  all  who  resided  upon  it ;  except  that 
they  always  retained — even  to  this  day — the  ancestral  origin 
of  Mohegans  (usually  pronounced  by  the  Indians,  Mohegans.) 
The  first  settlement  they  made  on  the  river  of  any  considerable 
account  was  at  New  Milford  which  was  retained  as  the  Council- 
fireplace,  or  the  capital,  until  the  locality  was  sold  in  1705.  A 
small  settlement  was  perhaps  first  made  at  Kent  called  Scata- 
cook  (Pish-gach-tigok)  signifying  'the  confluence  of  two 
streams,'  for  here  were  found  by  the  first  settlers  such  imple- 
ments as  were  not  made  in  this  part  of  the  country,  as 
described  by  Dr.  Trumbull  and  as  have  been  ascertained  at 
more  recent  dates,  but  the  favoring  circumstances  at  that 
locality  for  a  large  and  permanent  settlement  were  almost  noth- 
ing compared  to  New  Milford,  where  were  the  richest  bottom 
lands  and  greatest  in  extent  of  any  place  on  the  river,  besides 
the  great  abundance  offish  and  eels  two  miles  below,  at  Falls 
Mountain.  Then,  also,  it  has  been  handed  down  from  the  Rev. 
Daniel   Boardman   the  first  minister  at  New  Milford,   by  his 


'*  On  Stratford  and  Derby  records  the  only  Indian  name  for  this  river  at  first 
was  Pootatuck,  with  various  spellings,  and  as  late  as  1723  in  Newtown  in  a  pub- 
lic vote  they  say,  "  the  Great  or  Potatuck  River,"  in  a  proposition  to  purchase  the 
Indian  claims  of  Ouiomph  and  his  tribe  then  residing  there,  thus  showing  that 
the  Indians  still  retained  their  old  name  for  the  river. 


Indian  Deeds  of  Stratford. 


33 


son  Sherman  Boardman  in  writing  that  New  Milford  was  the 
chief  seat  of  government  for  all  the  tribes  or  clans  on  the 
Housatonic  river.  The  only  locality  that  retained  the  origi- 
nal name  was  at  Shelton,  and  the  extensiveness  of  the  burials 
made  there  indicates  greater  antiquity  than  elsewhere  except 
at  New  Milford.  There  was  here  also  at  the  old  Pootatuck 
village,  an  old  fort  when  the  English  first  came,  and  a  new 
one  had  been  built,  just  before,  or  was  built  soon  after,  at 
what  is  still  called  Fort  Hill  on  the  west  side  a  little  further 
up  the  river. 


CONFLUENCE    OF    THE    HOUSATONIC    WITH    THE    NAUGATUCK. 

The  accompanying  illustration  represents  the  Naugatuck 
river  coming  from  the  north,  at  the  right  hand,  into  the 
Housatonic.  The  cove  at  the  north  end  of  the  fields  opposite 
the  old  Leman  Stone  store  and  shipping  house,  was  known 
many  years  as  Huntington  Landing  (belonging  to  Stratford 
150  years);  and  about  half  a  mile  up  the  river  on  the  west 
side  was  the  old  Pootatuck  settlement  and  fort ;  and  a  mile 
3 


34  History  of  Stratford. 

above  it  on  the  same  side  of  the  river  was  the  new  fort  on 
what  is  still  Fort  Hill,  while  about  a  mile  further  up  is  the 
Indian  Well.  This  Huntington  and  Derby  Landing  was  a 
great  shipping  port  for  about  one  hundred  years. 

It  was  at  this  place,  being  within  the  bounds  of  Stratford, 
that  the  Indians  in  1663  agreed  to  abandon  their  old  planting 
field  for  the  sake  of  peace,  and  probably  for  the  purpose  of 
being  allowed  to  occupy  the  locality  longer  as  a  settlement 
or  residence,  after  the  land  had  been  turned  over  to  the  Eng- 
lish more  than  twenty  years,  in  the  following  language  : 

"  Upon  consideration  of  friendly  and  loving  correspond- 
ence between  us  and  the  town  of  Stratford,  we  will  no  more 
plant  on  the  south  side  of  the  Great  River  at  Paugusitt  to 
prevent  a  ground  of  future  variance  between  us,  in  order  to 
avoid  any  damage  that  might  be  done  to  corn.'"*  The  cattle 
and  swine  of  the  English  were  pastured  in  the  wilderness, 
and  if  the  Indians  planted  corn  without  making  substantial 
fences  about  it,  damage  would  be  the  inevitable  result ;  there- 
fore rather  than  build  a  fence  around  land  they  could  not 
legally  hold,  they  concluded  not  to  plant  at  that  place.  A 
large  proportion  of  the  Paugasitt  tribe  were  residing  then  on 
Derby  Neck,  a  mile  north  of  the  present  village  of  Birming- 
ham, where  they  had  a  large  planting  field. 

The  relics  found  at  Pootatuck  have  been  numerous  and 
some  of  them  very  fine  in  workmanship.  Two  pestles  dug 
up  in  excavating  for  a  cellar  in  1879,  ii^ar  the  river,  in  the 
lower  part  of  Shelton,  were  the  most  perfect  of  any  seen  in 
this  part  of  the  country. 

The  Indian  Well  is  the  only  remaining  monument  or 
visible  reminder  of  the  old  Pootatuck  tribe.  This  was  located 
on  the  west  side  of  the  river  about  a  mile  above  the  dam 
across  the  Housatonic.  A  stream  of  water  pours  through 
the  opening  of  the  rocks  and  descends  about  twenty  feet  into 
a  deep  pool  or  well,  said  to  have  been  measured  to  the  depth 

"  The  agreement  between  Okenunge  and  Stratford,  May  28,  1663,  was  signed 
by  the  following  names  : 

Okenunge,  his  mark.  Ansantaway,  his  mark. 

Amantaneage,     his  mark.  •  Mansuck,  his  mark. 

Asquetmougu,     his  mark.  Nomponucke,         his  mark. 


Indian  Deeds  of  Newtown.  35. 

of  one  hundred  feet  without  finding  the  bottom.  It  is  said 
that  the  Indians  held  some  superstition  of  awe  or  veneration 
for  the  place,  but  the  appearance  would  indicate  the  awe  to 
have  partaken  more  of  the  nature  of  thankfulness  for  the 
coolness  and  agreeableness  of  the  place  and  the  abundance 
of  good  water.  It  is  a  pleasing  resort  for  visitors  in  the  sum- 
mer, and  many  improve  its  inviting  shades  and  romantic 
scenery.  Whether  the  Indians  had  as  much  or  more  pleasure 
in  the  locality  than  the  whites  have  since  may  be  a  question 
of  doubt,  but  certain  it  is  that  the  name  is  the  Indian  Well. 

Pootatnck  in  Neivtown. 

About  1680  the  Indians  on  the  lower  part  of  the  Housa- 
tonic  made  a  considerable  migration  with  their  wigwams  up 
the  Housatonic  river,  those  on  the  south  side  to  Pootatuck 
in  Newtown  and  those  on  the  east  side  to  the  mouth  of  the 
Shepaug  on  the  north  side.  In  i68i,the  Pequannock  Indians 
sold  their  old  planting  field  in  Fairfield,  and  in  1685,  1686  and 
1687  they  completed  the  sale  of  all  their  claims  in  that  town. 
Golden  Hill  and  Coram  in  Stratford  were  left,  but  Coram 
they  never  liked  as  a  place  for  wigwams  and  but  few  dwelt 
there,  and  the  whites  had  already  settled  to  the  north  of  that 
place,  so  that  game  was  scarce,  the  forests  were  disappearing, 
and  they  felt  compelled  to  move  West,  as  many  of  their  suc- 
cessors have  done  since. 

Newtown  and  New  Milford  became  the  points  of  rendez- 
vous from  1680  until  about  1705,  when  the}'  sold  again  and 
moved  on  west. 

Newtown  from  1680  until  1705  must  have  been  the  home 
of  several  hundred  natives.  In  the  latter  year  they  sold  the 
territory  for  that  township,'^  making  some  reservation  and  in 

^^The  deed  for  the  purchase  of  Newtown  is  dated  July  25,  1705,  and  was  for  a 
' '  tract  of  land  bounded  south  on  a  Pine  Swamp  and  land  of  Mr.  Sherman  and  Mr. 
Rossiter,  Southwest  upon  Fairfield  bounds,  Northwest  upon  the  bounds  of  Dan- 
bury,  Northeast  on  land  purchased  by  Milford  men  at  or  near  Caentonoack,  and 
Southeast  on  land  of  Nannawaug,  an  Indian,  the  line  running  two  miles  from  the 
river  right  against  Potatuck,  the  said  tract  of  land  containing  in  length,  eight 
miles  and  in  breadth  six  miles in  consideration  of  four  guns,  four  Broad- 
cloth coats,  four  Blanketts,  four  Buffalo  Coats,  four  Kettles,  ten  shirts,  ten  pair  of 


36 


History  of  Stratford. 


1723,  they  by  their  chief,  Quiumph,  sold  all  their  claims  in 
that  town  "except  a  corner  of  intervale  lying  by  ye  River 
where  Cocksures  fence'"  is."  The  Newtown  deed  of  1705, 
contains  the  names  of  several  Indians  who  signed  deeds  in 
Fairfield  and  Stratford,  showing  that  they  retired  from  their 
old  wigwams  along  the  coast  to  Pootatuck  in  Newtown.  New 
Milford  and  Newtown  were  purchased  at  nearly  the  same 
time.  At  New  Milford  they  sold  their  last  land,  which  was 
their  old  planting  field,  in  1705,  and  with  those  from  Newtown 
and  Shepaug  in  Woodbury  began  to  center  in  considerable 
numbers  at  Kent.  There  is  a  sense  of  sadness  connected 
with  their  leaving  Weantinock,  their  old  council-fire  place, 
where  their  warriors  had  gathered  during  many  generations 
to  decide  the  great  questions  of  peace  or  war,  and  where 
their  wigwams  and  fort  had  stood,  perhaps  hundreds  of 
years,  and  where  also  they  had  buried  a  large  number  of 
their  kindred  ancestors.      It    was  a    beautiful  locality,  with 


Stockings,  fortie   pound  of  Lead,  ten  Hatchetts,  ten  pound  of  powder  and  fortie 
knives." 

Macroremee,  his  mark.  Slams,  his  mark. 

Wachunaman,  his  mark.  Sudragumqua,  his  mark. 

Walwatup,  his  mark.  Wompenoch,  his  mark. 

Martenech,  his  mark.  Wachunanee,  his  mark. 

Awashkeran,  his  mark.  Saununtawan,  his  mark. 

Ammeruetas,  his  mark.  Manapok,  his  mark. 

Mattouchsqua,  his  mark.  Magusquo,  his  mark. 

Gonnehampishe,  his  mark,  Tarrosque,  his  mark. 

Wompeowash,  his  mark.  Meramoe,  his  mark. 

Murapash,  his  mark.  Sosauso,  his  mark. 

Punnauta,  his  mark.  Wamatup,  his  mark. 

Wannome,  his  mark.  Materook,  his  mark. 

Mesaukseo,  his  mark.  Awashkeram,  his  mark. 

Taroosh,  his  mark.  Mattoacksqua,  his  mark. 

Merammoe,  his  mark.  Mauquash,  his  mark. 

Sachamoque,  his  mark.  Massumpo,  his  mark. 

Sassousoon.  his  mark.  Nannawaug,  his  mark. 

•^  Newtown  deed,  called  Second  Purchase,  dated  Aug.  7,  172^. 

Indian  Witnesses.  Quiumph,  his  mark. 

Manchero,  his  mark. 

Nalumkeotunk,  his  mark. 

Machekomp,  his  mark. 

Mansumpus,  his  mark. 


38  History  of  Stratford. 

most  charming  surroundings.  Their  wigwams  stood  on  the 
high  bluff,  seen  in  the  accompanying  picture,  with  the 
mountain  in  the  rear  stretching  to  the  north,  and  their  rich 
planting  field  at  the  foot  of  the  bluff  stretching  eastward  to 
the  river  and  along  its  shore  for  a  mile  or  more.  On  the 
edge  of  the  bluff,  now  covered  with  a  beautiful  chestnut  and 
oak  grove,  was  their  burying  place,  where  now  after  one  hun- 
dred and  eighty  years,  fifty  mounds  may  be  counted  ;  it 
being,  probably,  the  most  perfect  native  memorial  place  that 
can  be  seen  in  all  New  England.  The  accompanying  cut 
shows  first,  beyond  the  bridge,  the  old  field,  then  the  bluff 
where  a  dwelling  stands  ;  a  little  to  the  left  of  which  are  the 
mounds,  in  the  grove,  and  beyond  these  the  mountains.  In 
front  of  all  these,  flowing  beneath  the  bridge  is  the  Indians' 
grand  old  Pootatuck  river.  All  these  are  but  memorial  of 
these  native  children  of  America. 

Notwithstanding  there  were  only  eighty  acres  of  land 
reserved  for  the  Indians  on  Golden  Hill,  the  white  settlers 
were  unwilling  to  allow  them  even  these  acres,  but  the 
•General  Court  faithfully  tried  to  protect  them,  as  seen  in  the 
following  record  : 

"  May,  1678.  Whereas  this  Court  have  been  informed 
that  some  of  Stratford  have  been  claiming  and  laying  out 
land  upon  Golden  Hill  to  themselves,  which  hath  been  settled 
upon  the  Indians  b}^  agreement  in  this  Court  about  nineteen 
years  since,  the  Indians  having  not  relinquished  their  right  in 
the  said  Golden  Hill,  the  Court  confirms  the  same  to  the 
said  Indians,  according  to  former  grant,  without  molestation  ; 
and  this  Court  orders  that  the  said  Indians  shall  not  be 
molested  or  interrupted  in  their  right  there  until  they  do 
wholly  relinquish  their  right  publicly,  and  come  and  record 
the  same  before  this  Court.  This  Court  allows  the  Indians 
two  coats  to  be  delivered  them  by  Stratford  for  their 
trouble."  ■'" 

In  May,  1680,  xA-ckenach,  Sachem  of  Milford  and  Pau- 
gassett  Indians  asked  for  more  land  for  the  support  of  his 
people  ;  in  reply  to  which  the  Court  appointed  two  commit- 

20  Col.  Rec,  iii. 


Indian  Reservations.  39 

tees,  one  to  lay  out  one  hundred  acres  at  Turkey  Hill,  for 
Milford  Indians, — which  accomplished  its  work — and  the 
other  to  lay  out  one  hundred  acres  at  Corum  hill.  The  latter 
say  in  their  report :  "  We  have  been  at  Corum  hill  and  have 
laid  out  one  hundred  acres  of  land,  be  it  more  or  less,  for  the 
use  of  those  Indians  that  properly  belong  to  Stratford  to 
provide  land  for,  by  the  law  of  this  Colony,  bounded  with 
marked  trees  and  Stratford  River  and  Samuel  Judson's 
ground;  sufficient  highways  and  conveniences  for  fishing  on 
that  side  the  river  to  be  allowed  in  that  said  land  when  and 
where  occasion  shall  require  from  time  to  time. 
Oct.  3,  6.  1680. 

William  Fowler. 
Jehu  Burr." 

This  Coram  land  the  Indians  did  not  like,  reporting  it  as 
very  stoney  and  poor,  but  they  occupied  it  many  years, 
although  not  in  large  numbers.  In  1714,  they  sold  about 
twenty  acres  of  it,"'  for  the  sum  of  nine  pounds  and  other 
land.  This  other  land  is  described  as  "in  Stratford  town- 
ship near  a  place  called  Quorum,  bounded  on  the  east  partly 
on  the  river  and  on  the  north  with  a  brook  called  Quorum 
brook." 

In  the  deed  to  Harger  is  the  name  Tom,  whom  Harger 
in  his  deed  to  the  Indians  says  was  son  of  Cockapotane,  who 
v^^as  the  last  chief  at  Paugassett,  about  1730,  and  Tom  in  sign- 
ing the  deed  made  the  same  mark  Antsantaway  had  used  a 
number  of  times,  namely,  the  bow  and  arrow. 

Tom  was  somewhat  accustomed  to  high  times  when 
young,  as  appears  from  the  sale  of  a  piece  of  the  Coram 
reservation  in  1724.     The  following  is  the  record  : 

"  Know  all  men  by  these  presents,  that  whereas  certain 

"^^  The  deed   to  Abraham   Harger,   dated  May  31,   1714,  was  signed   by  ten 
Indians  as  follows  : 

Windham,  his  mark. 

Ackomie,  his  mark. 

Tom,  his  mark. 

Tackamore,  his  mark. 

Pequet,  his  mark. 


Mishallin, 

his  mark. 

Robin, 

his  mark. 

Curan, 

his  mark. 

Rauneton, 

his  mark. 

Chips, 

his  mark. 

40  History  of  Stratford. 

Turkey  Hill  Indians  upon  Stratford  River  did  about  May- 
last  and  before,  steal  sundry  sheep  from  Stratford  side  out  of 
Quorum  plain  and  being  convicted  of  the  same  before 
Authority — the  Indians  were  these  :  Montigue,  Tom  Will, 
Ponocurate.^Chashamon,  Mojono,  Chipunch,  Nenoco,  Peico- 
curet, — their  Sachem  Tomtonee  or  Munshanges,  engaging  to 
pay  eleven  pounds  ten  shillings  in  money  which  the  said 
Indians  promised  to  pay  for  the  damage  in  stealing  of  sheep, 
and  not  having  money  to  pay,  the  aforesaid  Tomtonee,  Saga- 
more, in  the  behalf  of  all  the  other  Indians  doth  make  over 
two  parcels  of  land  ;  the  one  being  about  two  acres  called  by 
the  name  of  lower  Quorum  upon  the  great  River,  that  they 
had  of  Abraham  Harger,  the  other  ten  acres  of  land  near  the 
Narrows,  bounded  with  the  land  of  Daniel  Shelton,  north, 
south  and  easterly  by  the  Indians'  land  in  ye  bounds  of  Strat- 
ford for  the  aforesaid  sum  of  eleven  pound  ten  shillings,  and 
forty  shillings  more  in  money  which  we  do  own  to  have 
received  already,  in  all  being  thirteen  pounds  ten  shillings ; 
all  the  aforesaid  land  with  all  the  privileges,  etc.,  hath  made 
over  unto  Daniel  Shelton  of  Stratford  in  the  Colony  of  Con- 
necticut, to  quitclaim  unto  the  said  Daniel  Shelton  and  his 
heirs  forever,  or  so  long  as  he  the  said  Shelton  or  his  heirs 
shall  own  that  they  are  paid  by  the  improvement  of  said 
land.  The  said  Shelton  of  his  own  accord  doth  say  that  if 
the  General  Court  or  the  town  of  Stratford  saith  he  hath 
done  amiss,  he  will  relinquish  the  land.  The  aforesaid  Tom- 
tonee paying  the   sum   of    thirteen   pounds    ten    shillings   to 

aforesaid   Shelton and  the  said  Tomtonee,  Sagamore, 

does  promise  for  himself  and  the  rest  of  said  Indians  that  if 
ever  the  land  is  taken  out  of  the  hand  of  Daniel  Shelton  or 
his  heirs,  that  the  said  Tomtonee  will  pay  back  the  aforesaid 
thirteen  pounds  ten  shillings  to  the  aforesaid  Shelton  or  his 
heirs."" 

The   special  reason  why  Mr.  Shelton  so  freely  offered  to- 

"  Derby,  Jan.  7,  1723-4,  Tomtonee's  deed  for  stealing  sheep. 

Mashages,         his  mark.  Tomtonee,         his  mark. 

Tom  Will,        his  mark.  Cheponan,         his  mark. 

Punto,  his  mark. 


Indian  Reservations.  41 

restore  the  land  if  called  upon  was  that  it  was  unlawful  for 
any  person  or  company  to  purchase  land  of  the  Indians  with- 
out a  permit  from  the  Court. 

It  has  been  reported  that  the  Indians  had  a  reservation 
at  Oronoque,  or  Woronoque,  as  the  early  Stratford  town 
clerks  wrote  it,  but  no  record  of  such  reservation  has  been 
seen  by  the  author  of  these  pages.  They  may  have  resided 
there,  or  occupied  a  particular  locality  for  many  years  by 
sufferance  from  the  town,  as  they  did  at  Pootatuck,  but  there 
was  no  reservation  in  the  town  but  at  Golden  Hill,  at  first, 
and  then  at  Coram  afterwards,  and  the  wood  lot  at  Rocky 
Hill. 

Golden  Hill  Reservation  Sold. 

The  settlement  made  with  the  Pequannock  Indians  in 
1659,  in  the  appropriation  of  eighty  acres  of  land  on  Golden 
Hill,  by  the  General  Court  through  the  towns  of  Stratford 
and  Fairfield,  remained  in  force  nearly  one  hundred  years,  or 
until  October,  1763,  when  three  Indians — Tom  Sherman, 
Eunice  Shoran  his  wife,  and  Sarah  Shoran,  petitioned  the 
General  Court  for  redress,  claiming  that  they  and  their 
ancestors  "  had  quietly  enjoyed  said  lands  till  within  a  few 
years  last  past,  Gamaliel  French,  widow  Sarah  Booth,  Elihu 
Burret,  Joseph  Booth,  Mary  Burret,  the  Rev.  Robert  Ross, 
Ezra  Kirtland,  Aaron  Hawley  and  Samuel  Porter,  all  of  said 
Stratford,  and  Daniel  Morriss,  John  Burr,  Jr.,  and  Richard 
Hall,  all  of  Fairfield,  have  entirely  ejected  and  put  the 
memorialists  out  of  the  whole  of  said  lands  and  pulled  down 
their  wigwam  without  right."  Upon  this  complaint,  Jabez 
Hamlin,  Benjamin  Hall  and  Robert  Treat,  Esqrs.,  were 
appointed  a  committee  to  inquire  into  the  matter  and  report, 
which  report  was  made  the  next  May,  but  the  Court  was 
wholly  dissatisfied  with  it  and  appointed  Jabez  Hamlin, 
Elisha  Sheldon  and  Robert  Treat,  Esqrs.,  a  second  committee 
"  with  full  power  and  authority  to  examine  into  and  discover 
said  matters  of  grievance."  This  committee  reported  the  next 
October,  1765,  an  agreement  with  the  Indians  to  sell  all  the 
eighty  acres  except  "  a  certain  piece  or  parcel  of   land  called 


42  History  of  Stratford. 

Nimrocl  lot,  containing  about  twelve  acres,  with  the  spring  at 
the  point  of  Golden  Hill  aforesaid,  bounded  westerly  by  an 
highway,  eastwardly  by  Poquonnuck  River,  northerly  by 
Jabez  Summer's  land,  and  southerh^  by  the  Cove  and  com- 
mon land,  also  about  eight  acres  of  wood-land  at  Rocky  Hill, 
to  be  purchased  for  them  by  the  petitioners,  the}'  also  pa_ving 
to  them  the  said  Indians,  thirty  bushels  of  Indian  corn  and 
three  pounds  worth  of  blankets."""  This  report  and  agree- 
ment was  accepted  and  ordered  by  the  Court  to  be  executed, 
and  to  be  in  full  for  all  demands  by  the  Indians. 

Besides  the  thirty  bushels  of  Indian  corn  and  three 
pounds  worth  of  blankets,  those  who  had  trespassed  on  the 
rights  of  the  Indians  were  ordered  by  the  Court  to  pay  to 
Thomas  Hill,  the  Indian  agent,  ^^52  11^  2'',  to  defray  the 
expenses  of  the  Indians  in  the  suit. 

In  the  agreement  with  Fairfield  in  1659,  this  land  upon 
the  Indians  leaving  it,  was  to  revert  to  the  town  of  Stratford, 
upon  their  returning  half  the  amount  of  money  that  Fairfield 
paid  for  it.  If  this  was  carried  out,  then  these  trespassers 
must  have  paid  this  item  also  to  the  town  of  Stratford,  if  no 
more,  provided  they  retained  the  land.  It  is  probable,  how- 
ever, that  they  paid  a  still  further  charge  to  Stratford  for  the 
land. 

It  will  be  seen  by  the  above  quotation  that  the  wood 
land  was  not  an  original  reservation  but  a  purchase  at  this 
time. 

The  Last  Families. 

Tom  Sherman,  the  last  owner  of  the  Golden  Hill  reserva- 
tion, married,  in  the  Indian  wa\%  Eunice  Shoran,  and  had 
children:     I,  Tom;   II,  Eunice;  III,  Sarah. 

I.  Tom  2^,  m.  Sarah  (?)  and  had  IV  Ruby. 

II.  Eunice,  m.  Mack  or  Mansfield,  formerly  of  Kent,  and 
had  V,  Jim,  Garry  and  Eunice. 

III.  Sarah,  m.  Ben  Roberts,  a  negro,  and  lived  at  the 
Eagles'  Nest  at  Stratford  Tide  Mill.     Some  of  their  descend- 

*''  Conn.  Col.  Records,  xli. 


■i,4,^^tZ'm 


e^'T^'^^i'n 


The  Last  Faviilies.  43 

ants  still  reside  in  Orange,   Conn.,  but  are  not  claimants  on 
the  Indian  funds  of  Stratford. 

V.  Jim  Mansfield,  son  of  Eunice  Shoran,  m.  his  cousin 
Ruby,  dau.  of  Tom  2'\  and  had  Nancy,  who  had  VI,  William 
Sherman;  after  which  she  m.  John  Sharpe,  and  had  Beecher, 
Nancy  and  Charles,  and  Sharpe  being  sent  to  State's  Prison, 
she  lived  with  a  man  Rensler,  and  had  Olive. 

VI.  William  Sherman,  son  of  Nancy  and  grand-son  of 
Tom  2'^  and  Ruby,  was  born  in  1825  in  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y., 
and  is  still  living  at  Nichols  Farms  in  Trumbull,  Conn.,  being 
the  sole  claimant  on  the  Indian  money  from  the  sale  of  Golden 
Hill.  He  m.  Nancy  Hopkins  of  New  London,  and  was  a 
sailor  in  a  whaling  ship  seventeen  years;  has  been  'round  the 
world  nine  times;  was  first  mate  of  the  ship  five  years  and 
earned  an  honorable  standing  and  reputation,  which  he  has 
retained  to  the  present  time.  He  educated  himself,  and 
could  perform  the  full  services  of  a  first  mate  on  a  ves- 
sel correctly  as  well  as  intelligently.  He  has  long  been  a 
respected  farm  laborer  at  Nichols  Farms,  and  long  trusted 
with  considerable  responsibility  in  the  management  of  the 
farm  and  properties  of  Mr.  F.  P.  Ambler  and  Sons,  while  they 
were  engaged  in  the  business  of  Saddletree  manufacturing  at 
that  place.  Fie  has  been  the  Sexton  of  the  Cemetery  at 
Nichols  Farms  about  thirty  years  and  performed  the  work  of 
his  position  with  much  satisfaction  to  the  community.  He 
and  his  wife  have  acted  in  the  capacity  of  nurses  in  severe 
sicknesses  in  the  community  for  many  years,  and  as  such  won 
many  expressions  of  thankfulness  and  confidence.  The  tradi- 
tion is  that  he  is  a  descendant  of  Moll}^  Hatchet  of  Derby  ; 
and  in  the  healthy  locality  where  he  resides  has  attained 
to  the  standard  weight  of  about  three  hundred  and  sixty 
pounds. 

His  children  are:  I,  William;  II,  Henry,  died  aged  17 
years;  III,  George,  who  m.  Mary  A,  Hamilton;  IV,  Mary 
Olive,  who  died  young;  V,  Caroline;  VI,  Huldah  ;  VII, 
Mary  Olive;   VIII,  Charles  ;   IX,  child  that  died. 


CHAPTER    III. 


INDIAN    DEEDS,   WARS   AND   RELICS. 


AIRFIELD  and  Stratford  were  both  held 
)_  by  the  Connecticut  Colony  as  conquered 
ff  and  ceded  territory  when  these  settlements 
were  first  commenced,  and  for  ten  years 
they  were  treated  in  several  respects  as  one 
plantation.  They  were  taxed  as  one ;  they 
were  served  with  magistrates  as  one,  and 
jointly  they  provided  for  the  Pequannock: 
Indians  after  1659  until  1680;  Stratford 
furnishing  the  land  for  the  Golden  Hill 
reservation  in  part  and  Fairfield  contribut- 
ing something  towards  the  supply  of  the 
land,  and  also  the  agents  to  oversee  the 
Indians  were  appointed  from  Fairfield. 

In  order,  therefore,  to  understand  the 
whole  history  of  this  tribe  of  Indians  it  is  important  to  refer 
to  the  deeds  they  gave  of  land  in  Fairfield,  and  to  preserve 
their  names  the  same  as  the  signers  of  Stratford  deeds. 

The  division  line  between  Stratford  and  Fairfield  passed 
through,  north  and  south,  the  territory  which  these  Indians 
had  long  cultivated,  which  constituted  the  open  plains  that  the 
new  settlers  so  much  desired,  that  they  could  not  settle  the 
boundary  line  themselves  and  hence  called  on  the  General 
Court  to  do  it.  This  they  did  by  retaining  the  old  line,, 
nearly  through  the  centre  of  the  plain,  allowing  the  Indians 
to  still  cultivate  about  eighty  acres,  called  the  old  Indian 
field,  near  Uncoway  River,  in  Fairfield,  and  appropriating 
eighty  more  on  Golden  Hill  in  Stratford,  but  making  Goldea 
Hill  the  place  of  residence  for  all  of  them. 


Indian  Deeds.  45 

♦ 

The  first  deed'  is  a  quitclaim  of  a  large  part  of  the  orig- 
inal town  of  Fairfield,  and  is  given  by  Pequannock  Indians  in 
1656,  nearly  seventeen  years  after  Mr.  Ludlowe  took  posses- 
sion of  the  territory.  In  this  deed  they  reserve  the  "  pro- 
priety "  or  ownership  of  the  Indian  field,  which  the3',  being 
at  Fairfield  say,  "  is  a  small  neck  of  land  on  y'^  other  side  of 
ye  creeke  ;"  meaning  Uncoway  creek  as  elsewhere  explained. 
That  was  the  neck  where  the  Gentlemen's  Trotting  Park  is 
now  located,  the  original  field  extending  northward  some 
distance  from  the  present  park.  At  the  time  the  deed  was 
given  they  were  about  to  build  a  fort,  and  the  only  considera- 
tion that  they  received  at  the  time,  apparently,  was  an  agree- 

'  Fairfield  Indian  Deed,  dated  March  20,  i6j6. 

"  Whereas  several  Indians  have  made  claim  to  much  of  y«  land  y'  ye  Town  of 
Fairfield  have  and  do  possess,  ye  Town  of  Fairfield  having  taken  ye  matter 
into  consideration,  ordered  and  appointed  Alexander  Knowles,  Henry  Jackson, 
Francis  Purdy  with  several  others  to  treat  with  Poquanuck  Indians  concerning 
and  upon  y'  treaty  with  those  Indians  whose  names  are  under  written  in  y«  behalf 
of  all  y^  Pequannock  Indians  they  have  agreed  as  followeth  : 

"First  they  owne  y'  ye  land  y*  ye  Town  is  built  upon  from  ye  Creeke  y'  ye 
tide  mill  of  Fairfield  southwestward  is  called  Sasqua  which  they  owne  has  been 
purchased*  from  ye  Indians  and  is  now  y*  English  land. 

"2.  Secondly  y"  sd.  Indians  have  acknowledged,  consented  to  and  granted 
y*  all  that  tract  of  land  which  they  call  Uncoway  and  which  is  from  y^  above  sd 
Creek  eastward  unto  ye  bounds  between  Fairfield  and  Stratford,  from  y"^  See  to 
run  into  y*^  country  seven  or  eight  miles,  for  y'^  future  it  shall  be  y*  land  and 
propriety  of  y^  inhabitants  of  y"  Town  of  Fairfield,  giving  and  granting  to  ye  sd 
Town  all  ye  above  sd  tract  of  land  called  Uncoway  with  all  creeks  rivers  etc.  .  . 
.  .  only  it  is  to  be  noticed  that  the  field  which  y"  Indians  now  possess  called  y* 
Indian  field,  which  is  a  small  neck  of  land  on  y"  other  side  of  y*  creeke  is 
excepted,  y''  Indians  still  keeping  their  propriety  in  that  small  neck  or  field.  Ye 
Indians  are  to  have  y"  privilege  of  killing  deer  within  y"^  aboves'^  tract  of  land, 
only  they  are  not  to  set  any  traps  within  y"  sd  tract  of  land. 

In  witness,  20th  March,  1656. 

"  Whereas  ye  above  said  land  is  granted  to  ye  Town  of  Fairfield  by  ye  sd 
Indians:  We  also  manifest  our  respect  unto  them  y'  wee  doe  engage  upon  suffi- 
cient warning  to  cart  their  stuff  for  them  to  erect  and  build  a  fort  yr.  Upon  this 
consideration  y"  sd  Indians  have  acknowledged  y*  abovesd  grant. 

Umpeter  Noset,  marke.         Nimrod  or  Pocunnoc,  marke. 

Matamuck,  marke.         Anthonyes,  alias  Lotashun,     marke. 

Weshun,  marke." 

*  "  Purchased,"  means  obtained,  for  in  a  later  deed  where  all  previous  deeds 
are  referred  to,  this  one  is  the  first  mentioned. 


46 


History  of  Stratford, 


ment  on  the  part  of  the  English  to  "  draw  the  stuffe,"  with 
which  to  build  this  fort,  but  this  may  have  taken  time  suffi- 
cient to  balance  quite  a  sum  of  money.  Whether  there  had 
been  a  fort  there  or  anywhere  within  Fairfield  bounds  is  not 
stated,  but  a  fort  was  at  some  time  here,  for  in  1752,  in  giving 
the  bounds  of  the  Stratfield  Society  at  this  place,  they  say, 
*'  which  said  cove  heads  or  terminates  at  or  near  the  place 
called  the  Old  Fort.'' 

Another  deed'  of  the  same  date — March  20,  1656 — was 
given  for  "  land  commonly  called  Sasqua,  lying  west  of 
Sasqua  swamp,  or  on  the  west  side  of  the  present  Mill  River; 
Musquat,  the  first  name  on  this  deed,  is  the  same  as  that  on  a 
deed  in  Stratford  in  1671. 

The  third  deed*  was  given  to  cover  this  same  territory  or 
a  part  of  it  because  the  Indians  at  Norwalk  claimed  an 
interest  in  it. 


2  Col.  Rec,  X.  147. 

^  Second  Indian  Deed  in  Fairfield,  date  March  20,  16^6. 

"  This  was  a  deed  of  "  land  commonly  called  Susqua,  .  .  .  bounded  on  y'  north- 
east with  y*  land  called   Uncaway,  on  y«  southwest  with  ye  land  at  Maximus,  ye 

line  on  ye  southwest  runs  close  to  ye  English  farms  at  Maximus from  the 

sea  Straight  up  into  ye  country  six  miles  at  y^  least." 

Musquatt,  his  mark.         Santamartous  poppoos, 

Taspee,  his  mark.         Willecon, 

Ponuncamo,  his  mark.         James,  alias  Watusewa- 

Cramkeago's  Squaw, 


his  mark, 
his  mark. 


Selamartous'  Sister 
Wissashoes, 


satum, 
^Vompegan, 


his  mark, 
his  mark. 


mark. 


her  mark. 
The  following  signed  October  16,  1679. 
Creconoe's         mark.  Chickens' 

Indian  Witnesses. 
Nimrod's         mark.  Antony's  mark." 

''  Fairfield   Indian   Deed  of  Land  claimed  by  Indians  of  Norwalk,  in  which  it 
is  said  "  Susqua  did  run  west  as  far  as  Muddy  Creek." 
Dated  April  11,  1661. 

Momechemen,     mark.  Wenam,  mark. 

Tolpee,  mark,  Quanumsooe,  mark. 

Aucan,  mark.  Panoucamus,   mark. 

Maskot,  mark.  James,  marke." 

Indian  Witnesses. 
Mamachim's      mark.  Weenam's         mark." 


Indian  Deeds. 


47 


The  next  deed^  here  noticed — for  the  deed  given  in  1670 
has  not  been  seen — was  given  for  claims,  again,  on  the  whole 
township,  and  a  large  part  of  it  is  given  in  the  note  to  show 
the  inside  track  of  the  business  of  buying  lands  of  the  Indians, 
and  also  because  it  was  the  final  one,  except  for  reservations, 
for  the  southern  part  of  the  township. 

The  interpreter  in  these  sales  was  John  Minor  of  Strat- 
ford, and  several   of  these  deeds  are   recorded  on   Fairfield 


*  Fairfield  Indian  Deed,  quitclaim,  date  October  6,  1680. 

"  Know  all  men  by  these  presents  y'  whereas  y"  towne  of  Fairfield  hath  form- 
erly bought  of  y"  true  Indian  proprietors  all  ye  lands  contained  within  their 
township  bounds  which  is  seven  miles  broad  upon  ye  sea  coast  and  from  ye  sea 
at  least  twelve  miles  into  ye  country  to  y"  northward  of  their  bounds,  bounded  on 
y®  east  with  y®  sd.  Town  bounds  as  y"  Court  hath  settled,  on  ye  west  with  ye 
town  bounds  of  Norwake,  also  Compaw  Neck  from  ye  old  road  to  Norwake  to 
Sagatuck  River  on  ye  west,  and  to  ye  sea  on  ye  south,  for  which  lands  ye  Indian 
proprietors  have  given  ye  sd  Towne  severall  bills  of  sale — one  bill  bearing  date 
20th  March,  1656,  another  bill  dated  21  March,  i6|^,  ye  3d  bill  bearing  date  ye  19th 
Jan.,  1670,  by  all  which  bills  of  sale  ye  above  lands  are  made  over  to  ye  Towne, 
Yet  for  ye  maintenance  of  love  and  peace  between  ye  sd  Towne  and  us  ye  Indians 
y'  wee  may  prevent  trouble,  y*  neither  we  nor  our  heirs  nor  successors  shall  make 

any  further  claims We  the  surviving  Indians,  inhabitants  of  Poquanock, 

Uncoway,  Susqua  and  Aspetuck  do  covenant,  etc for  a  valuable  considera- 
tion do  alienate,  etc [In  this  deed  the  old  Indian  field  was  still  reserved.] 

Witness  this  6th  day  of  October,  1680. 

John  Minor,  )  „,.  ,  ^ 

T  ,      o,  J     r  Witnesses  and  Interpreter. 

John  bherwood,    ) 


Old  Anthony, 

his 

mark. 

Panums6t, 

his  mark. 

Nimrod, 

his 

mark. 

Pupurah, 

his  mark. 

Woywegun  Nasq 

ue. 

his 

mark. 

Mamarashock, 

his  mark. 

Yeerusqua, 

her 

mark. 

Nausouate, 

his  mark. 

Washannaesuck, 

his 

mark. 

Sasqua  James, 

his  mark. 

Koewop, 

his 

mark. 

Nusenpawes, 

his  mark. 

Cooreco, 

his 

mark. 

Creconoc, 

his  mark. 

Weequombe, 

his 

mark. 

Norwake  James 

his  mark. 

Poueri, 

his 

mark. 

Capt.  Witree, 

his  mark. 

Youyowwhy, 

his 

mark. 

Iletorow, 

his  mark. 

Patchcock, 

his 

mark. 

Nasacoe, 

his  mark. 

Sasapequun, 

his 

mark. 

Quatiart, 

his  mark. 

Aquonke, 

his  marke. 

Siacus, 

his  mark." 

October  13,  1680, 

the 

following  names  were  added. 

"  Hassahan, 

marke. 

Wampum, 

mark 

s. 

Mittacke, 

marke. 

Warenet, 

marke. 

Womsoncowe, 

marke. 

Choromoke, 

mark 

£. 

Chickins, 

ma 

rke." 

48  Histo7-y  of  Stratford. 

book  in  John  Minor's  handwriting,  but  testified  to  by  Fair- 
field town  clerk. 

On  this  last  deed  are  many  names,  some  of  which  we 
find  on  Stratford  deeds,  and  also  on  deeds  given  some  years 
later  further  up  the  Housatonic  river.  Old  Anthony,  whose 
Indian  name  was  Lotashun,  was,  we  imagine,  a  noble  old 
Indian,  and  really  very  old.  Nimrod,  whose  Indian  name 
was  Pocunnoe,  had  been  prosecuted  thirty  years  before  for 
killing  a  Mr.  Buttler's  hogs,  being  then  a  prominent  man, 
and  must  have  been  quite  old,  and  he  it  was  who  had  his 
wigwam  on  the  eastern  part  of  the  Golden  Hill  reservation, 
and  after  whom  the  lot  was  named,  and  known  man}^  years, 
near  where  the  Bridgeport  Gas  Works  now  stand,  and  in  his 
honor  also  was  named  a  steamboat  sailing  from  Bridgeport 
nearly  two  hundred  years  after  Pocunnoe  was  named  Nim- 
rod. Quite  a  number  of  these  names  with  variations  of 
spelling  are  to  be  seen  several  times  in  other  deeds  hereafter 
noticed. 

Only  one  year  after  the  date  of  the  last  deed  the  Pequan- 
nock  Indians  prevailed  with  Fairfield  men  to  buy  their  old 
field  near  Uncoway  creek,  although  the  Fairfield  people  urged 
them  to  keep  it,  as  the  bill  of  sale  says,  and  on  the  i8th  of 
May,  1681,  the  deed  was  signed  ;  the  deed  saying,  "the  Old 
Indian  field  on  ye  east  side  of  Uncoway  River. "^ 

It  is  conclusive  from  the  few  names  attached  to  this  deed 


*  Fairjield  Indian  Deed  fo7-  the  Indian  field,  dated  May  18,  1681. 
"  This  sale  we  have  made  for  a  valuable  consideration." 
Mamerushee  Umperenoset's  Cape,  his  mark, 

son,  mark.     Sowvvahose  squaw,  her  mark. 

Ponees,  his  mark.     Naushuta's  squaw,  her  mark. 

Old  Anthony,  his  mark.     Nassansumk  Young, 

Washaganoset,  his  mark.         Anthony's  son,  his  mark. 

Wissawahem  squaw,  her  mark.     Choraromokes,  his  mark." 

"  Indian  Witnesses. 
Sasqua  James,         his  mark.  Runsh   squa,    her  mark. 

Crovecoe,  his  mark.  Pascoe,  his  mark. 

Rorocway,  his  mark. 

"  Trushee  an  Indian  who  speaks  very  good  English  "  was  emploj'ed  by  both 
parties  and  signed  this  deed. 

Trushee's         mark." 


Fairfield  Indian  Deeds.  49 

that  quite  many  of  the  natives  had  removed,  and  we  find  also 
that  during  the  previous  year  the  Paugassett  chief  petitioned 
the  General  Court  for  more  land  to  plant,  and  in  October  the 
Court  ordered,  and  the  reservation  called  Coram  was  devoted 
to  their  use,  so  that  probably  about  this  time  a  considerable 
emigration  occurred  to  Pootatuck  in  Huntington,  Pompe- 
raug  on  the  Housatonic  and  to  Pootatuck  in  Newtown. 

Several  other  Indian  deeds  are  recorded  on  Fairfield 
books;  one  of  a  piece  of  land  called  Wolf  Pit  Neck,  in  the 
southeast  part  of  the  town  joining  Stratford  line,  dated  Feb- 
ruary 12,  1685,  and  sold  to  Fairfield  town.' 

This  deed  and  several  others  are  signed  by  John  Burr  as 
Commissioner,  and  since  it  was  unlawful  for  any  persons  or 
towns  to  purchase  lands  of  the  Indians  without  an  order 
from  the  General  Court,  probably  he  was  appointed  to  act 
in  that  capacity,  and  hence  may  have  effected  the  purchase 
under  the  great  oak  tree,  as  tradition  has  reported,  on  the 
plain  about  a  mile  west  of  the  wigwams  at  the  foot  of  Golden 
Hill  and  in  the  northern  part  of  the  old  open  field. 

This  was  a  grand  ancient  tree,  celebrated  as  such  for  the 
last  two  hundred  years,  but  like  all  the  lords  of  this  earth,  it 
had  its  day  when  it  flourished  and  extended  its  branches  to  a 
great  distance,  and  then  came  the  processes  of  decay  which 
were  in  operation  probably  more  than  one  hundred  years 
before  the  great  monarch  bowed  his  proud  head  and  yielded 
to  inevitable  fate.  It  had  attained  to  about  six  feet  in  diam- 
eter two  feet  above  ground,  and  by  actual  count  of  the  layers 
of  wood  so  far  as  decay  would  permit,  it  must  have  attained 
to  about  four  hundred  years  of  age  ;  when  in  a  strong  east- 

■■  Fairfield  Indian  Deed  dated  Feb.  J2,  i68j. 

"  We  Indians  sell  ...  for  a  valuable  consideration  ...  a  neck  of  land  called 
Wolf  Pitt  Neck  ...  on  Stratford  bounding  line  on  ye  northeast,  on  3'e  other 
sides  with  ye  land  of  ye  inhabitants  of  Fairfield 

The  mark  of  Penomscot.  The  mark  of  Matamhe. 

Cheroramag,        his  mark.  The  mark  of  Kahaco. 

The  mark  of  Asoraimpom.  The  mark  of  Shaganoset. 

*rhe  markof  Machoka,  acunk's  Daughter.     The  mark  of  Old  Anthony. 

The  mark  of  Pony.  The  mark  of  Matamhe. 

The  mark  of  Pascog,  Interpreter." 

4 


50  History  of  Stratford. 

erly  storm  in  the  spring  of  1884,  it  was  blown  down,  and 
"great  was  the  fall  of  it,"  and  then  by  the  fiat  of  the  world- 
renowned  showman*  whose  tender  mercies  and  great  respect 
for  old  age  allowed  it  standing  room  in  a  most  beautiful  field 
for  a  number  of  years,  although  unfruitful,  it  was  hewn  in 
pieces  and  disappeared  forever. 

It  is  probable,  that  this  celebrated  ceremony  took  place 
under  the  branches  of  this  great  spreading  oak,  when  the 
old  Indian  field  was  sold,  which  occurred  in  the  balmy 
weather  of  spring  on  the  i8th  of  May,  1681,  just  two  hun- 
dred and  three  years  before  it  fell  by  the  strong  winds  from 
the  great  sea.  Col.  John  Burr  who  held  the  council  with  the 
Indians  and  his  descendants,  owned  the  land  on  which  this 
tree  stood  nearly  two  hundred  years,  their  dwelling  standing 
but  a  little  distance  from  it.  Miss  Polly  Burr,  the  last  owner 
in  the  family  name  died  in  1874,  but  had  sold  it  to  Hon,  P,  T. 
Barnum  previous  to  her  decease. 

Another  deed'  was  signed  by  the  Indians  for  a  highway 
through  their  reservation  on  Golden  Hill  in  June,  1686,  which 
was  very  nearly  what  is  now  Washington  avenue,  and  this 
highway  was  for  the  convenience  of  the  English  and  Indians. 
There  were  residing  here  then  several  English  families,  John 
Beardsley,  Samuel  Gregory,  Henry  Summers  and  others,  on 
and  near  the  old  division  line  between  Fairfield  and  Strat- 
ford, which  was  afterwards  called  Division  street,  and  now 
Park  avenue. 

The  next  spring  (in  16S7)  the  General  Court  ordered  the 
old  King's  highway  laid  out  from  Stratford  to  Fairfield,  which 
highway,  after  nearly  two  hundred  years,  was  so  unfortunate 
as  to  have  its    name   changed   to   the    insignificant  name   of 

®The  Hon.  P.  T.  Barnum. 

^  Fairfield  Indian  Deed  for  highivay,  dated  yune  8,  1686. 

"  A  highvva}'  from  the  highway  between    Fairfield  and  Stratford    [now    Park 

avenue]  into  the  Indian  field  called  Golden   Hill, near  where  the  path 

lieth  from  Samuel  Gregory's  across  the  Indian  field  that  goeth  toward  Stratford." 

John  Beardsley. 

Wowompon,         his  mark,  Pascob,  his  mark. 

Panomscot,  his  mark,  Pany,  his  mark. 

Siacus,  his  mark.  Robin,  his  mark. 


Fairfield  Indian  Deeds.  5 1 

North    avenue,    thereby   losing    all    its    ancient    renown    and 
honor. 

Two  other  deeds  are  recorded  on  the  Fairfield  book  ;  one 
of  land  "  called  Umpawage  lying  westward  from  Fairfield  in 
the  wilderness;'"  the  other"  "a  piece  of  land  about  eighteen 
or  twenty  miles  from  the  town  of  Fairfield  ...  to  the  west- 
ward of  north  Fairfield  in  the  woods,  called  Ompaquag,  a 
mile  square."  All  the  Indians  signing  these  deeds  were  prob- 
ably of  the  Pequannock  tribe,  and  the  last  witness  to  this  last 
deed — Cashesamay — was  the  Sachem  at  Pootatuck  (Shelton) 
and  afterwards  at  Newtown. 

Trouble  ivith  the  Indians. 

The  Indians  made  much  trouble  and  brought  many  diffi- 
culties to  the  English  settlers  of  Connecticut.  The  expendi- 
tures by  the  latter  to  defend  themselves  from  the  hostilities 
and  trespasses  of  the  former  were  more  than  a  fair  or  proper 
value  of  the  land  as  it  was  purchased  from  time  to  time  until 
it  was  all  secured  by  honorable  deeds.  There  were  two  wars 
between  the  English  and  Indians  in  Connecticut ;  the  one  in 
1637,  and  the  other  in  1675  and  1676,  and  both,  under  the  cir- 
cumstances then  existing,  were  great  wars  with  heavy  erpend- 

'"  Fairfield  Indian  Deed  dated  Dec.  2g,  1686. 

"This  land  is  by  estimation  about  two  miles  square,  northwest  bounds  is  by 

Sagatuck  River which  runeth  by  the  path  that  goeth  from    Paquiag  the 

English  plantateon." 

Nanascrow,         his  mark.  Mattake,  his  mark. 

Crekano.  his  mark.  Mamorussuck,  his  mark. 

Tontasonahas,    his  mark.  Washogenoset,  his  mark. 

Womumkawa)',  his  mark.  Aquetwake,  his  mark. 

Taquoshe,  his  mark. 

"Indian  Witnesses. 

Sasco  James,         his  mark.  Panomscot,  his  mark. 

Roben,  his  mark.  Messhawmish,  his  mark." 

'^  Fairfield  Indian  Deed  dated  Sept.  12,  1687. 

"  A  parcel  of  land  in  Connecticut  called  Ompaquag,  it  being  a  mile  square." 
Monaquitarah,  Sen.,  his  mark.  Wamouncaway,  his  mark. 

Nathascon,  his  mark.  Wukerowam,  his  mark. 

"  Indian  Witnesses. 
Mamoroset,  Sagawin,         his  mark.     Robben,  his  mark. 

Wanachecompum,  his  mark.     Cashesamay,  Sachem,         his  mark." 


52  History  of  Stratford. 

itures  and  terrible  consequences.  The  first  of  these  was  the 
Pequot  war  which  began  in  May,  1637,  and  closed  in  June  the 
same  year  in  a  swamp  near  what  is  now  the  village  of  South- 
port,  in  the  town  of  Fairfield.  The  attack  on  the  fort  of  the 
Pequots  was  made  by  Capt.  John  Mason  and  his  ninety  men 
about  day-break  in  the  morning  of  June  5th,  and  a  great  vic- 
tory was  gained,  resulting  in  the  killing  of  many  of  the  Indi- 
ans, and  the  remainder  fleeing  westward  in  great  haste. 
These  were  pursued  by  the  soldiers,  crossing  the  Connecticut 
river  and  continuing  along  the  shore  of  the  Sound.  At  New 
Haven  a  number  of  Indians  were  killed  in  a  skirmish  or  bat- 
tle, and  the  same  in  Stratford  where  the  fugitives  were  joined 
by  the  Pequannock  Indians;  and  finally  the  flying  Indians 
took  refuge  in  a  swamp,  now  located  a  little  north  of  the  vil- 
lage of  Southport,  where  they  were  surrounded,  and  after 
hard  fighting  some  escaped  with  their  lives. 

At  this  time  some  hostages  were  taken  of  the  Pequan- 
nock Indians  and  some  of  their  women  were  sold  to  servitude 
in  Connecticut  and  Massachusetts.  The  Pequot  and  Pequan- 
nock women  and  children  taken  in  this  war  numbering  two 
hundred'"  were  all  devoted  to  slavery  for  life,  being  distribu- 
ted, probably,  sold  by  the  governments  of  Connecticut  and 
Massachusetts  to  pay  expenses  of  the  war,  to  the  inhabitants 
of  these  commonwealths,  and  many  of  them,  especially  the 
male  children,  according  to  Governor  Winthrop,''  were  sold 
as  slaves  at  the  Bermuda  Islands.  This  Pequot  war  was  a 
savage  war  on  the  part  of  the  English  and  produced  terrible 
results.  The  historians  have  apparently  nearly  alwa3^s 
avoided  the  full  particulars  and  the  disgrace  of  its  barbarity. 
Even  Dr.  Trumbull  either  was  ignorant  of  the  aggravating 
facts  or  passed  over  them  too  lightly  for  a  historian  of  high 
integrity.  The  slaughter  of  so  many  Indians — six  or  seven 
hundred — besides  those  assigned  to  slavery,  produced  on  the 
minds  of  those  who  remained  in  the  tribes,  savages  though 
they  were,  a  terrible  fear,  a  shudder  of  horror,  but  the  reac- 
tion in  their  minds  was  an  almost  insatiable  thirst  for  revenge, 
and  this  the  colonists  understood,  and  so  dreaded  that  it  is 

'^  Morton,  114. 
'^  Ibid,  113. 


TJie  Pequot   War.  53 

apparent  on  almost  every  movement  they  made  for  self-pro- 
tection, for  fifty  years,  and  the  Narraganset,  or  King  Phillip's 
War,  was  planned  and  carried  on  by  the  Indians  with  double 
secrecy  and  energy'  by  the  remembrance  of  this  Pequot 
slaughter,  for  without  it  King  Phillip  could  never  have 
formed  the  combination  of  tribes  which  he  did.  Also  from 
the  day  the  Pequots  were  slain  the  western  Connecticut 
Indians  had  no  faith  in  the  white  man's  religion.  Think  of 
it!  There  were  at  the  time  in  the  Housatonic  valley,  from 
Long  Island  Sound  northward,  between  two  and  three  thous- 
and docile,  friendly  Indians,  but  a  dozen  reported  conversions 
to  Christianity  were  not  made  until  the  Moravian  Mission- 
aries came  to  Scatacook  in  1743,  and  yet  these  natives  mingled 
freely  and  in  scores  of  cases,  familiarly  with  the  white  set- 
tlers during  all  these  one  hundred  years. 

As  has  been  stated,  the  colonists  dreaded  and  expected 
retaliation.  Several  times  during  the  next  seventy-five  years 
it  was  rumored,  with  no  foundation  for  the  rumor  but  the 
fears  of  the  whites  or  the  threats  of  a  few  irritated  natives, 
that  the  Indians  of  Fairfield  county  had  joined  with  the 
Mohawks  in  a  war  of  extermination  ;  and  the  General  Court 
sent  out  companies  of  soldiers,  into  Fairfield  and  Litchfield 
counties,  to  detect,  and  resist  such  a  combination,  even  as 
late  as  1724.  As  late  as  during  the  French  and  Indian  wars 
in  1758,  this  dread  and  expectation  were  still  cherished  and 
acted  upon  all  along  the  western  boundaries  of  Connecticut. 

The  destruction  of  the  Pequots  was  ended  in  the  town  of 
Fairfield,  and  the  Pequannocks  were  allies  and  joined  in  the 
fight  against  the  whites,  thus  connecting  Stratford  and  Fair- 
field with  that  war. 

The  causes  which  have  been  set  forth  by  Dr.  Trumbull 
for  this  war  were  entirely  inadequate  to  the  terrible  mas- 
sacre of  seven  or  eight  hundred  men,  women  and  children, 
even  in  an  Indian  fort,  and  the  enslaving  of  two  hundred 
other  women  and  children,  and  the  only  excuse  for  the 
persons  who  did  it  lies  in  the  fact  that  they  had  just  emigra- 
ted from  England  where  such  barbarity  was  the  sentiment  of 
the  people,  as  was  clearly  exhibited  by  that  people  in  the 
American  Revolutionary  War. 


54  History  of  Stratford. 

Until  the  year  1643,  following-  the  Pequot  war,  the 
Indians  were  comparatively  quiet  and  friendly,  and  the  Gen- 
eral Court  saw  the  need  of  making  but  tew  restrictions  and 
regulations  in  regard  to  them,  and  what  they  did  enact  had 
as  much,  or  more  reference  to  the  conduct  of  the  English  than 
to  the  Indians,  but  in  this  year  and  several  following,  the 
doings  of  the  Indians  in  what  is  now  Fairfield  County  were 
such  as  to  awaken  great  apprehension  for  the  safety  of  the 
people. 

Five  plantations  were  seriously  in  danger;  Stratford, 
Fairfield,  Norwalk,  Stamford  and  Greenwich,  but  the  last  of 
these  was  at  the  time  under  the  jurisdiction  of  the  New  York 
Governor.  The  settlers  in  each  of  these  localities  were  not 
numerous,  and  they  had  had  but  little  time  or  means  to  make 
preparations  against  any  Indian  hostilities.  The  settlement 
at  Stratford  had  been  in  progress  four  years,  that  of  Fairfield, 
four  years,  that  of  Norwalk,  three,  that  of  Stamford,  two,  and 
that  of  Greenwich,  three.  The  number  of  the  Indians  then 
within  the  five  plantations  and  their  vicinities  were,  proba- 
bly, four  or  five  to  every  white  person,  and  they  had  all 
advantageous  facilities  for  a  complete  massacre,  or  destruc- 
tion of  the  white  people.  The  immediate  cause  for  this  dis- 
turbance was  the  war  between  the  Hudson  River  Indians 
and  the  Dutch  at  New  York.  Dr.  TrumbulT^  gives  the  fol- 
lowing account  of  the  origin  of  this  Indian   and    Dutch  War: 

"  The  war  between  the  Dutch  and  Indians  began  in  this 
manner.  A  drunken  Indian,  in  his  intoxication,  killed  a 
Dutchman.  The  Dutch  demanded  the  murderer,  but  he  was 
not  to  be  found.  They  then  made  application  to  their  gov- 
ernor to  avenge  the  murderer.  He,  judging  it  would  be 
unjust  or  unsafe,  considering  the  numbers  ot  the  Indians,  and 
the  weak  and  scattered  state  of  the  Dutch  settlements,  neg- 
lected to  comply  with  their  repeated  solicitations.  In  the 
mean  time  the  Mohawks,  as  the  report  was,  excited  by  the 
Dutch,  fell  suddenly  on  the  Indians,  in  the  vicinity  of  the 
Dutch  settlements  and  killed  nearly  thirty  of  them.  Others 
fled  to  the  Dutch  for   protection.     One  Marine,  a  Dutch  cap- 

'4  Vol.  i.  138. 


Dutch  and  Indian    War.  55 

tain,  getting  intelligence  of  their  state,  made  application  to 
the  Dutch  Governor,  and  obtained  a  commission  to  kill  as 
many  of  them  as  it  should  be  in  his  power.  Collecting  a  com- 
pany of  armed  men,  he  fell  suddenly  upon  the  Indians,  while 
they  were  unapprehensive  of  danger,  and  made  a  promiscu- 
ous slaughter  of  men,  women  and  children,  to  the  number  of 
seventy  or  eighty.  This  instantly  roused  the  Indians,  in  that 
part  of  the  country,  to  a  furious,  obstinate  and  bloody  war. 

"  In  the  spring,  and  beginning  of  the  summer,  they  burnt 
the  Dutch  out-houses;  and  driving  their  cattle  into  their 
barns,  they  burned  the  barns  and  cattle  together.  They  killed 
twenty  or  more  of  the  Dutch  people,  and  pressed  so  hard 
upon  them  that  they  were  obliged  to  take  refuge  in  their 
fort,  and  to  seek  help  of  the  English.  The  Indians  upon 
Long  Island  united  in  the  war  with  those  on  the  main,  and 
burned  the  Dutch  houses  and  barns.  The  Dutch  governor, 
in  this  situation,  invited  captain  Underbill  from  Stamford  to 
assist  him  in  the  war.  Marine,  the  Dutch  captain,  was  so 
exasperated  with  this  proceeding  that  he  presented  his  pistol 
at  the  governor,  and  would  have  shot  him,  but  was  prevented 
by  one  who  stood  by  him.  Upon  this  one  of  Marine's  tenants 
discharged  his  musket  at  the  governor,  and  the  ball  but  just 
missed  him.  The  governor's  sentinel  shot  the  tenant  and 
killed  him  on  the  spot.  The  Dutch,  who  at  first  were  so  for- 
ward for  a  war  with  the  Indians,  were  now,  when  they 
experienced  the  loss  and  dangers  of  it,  so  irritated  at  the  gov- 
ernor, for  the  orders  which  he  had  given,  that  he  could  not 
trust  himself  among  them.  He  was  obliged  to  keep  a  con- 
stant guard  of  fifty  Englishmen  about  his  person.  In  the  sum- 
mer and  fall  the  Indians  killed  fifteen  more  of  the  Dutch 
people,  and  drove  in  all  the  inhabitants  of  the  English  and 
Dutch  settlements  west  of  Stamford. 

"  In  the  prosecution  of  their  works  of  destruction,  they 
made  a  visit  to  the  neighborhood  where  Mrs.  Hutchinson, 
who  had  been  so  famous,  at  Boston,  for  her  Antinomian  and 
familistical  tenets,  had  made  a  settlement.  The  Indians,  at 
first,  appeared  with  the  same  friendship  with  which  they  used 
to  frequent  her  house;    but  they   murdered   her  and  all    her 


56  History  of  Stratford. 

family,  Mr.  Collins  her  son-in-law,  and  several  other  persons 
belonging  to  other  families  in  the  neighborhood.  Eighteen 
persons  were  killed  in  the  whole.  The  Indians,  with  an  im- 
placable fury,  prosecuted  the  destruction  of  the  Dutch,  and 
of  their  property,  in  all  that  part  of  the  country.  They  killed 
and  burned  their  cattle,  horses  and  barns  without  resistance. 
Their  case  was  trul}^  distressing." 

Notwithstanding  these  calamitous  circumstances  the  gov- 
ernor and  Court  at  New  Haven  felt  that  they  were  not  at  lib- 
erty to  go  to  the  relief  of  the  Dutch  with  an  armed  force 
until  consultation  could  be  had  with  the  Commissioners  of 
the  other  colonies. 

"  The  war  was  continued  several  years,  and  was  bloody 
and  destructive  both  to  the  Dutch  and  Indians.  Captain 
Underbill  had  the  principal  management  of  it,  and  was  of 
great  service  to  the  Dutch.  He  collected  a  flying  army  of  a 
hundred  and  fifty  men,  English  and  Dutch,  by  which  he  pre- 
served the  Dutch  settlements  from  total  destruction.  It  was 
supposed,  that,  upon  Long  Island  and  on  the  main,  he  killed 
between  four  and  five  hundred  Indians. 

"  The  Indians  at  Stamford  too  much  caught  the  spirit  of 
the  western  Indians  in  their  vicinity,  who  were  at  war  with 
the  Dutch.  They  appeared  so  tumultuous  and  hostile,  that 
the  people  of  Stamford  were  in  great  fear,  that  they  should 
soon  share  the  fate  of  the  settlements  at  the  westward  of 
them.  They  wrote  to  the  general  court  at  New  Haven,  that 
in  their  apprehensions  there  were  just  grounds  of  a  war  with 
those  Indians,  and  that  if  their  houses  should  be  burned,  be- 
cause the  other  plantations  would  not  consent  to  war,  they 
ought  to  bear  the  damage. 

"At  the  same  time  the  Narraganset  Indians  were  enraged 
at  the  death  of  their  sachem.  The  English  were  universally 
armed.  The  strictest  watch  and  guard  was  kept  in  all  the 
plantations.  In  Connecticut,  every  family,  in  which  there 
was  a  man  capable  of  bearing  arms,  was  obliged  to  send  one 
complete  in  arms,  every  Lord's  day,  to  defend  the  places  of 
public  worship.  Indeed  all  places  wore  the  aspect  of  a  gen- 
eral war. 


Dutch  and  Indian    War.  57 

"  In  the  year  of  1644  the  Indians  were  no  more  peacea- 
ble than  they  were  the  year  before.  Those  in  the  western 
part  of  Connecticut  still  conducted  themselves  in  a  hostile 
manner.  In  the  spring  they  murdered  a  man,  belonging  to 
Massachusetts,  between  Fairfield  and  Stamford.  About  six 
or  eight  weeks  after  the  m.urder  was  discovered,  the  Indians 
promised  to  deliver  the  murderer,  at  Uncoway  [Fairfield],  if 
Mr.  Ludlow  would  appoint  men  to  receive  him.  Mr.  Lud- 
low sent  ten  men  for  that  purpose  ;  but  as  soon  as  the  Indians 
came  within  sight  of  the  town,  they,  by  general  consent,  un- 
bound the  prisoner  and  suffered  him  to  escape.  The  English 
were  so  exasperated  at  this  insult  that  they  immediately 
seized  on  eight  or  ten  of  the  Indians,  and  committed  them  to 
prison.  There  was  among  them  not  less  than  one  or  two 
Sachems.  Upon  this,  the  Indians  arose  in  great  numbers 
about  the  town,  and  exceedingly  alarmed  the  people,  both  at 
Fairfield  and  Stamford.  Mr.  Ludlow  wrote  to  New  Haven 
f©r  advice.  The  court  desired  him  to  keep  the  Indians  in 
durance,  and  assured  him  of  immediate  assistance,  should  it 
be  necessary  and  desired  ;  and  a  party  of  twenty  men  were 
draughted  forthwith,  and  prepared  to  march  to  Stamford  at 
the  shortest  notice.  The  Indians  were  held  in  custody  until 
four  Sachems,  in  those  parts,  appeared  and  interceded  for 
them,  promising  that  if  the  English  would  release  them,  they 
would,  within  a  month,  deliver  the  murderer  to  justice.'' 

"  Not  more  than  a  month  after  their  release,  an  Indian 
went  boldly  into  the  town  of  Stamford,  and  made  a  murder- 
ous assault  upon  a  woman,  in  her  house.  Finding  no  man  at 
home,  he  took  a  lathing  hammer,  and  approached  her  as 
though  he  were  about  to  put  it  into  her  hand  ;  but,  as  she  was 
stooping  down  to  take  her  child  from  the  cradle,  he  struck 
her  upon  her  head.  She  fell  instantly  with  the  blow  ;  he  then 
struck  her  twice,  with  the  sharp  part  of  the  hammer,  which 
penetrated  her  skull.  Supposing  her  to  be  dead,  he  plun- 
dered the  house,  and  made  his  escape  ;  but  soon  after,  the 
woman  so  far  recovered,  as  to  be  able  to  describe  the  Indian, 
and  his  manner  of  dress.    Her  wounds,  which  at  first  appeared 

J^N.  H.  Col.  Rec,  i.  134. 


58  History  of  Stratford. 

to  be    mortal,    wei^e    finally    healed ;    but    her    brain    was    so>- 
affected  that  she  lost  her  reason. 

"At  the  same  time,  the  Indians  rose  in  those  parts,  with 
the  most  tumultuous  and  hostile  appearances.  They  refused 
to  come  to  the  English,  or  to  have  any  treaty  with  them,  and 
appeared  in  a  very  alarming  manner  about  several  of  the 
plantations,  firing  their  pieces,  and  exceedingly  terrifying 
the  inhabitants.  They  deserted  their  wigwams,  and  neg- 
lected to  weed  their  corn.  The  English  had  intelligence  that 
the  Indians  designed  to  cut  them  off,  and  therefore  many 
judged  it  unsafe  to  travel  by  land,  and  some  of  the  planta- 
tions were  obliged  to  keep  a  strong  guard  and  watch,  night 
and  day.  And  as  they  had  not  numbers  sufficient  to  defend 
themselves,  they  made  application  to  Hartford  and  New 
Haven  for  assistance,  and  they  both  sent  aid  to  the  weaker 
parts  of  their  respective  colonies.  New  Haven  sent  help  ta 
Fairfield  and  Stamford,  as  they  were  much  nearer  to  them 
than  to  Connecticut. 

"  After  a  great  deal  of  alarm  and  trouble,  the  Indian  who 
had  attempted  the  murder  of  the  woman,  was  delivered  up 
and  condemned  to  death,  and  was  executed  at  New  Haven. 
The  executioner  cut  off  his  head  with  a  falchion,  but  it  was 
cruelly  done.  He  gave  the  Indian  eight  blows  before  he 
effected  the  execution  ;  yet  the  Indian  sat  erect  and  motion- 
less, until  his  head  was  severed  from  his  body.'"* 

"  The  Indians  this  year  were  almost  everywhere  trouble- 
some, and  in  some  places  in  a  state  of  high  hostility.  In  Vir- 
ginia they  rose  and  made  a  most  horrible  massacre  of  the 
English.  The  Narragansets,  regardless  of  all  their  convenants 
with  the  English  and  with  Uncas,  continued  in  such  hostili- 
ties that  a  party  of  soldiers  were  sent  to  preserve  the  peace 
and  security  of  the  people." 

Under  such  circumstances  these  small  plantations  on  the 
shore  of  the  Sound,  now  within  Fairfield  county,  made  but 
slow  progress.  Greenwich  was  nearly,  if  not  entirely, 
deserted,  and  but  for  Captain  Underbill,  Stamford,  Norwalk, 


See  Records  of  the  Colonies,  and  Winthrop's  Journal,  p.  352. 


Consequences  of  the    War.  59' 

Fairfield  and  Stratford  must  have  been  given  up  for  a  time. 
And  as  it  was,  what  a  living  death  it  must  have  been  to 
remain  steadfast  and  not  desert  the  localities.  Every  family 
that  could  raise  a  soldier  as  a  watchman,  must  bring  him 
forth,  if  it  was  the  last  and  only  man  in  the  family.  What 
sleepless  nights  in  those  homes;  what  anxiety  if  a  member 
of  a  family,  being  out  at  work,  did  not  return  home  at  the 
expected  or  appointed  time.  What  a  war-like  appearance 
was  witnessed  every  "  Lord's  day  "  at  the  meeting-house, 
with  one  soldier  from  every  family,  armed  and  equipped  with 
a  gun  and  sword,  and  all  possible  war  implements. 

The  cost  of  this  Indian  war  to  the  seven  plantations 
along  the  Sound  was  sufficient  to  have  purchased,  established, 
and  perpetuated  a  separate  plantation,  if  there  had  been  no 
Indians.  The  court  at  New  Haven  assessed  fines  almost 
weekly,  on  persons  who  were  found  delinquent  in  watching 
at  their  posts,  or  insufficiently  provided  with  arms  or  ammuni- 
tion, as  the  following  items  from  the  New  Haven  records 
most  fully  show.     At  a  Court  holden  March  7,  1643  • 

Matthew  Hitchcock,  for  a  willful  neglect  to  walk  the 
round  when  the  officers  called  him,  was  fined  5^ 

James  Haward,  Joseph  Thompson,  William  Bassett, 
Anthony  Thompson,  David  Evance,  Samuel  Wilson  and  Sam- 
uel Haskins,  [were]  fined,  each  man,  6"^  "for  foole  guns." 

"  Thomas  Yale  and  Jonathan  Marsh  for  the  same,  6^  a 
piece. 

"  Richard  Perry  and  his  2  men,  William  Gibbard  and 
James  Stewart  and  William  Ball,  for  late  coming  fined  each 
man  i\ 

"  Roger  Knapp,  defective,  all  except  gun,  fined  5^ 

"  Brother  Lamson,  defective  gun,  fined  4^ 

"Thomas  Higginson,  James  Stewart  and  James  Haward, 
defective  belt,  fined  6''. 

"  Mr.  Eaton's  3  men,  Thomas  Higinson  and  his  man,  for 
coming  without  arms  on  the  Lord's  day,  fined  each  man  2^ 

"  Matthew  Crowder,  Thomas  Caffins,  Theodore  Higgin  - 
son,  James  vStewart,  Thomas  Meaks,  Isaac  Whitehead,  Mat- 
thew Row,  Richard  Mansfield,  Thomas  lies,  Lawrence  Wade, 
John    Hill,   John  Cooper,  Jarvice  Boykin,    and  Mr.  Eaton's 


6o  History  of  Stratford. 

3  men,  fined  each  man  6'',  for  late  coming  to  the  meeting  with 
their  arms,  Feb.  i8,  1643. 

'*  It  was  ordered  that  the  2^  drum  shall  be  the  period  of 
the  soldiers  coming  on  the  Lord's  day. 

"  Court  holden,  May  i,  1644. 

Brother  Perry,  being  master  of  a  watch  and  willfull}^  neg- 
lecting it,  was  fined  40^ 

"  Matthew  Row,  for  sitting  down  to  sleep  when  he 
should  have  stood  sentinel,  was  fined  5^  Brother  Nichols, 
brother  Gibbert,  Richard  Webb,  Thomas  Wheeler,  Henry 
Lendell  and  William  Bassett,  fined  each  man  i^  for  late  com- 
ing on  the  Lord's  day  with  their  arms." 

Court  held  June  5,  1644. 

"  John  Chapman  being  master  of  a  watch  and  neglecting 
it,  was  fined  10'. 

"  Mr.  Gilbert's  man,  being  absent  at  his  watch,  was 
fined  5^ 

"  George  Larry  more  for  neglecting  his  watch,  fined  2*6''." 

Court  held  at  New  Haven  June  23,  1644. 

"  It  was  ordered  that  the  night  watches  be  carefully 
attended,  and  the  ward  of  the  Sabbath  days  be  dilligently 
observed,  and  that  every  one  of  the  trainband  bring  their 
arms  to  the  meeting  every  Lord's  day;  also  that  the  great 
guns  be  put  in  readiness  for  service  ;  also  that  the  drum  be 
beaten  every  morning  by  break  of  day,  and  at  the  setting  of 
the  sun. 

"  It  was  ordered  that  every  Lord's  day  2  men  shall  go 
with  every  heard  of  cattle,  with  their  arms  fitted  for  service 
until  these  dangers  be  over. 

"  It  was  ordered  that  the  farmers  shall  be  freed  from 
watching  at  the  town  while  there  is  need  of  watch  at  the 
farms,  provided  they  keep  a  dilligent  watch  there." 

New  Haven  and  Milford  were  much  less  exposed  to  the 
hostilities  of  the  Indians  than  the  plantations  west  of  them, 
and  if  they  needed  so  great  diligence  and  strictness,  how 
much  more  must  have  been  needed  by  the  others? 

The  troubles  resulting  from  the  Dutch  and  Indian  war 
quieted  down  to  a  considerable  extent,  after    three  or  four 


Consequences  of  the    War.  6r 

years,  but  the  Indians  of  Fairfield  County  continued  to  indi- 
cate hostile  feelings,  and  committed  various  depredations, 
and  some  acts  of  personal  violence.  In  1649,  this  spirit 
became  so  threatening,  in  connection  with  a  murder  com- 
mitted by  an  Indian,  that  the  General  Court  felt  compelled 
to  take  definite  action,"  and  did  in  effect  declare  war  against 
them,  but  by  a  committee  consisting  of  Mr.  Ludlow  and  Mr. 
Talcott,  the  matter  was  quieted  and  a  siege  of  war  avoided. 

During  all  these  efforts  for  peace  and  safety,  great  pains 
were  taken  to  keep  the  Indians  from  obtaining  guns  and 
ammunition,  or  means  for  making  war  upon  the  English.  In 
securing  obedience  to  these  regulations  they  had  occasion  to 
pass  a  somewhat  unusual  sentence  in  1648,  upon  David 
Provost,  a  Dutchman,  that  if  he  repeated  the  offence  he 
should  be  "  shipped  for  Ireland  and  sent  to  the  Parliament.'"* 

Again  in  1652,  fears  concerning  the  Indians  were  aroused 
anew,  in  consequence  of  the  declaration  of  war  between 
England  and  Holland,  and  it  was  expected  that  the  war 
would  be  extended  to  America  and  assume  serious  propor- 
tions between  New  England  and  the  Dutch  at  New  Amster- 
dam, but  after  great  preparations  by  the  colonies,  the  war 
closed  without  any  serious  collisions  here,  between  the 
whites,  or  damages  done  by  the  Indians. 


''^"This  Courte  taking  into  serious  consideration  what  may  be  done  accord- 
ing to  God  in  way  of  revenge  of  the  blonde  of  John  Whittmore,  late  of  Stanford, 
and  well  weighing  all  circumstances,  together  with  the  carriages  of  the  Indians 
(bordering  thereupon)  in  and  about  the  premises,  do  declare  themselves  that  they 
do  judge  it  lawful  and  according  to  God  to  make  war  upon  them. 

"This  Courte  desires  Mr.  Deputy,  Mr.  Ludlow  and  Mr.  Taylecoate  [Talcott] 
to  ride  to-morrow  to  New  Haven,  and  confer  with  Mr.  Eaton  and  the  rest  of  the 
magistrates  there  about  sending  out  against  the  Indians,  and  to  make  return  of 
their  apprehensions  with  what  convenient  speed  they  may." 

General  Court,  May,  1648. 
'*"  Whereas,  David  Provost  and  other  Dutchmen  (as  the  Court  is  informed) 
have  sould  powder  and  shotte  to  Several  Indeans,  against  the  express  Lawes  both 
of  the  Inglishe  and  Dutch,  It  is  now  Ordered,  that  if  upon  examination  of  wit- 
nesses the  said  defaulte  shall  fully  appeare,  the  penalty  of  the  lawes  of  this  Com- 
monwealth shallbe  laid  upon  such  as  shallbe  found  guilty  of  such  transgression, 
the  which  if  such  delinquents  shall  not  subject  unto  them  shall  be  shipped  for 
Ingland  and  sent  to  the  Parliament."  Col.  Rec,  i.  163. 


6i  History  of  Stratford. 

"May  1707  This  Assembly  judgeth  it  expedient  that  the 
Indian  murderer  in  durance  at  Fairfield  shall  and  may  be 
returned  to  the  Indians,  that  so  the  Indians  may  have  the 
opportunity  to  execute  on  him  as  they  shall  determine.'"' 

It  is  a  matter  of  conjecture  that  this  Indian  was  hung  at 
a  place  called  Gallows  Hill,  in  the  southwestern  part  of  the 
present  town  of  New  Milford,  for  such  an  occurrence  took 
place  there,  probably,  by  which  the  name  is  found  there 
when  that  town  was  first  settled  about  1710. 

The  Golden  Hill  Indian  Fnnd. 

In  1802  on  the  petition  of  Tom  Sherman,  Eunice  Sherman 
and  others  of  the  Golden  Hill  Indians,  the  State  appointed 
an  agent  or  overseer  to  administer  their  affairs.  Abraham  Y. 
De  Witt  held  this  office  first,  and  after  him  were  Josiah 
Lacey,  Elijah  Burritt,  Smith  Tweedy,  Daniel  O.  Wheeler, 
Dwight  Morris  and  Russell  Tomlinson,  the  present  incum- 
bent. 

Besides  the  dwelling  and  land  at  Nichols  Farms  now 
occupied  by  William  Sherman,  the  Golden  Hill  fund  amounts 
to  about  three  hundred  dollars. 

The  Samp  Mortar  Rock  is  a  peculiarity  and  mystery.  It 
is  located  about  three  miles  north  of  Fairfield  village,  in  the 
town  of  Fairfield,  and  is  so  called,  or  was  so  named  because 
it  was  supposed  that  the  Indians  ground  their  corn  in  it.  It 
is  on  the  very  verge  of  overhanging  rocks  of  about  fifty  or 
sixty  feet  in  height,  and  consists  of  a  cavity  in  the  top  of  the 
rock  about  thirteen  inches  in  diameter  and  ten  in  depth,  and 
has  been  pronounced  by  the  younger  Professor  Dana,  of  Yale 
College,  who  has  seen  it,  a  "  Pot-hole  "  or  cavity  worn  there 
by  the  action  of  water  and  small  cobble  stones  at  some  period 
far  back  in  the  ages.  The  rocky  ridge  on  which  it  is  located 
is  of  several  miles  in  extent,  and  has  been  a  place  of  frequent 
resort  for  pic-nics  and  visiting  parties  for  many  years.  The 
locality  forbids  the  idea  of  its  being  constructed  there  by  the 
Indians  and  it  is  seemingly  equally  unreasonable  that  it  should 
have  been  made  where  it  is  by  the  action  of  water,  even  were 

"  Col.  Rec,  V.  28. 


Remarkable  Indian  Relics.  63 

the  valleys  around  it  filled.  It  is  a  curiosity.  There  is  no 
evidence  that  the  Indians  had  an)-  encampment  of  conse- 
quence, nearer  than  three  miles  from  it. 

A   Poxvzvoiv  or  Medicine   Camp. 

A  few  years  after  the  New  York  and  New  Haven  rail- 
road was  completed,  or  about  twenty-five  years  ago,  Mr. 
Thomas  B.  Fairchild  of  Stratford  saw  a  number  of  stone  posts 
standing  like  hitching  posts  on  a  line  with  the  sidewalk 
in  front  of  the  premises  of  Mr.  William  Tuttle,  near  the 
lower  wharf  in  Stratford  village,  and  the  novelty  and  peculiar 
appearance  of  them  attracted  his  attention.  Mr.  Tuttle  had 
set  them,  a  few  years  previous,  and  left  the  place,  and  all  that 
could  be  learned  as  to  them  by  careful  inquiry  was  that  the}' 
were  dug  up  in  making  the  railroad  between  Stratford  and 
Bridgeport,  and  Mr.  Tuttle  had  brought  them  to  his  home  and 
placed  them  along  the  sidewalk  as  hitching  posts  and  novel 
ornaments.  Thus  the  matter  passed  some  years,  but  Mr. 
Fairchild,  whose  business  was  in  Bridgeport,  while  in  a 
state  of  mysterious  inquiry  as  to  these  stones,  frequently 
looked  along  the  road,  to  ascertain,  if  possible,  where  they 
were  found,  and  to  learn  who  made  them  and  for  what  pur- 
pose. About  two  years  since,  with  increasing  inquiry  as  to 
these  posts,  while  passing  along  the  road  near  Pembroke 
Pond  where  some  men  were  excavating  by  the  railroad  bank 
to  lay  some  pipe  to  secure  fresh  water  for  the  Holmes  and 
Edward's  Silver  Works,  in  West  Stratford,  he  saw  one  of  these 
posts,  but  wondered  why  it  should  be  at  that  place  as  consti- 
tuting a  part  of  the  railroad  embankment.  On  meeting  a  cart- 
man  employed  at  the  Cartridge  Works,  he  pointed  out  the 
post  and  requested  him  to  bring  it  in  the  cart  to  the  office,  for 
it  was  a  peculiar  stone  and  he  wanted  to  preserve  it.  Upon 
which  Mr.  Bernard  Judge  said,  "  Don't  I  know  all  about  the 
posts,  and  how  this  post  got  where  it  is  ?  Didn't  I  do  the  first 
work  that  ever  I  did  in  America  on  the  railroad  at  this  very 
place  a  few  rods  east  of  the  iron  bridge  here  in  West  Strat- 
ford ?  We  dug  out  loads  and  loads  of  these  posts,  and 
threw  them  into  the  mill  pond  on  the   brush    and  limbs  and 


64  History  of  Stratford. 

then  heaped  the  dirt  upon  them.  These  posts  lay  in  heaps^ 
partly  covered,  or  under  the  ground,  when  we  found  them, 
and  we  talked  about  them  a  good  deal,  some  saying  they 
were  put  there  by  the  Indians." 

The  larger  number  of  these  posts  are  nearly  round,  six 
and  seven  feet  long,  from  seven  to  eight  inches  in  diameter; 
one  that  is  nearly  square,  only  the  corners  rounded,  being 
now  in  the  possession  of  Mr.  Thomas  B.  Fairchild,  at  Strat- 
ford, has  a  slot  from  the  top  downwards  about  eight  inches 
deep  and  half  an  inch  wide,  on  the  side,  as  if  to  let, in  a  wide 
band  surrounding  a  sacred  inclosure  to  keep  out  intruders. 
One  of  these  posts  is  much  larger  than  any  of  the  others,  and 
is  of  oval  shape,  from  ten  to  twelve  inches  wide  and  about 
seven  thick.  Some  are  broken  in  pieces,  but  probably  the 
larger  number  of  them  are  still  under  the  railroad  bed.  They 
were  found  on  ground  nearly  level,  at  the  foot  of  the  hill,  near  a 
large,  fine  spring  of  water,  and  were  thrown  together,  or  near 
each  other  as  if  taken  from  their  original  positions  and  placed 
aside,  to  be  out  of  the  way  ;  and  are  supposed  to  have  been 
used  to  protect  a  powwow  ground  or  a  medicine  camp. 

The  following  is  a  description  of  a  powwow  place  found 
among  the  Mandan  Indians  in  Dakota  Territory,  published 
recently  in  London,  in  the  "North  American  Indians:" 

"  In  the  centre  of  the  village  is  an  open  space  or  public  square,  150  feet  in 
diameter  and  circular  in  form,  which  is  used  for  all  public  games  and  festivals, 
shows  and  exhibitions.  The  lodges  around  this  open  space  fronts  in,  with  their 
doors  toward  the  centre  ;  and  in  the  middle  of  this  stands  an  object  of  great  relig- 
ious veneration,  on  account  of  the  importance  it  has  in  connection  with  the  annual 
religious  ceremonies.  This  object  is  in  the  form  of  a  large  hogshead,  some  eight 
or  ten  feet  high,  made  of  planks  and  hoops,  containing  within  it  some  of  their 
choicest  mysteries  or  medicines.  They  call  it  the  Big  C2i.noe." — Atlantis,  by  Igna- 
tius Donnelly,  iii. 

In  the  present  town  of  Stratford  there  are  but  few  relics 
of  the  natives  to  be  seen,  except  quantities  of  oyster  and  clam 
shells  in  three  localities.  At  the  edge  of  the  marsh  west 
of  the  Lordship  farm  and  a  hundred  rods  north  of  the  dwell- 
ing on  that  farm,  is  still  a  quantity  of  clam  shells  probably 
left  there  by  the  Indians,  but  it  is  not  extensive.  At  a  small 
fresh  water  pond  on  the  northern  part  of  the  Lordship  farm 
on  the  north  side  of  the  pound  the  oyster  shells,  many  of  large 


Indian  Biirying  Places.  65 

size,  are  in  considerable  quantities.  They  are  larg-ely  cov- 
ered by  the  soil  but  are  in  some  places  nearly  two  feet  deep. 
On  the  east  side  of  the  great  neck  in  several  places  are  beds 
of  oyster  shells  left  by  the  Indians,  which  indicate  a  long" 
occupation  of  the  region  in  order  to  make  the  accumulations. 

In  some  historical  notes  by  Major  VV.  B.  Hinks,  published 
in  i87i,the  following  note  is  found:  "Several  interesting  rel- 
ics of  the  Indians  were  discovered  in  Stratford  a  few  years 
since  by  the  Rev.  B.  L.  Swan.  They  consisted  of  a  fire-place, 
and  mortar  for  grinding  corn,  excavated  in  a  ledge  of  rock- 
near  the  house  recently  occupied  by  Mr.  William  Strong, 
which  was  built  on  the  site  of  an  ancient  inn,  kept  during  and 
before  the  Revolutionary  War  by  George  Benjamin.  The 
fire-place  was  a  semi-cylindrical  upright  hollow  in  the  rock, 
several  feet  in  height,  from  the  top  of  which  a  pot  could  be 
suspended  b}-  a  cross  bar.  Below  it  was  the  mortar  with  a 
rounded  stone  peslle,  as  large  as  a  man's  head,  still  lying  in 
it.  Unfortunately  these  relics  were  destroyed  before  meas- 
ures could  be  taken  for  their  preservation. 

"Arrow  heads  in  considerable  numbers  have  also  been 
found  at  the  foot  of  another  ledge  a  little  west  of  the  town  on 
the  lower  road  to  Bridgeport,  and  it  is  believed  that  this  was 
the  place  of  their  manufacture." 

Indian  Burying  Places. 

In  three  places  have  Indian  skeletons  been  exhumed  in 
considerable  numbers  within  the  territory  now  covered  by 
the  city  of  Bridgeport;  one  in  or  near  what  was  the  old  Nim- 
rod  field  near  the  present  Gas  Works,  one  where  the  Pros- 
pect Street  School  building  now  stands  and  the  other  on  the 
bluff  or  hill  as  it  was,  South  of  State  street  and  east  of  Main. 
The  one  at  the  Gas  Works  was  greatly  disturbed  when  the 
railroad  was  constructed,  and  quite  a  number  of  skeletons 
were  taken  out,  but  no  implements  of  any  considerable 
amount  were  found,  at  least  none  are  reported,  but  this 
seems  to  have  been  the  burial  place  for  the  Indians  more 
largely  after  the  whites  came  here. 

As  to  the  place  where  the  Prospect  Street  School  build- 
ing now  stands  a  paragraph  from  the  Bridgeport  Standard 
5 


66  History  of  Stratford. 

for  October  28,  1870,  is  given:  "The  frequent  finding  of 
Indian  bones  and  skulls  in  different  places  about  the  city  sug- 
gests the  question  whether  Bridgeport  may  not  have  been  at 
some  remote  period  in  the  past,  one  immense  Indian  hunting 
and  burying  ground.  Every  few  days  these  bones  are  being 
brought  to  light  by  excavation,  and  now  we  find  by  digging 
for  the  new  wing  of  the  Prospect  Street  school  house  that  the 
ground  there  was  once  quite  a  large  burying  place.  Some 
fifty  graves  have  been  exposed  and  a  large  number  of  human 
bones  and  skulls  are  found  buried  a  few  feet  below  the  sur- 
face. In  some  instances  these  skull  bones  are  perfect,  the 
jaws  with  full  sets  of  teeth,  being  also  found  in  sound  condi- 
tion. Tobacco  pipes  have  been  discovered  buried  in  the 
same  graves,  also  a  genuine  Indian  dinner  pot,  and  other 
signs  and  evidences  that  the  bones  of  many  aborigines  have 
been  for  many  long  years  quietly  resting  there,  are  found. 
In  each  case  the  body  was  probably  buried  in  a  sitting  pos- 
ture." 

Sacrificed  Indian  Implements. 

In  the  autumn  of  1883,  Mr.  L.  B.  Beers  and  Mr.  Robert 
W.  Curtis,  of  Stratford,  were  hunting  for  Indian  relics  on  the 
bank,  near  the  mouth  of  the  Housatonic  river,  when  coming 
to  a  place  of  clean  loam  ground  Mr.  Beers  picked  up  a  small 
piece  of  soapstone  pot  or  dish,  and  Mr.  Curtis  soon  found 
another  stone  that  had  the  appearance  of  being  worked  out, 
but  on  examination  it  was  thrown  away  as  of  no  value.  The 
hunt  being  continued  Mr.  Curtis  found  a  broken  piece  of 
spear  head,  and  directly  Mr.  Beers  picked  up  a  poll  or  head 
of  a  stone  axe  and  called  for  the  piece  that  had  been  thrown 
awa}^  which  being  secured  fitted  to  the  head  of  the  axe 
perfectly.  The  idea  then  came  to  Mr.  Curtis  that  Indians 
would  be  likely  to  bury  in  light  loamy  earth,  and  that  this 
place  would  be  favorable  in  that  respect,  and  proposed  to  his 
fellow  laborer  to  dig  up  the  ground,  and  thereupon  went  to 
work  with  his  cane.  Soon  he  struck  something  hard  and 
dug  it  out  with  his  hands  and  found  it  to  be  a  large  spear 
head.  After  working  a  little  time  longer  Mr.  Beers  pro- 
posed to  look  elsewhere,  but  Mr.  Curtis  continued  the  work 


Indiafi  Burnt  Offerings.  6/' 

and  soon  found  a  small  nest  of  implements,  all  broken,  appar- 
ently, by  fire  heat.  On  further  digging  the  articles  found  at 
this  time  were  pieces  of  two  axes,  two  chisels  and  a  few 
pieces  of  other  implements. 

The  search  has  been  continued  with  intervals  to  the 
present  time,  and  the  result  is  the  following,  all  the  articles 
being  in  small  pieces  in  consequence  of  fire  heat: 

One  axe  lo)^  inches  long,  6  wide,  nicely  worked  ;  one  axe 
71^  inches  long  and  4^  wide,  approaching  round  in  form  ; 
one  axe  8  inches  long  and  5  wide,  nearly  entire  and  nicely 
worked;  one  tomahawk  4^  inches  by  23^;  one  pestle  13^ 
inches  long,  nicely  worked  ;  one  pestle  12  inches  long,  rough  ; 
one  9  inches  long,  rough  ;  eighteen  pieces  of  other  pestles ; 
nineteen  chisels  from  3^  inches  to  9  in  length,  some  of  them 
very  fine  grain  stones,  some  of  them  coarse ;  one  soapstone 
food  dish  II  inches  long,  8  inches  wide,  4  in  depth,  nearly 
complete  and  ornamented  with  notches  on  the  edge,  the 
shape  is  triangular,  oval;  one  soapstone  food  dish  12  inches 
long,  7  inches  in  width  and  3  in  depth;  five  rubbing  stones; 
one  drill  2}^  inches  in  length,  very  delicate;  one  coarse 
triangular,  cone  shaped  stone  about  4  pounds  in  weight,  use 
not  known  ;  75  pieces  of  different  sizes,  comprising  knives, 
spear  and  arrow  heads;  1,000  pieces  of  small  implements 
broken  beyond  designation. 

The  supposition  is  that  these  implements  were  from  time 
to  time  thrown  into  sacrificial  fires  as  offerings  in  worship, 
and  afterwards  buried  with  quantities  of  hickory  nuts  which 
were  found  as  charred  ashes  in  great  numbers.  This  subject 
may  be  further  treated  in  a  following  part  of  this  book  in 
regard  to  Indian  worship. 


ENGLISH    HISTORY 


CHAPTER   IV. 


THE  CUPHEAG  PLANTATION. 

1 639- 1 645. 

W  BEAUTIFUL  township,  inhabited  by  a 
^'.j.  noble  people,  is  the  theme  of  discourse  in  the 
"^'j  following  pages.  Antiquity  has  a  charm 
yj  for  many  thousands  of  persons  whose  lives 
^^^  never  reach  the  half  of  three-score  years 
and  ten,  while  equally  as  many,  as  the 
allotted  years  are  added,  grow  pathetic  by 
the  increasing  remembrance  of  the  halcyon 
days  which  will  never  more  return  ;  and  yet 
we  love  to  linger  in  our  thoughts  amidst  the 
realities  of  early  years  and  the  recollection 
of  those,  the  number  of  whose  j^ears  were 
long  since  inscribed  on  marble  tablets  in  the 
cemetery.  Almost  two  hundred  and  fifty 
3^ears — or  from  the  year  1639  to  that  of  1884 
— is  the  measure  of  the  period  which  is  to  pass  in  review,  as 
compassing  the  history  of  this  locality,  to  the  present  time. 

Stratford  was,  and  is,  a  beautiful  spot  of  earth,  and  they 
who  have  wandered  from  it  have  looked  back  with  pride  as 
well  as  with  longing  hearts,  and  have  almost  wished  that  the 
destinies  of  men  would  have  allowed  them  to  tarry  by  the 
old  hearthstones  of  their  ancestors  until  the  work  of  life 
should  have  been  accomplished  ;  and  many  more  will  look 
back  from  far  distant  countries  and  proclaim  with  joy  that 
they  descended  from  the  early  planters  of  this  good  old  town. 
"  Beautiful  for  situation  "  was  written  thousands  of  years  ago, 
and  yet  it  is  equally  applicable  to  this  distinguished  locality. 
"Old  Stratford"  was  a  name  fondly  cherished,  while  yet  it 
was  young  in  years,  by  those  who  had  gone  forth  to  establish 
new  plantations,  and  "  Old  Stratford  "  is  still  a  sound  of  joy 


72  History  of  St7'atford. 

and  pride  to  a  great  circle  of  its  acquaintances  as  well  as  its 
descendants.  Its  situation,  being-  bounded  toward  the  sun- 
rising  by  the  placid  Housatonic,  and  on  the  south  by  the 
ever  charming  Long  Island  Sound,  was,  and  is,  one  of  remark- 
able attractiveness,  and  such  as  never  to  be  forgotten  by  any 
of  its  wandering  sons  and  daughters.  By  the  side  of  the 
great  sea  where  the  tide  of  the  mighty  ocean,  ever  obedient 
to  the  nod  of  the  queen  of  night,  ceases  not  its  life-giving 
toil,  Stratford  sat  down  as  a  child  in  1639,  and  thereafter 
grew  towards  maturer  years.  In  historic  time,  it  is  still 
young,  but  compared  with  many  of  its  inland  neighbors  it  is 
truly  old  ;  and,  as  the  tale  of  its  legends  pass  in  review,  the 
ages  will  seem  to  have  greatly  multiplied,  and  its  multitude 
of  descendants  indefinitely  extended  from  ocean  to  ocean. 

Stratford  village  is  located  on  the  Housatonic  river 
about  one  and  a  half  miles  from  Long  Island  Sound,  in  Fair- 
field county,  Connecticut,  fourteen  miles  from  New  Haven 
and  fifty-eight  miles  from  New  York  City.  The  original 
township,  being  twelve  miles  in  length  north  and  south,  and 
about  seven^'miles  wide  east  and  west,  comprised  most  of  the 
territory  now  included  in  the  five  townships  of  Stratford, 
Bridgeport,  Huntington,  Trumbull  and  Monroe;  and  in  this 
history  it  is  proposed  to  complete  the  record  of  the  whole 
of  this  territory,  in  uniform  style,  from  the  commencement 
down  to  the  present  time,  and  as  each  town  is  organized  out 
of  the  old  territory,  to  lay  its  history  aside  until  the  original 
township  by  name  shall  have  been  completed,  and  then  to- 
take  up  again  each  of  the  new  towns  in  the  order  of  the  date 
of  their  organization,  and  thus  complete  the  work. 

The  picturesqueness  of  the  locality  is  remarkable.  The 
general  slope  of  the  land  is  towards  the  Housatonic  on  the 
east  and  the  Sound  on  the  south,  and  the  face  of  the  country 
is  divided  with  small  elevations  of  land,  called  hills,  but 
scarcely  equal  to  the  name,  such  as  Old  Mill  Hill,  Toilsome 
Hill,  Chestnut  Hill,  Long  Hill,  Coram  Hill,  and  the  White 
Hills  ;  rising  only  to  such  a  height  as  to  afford  numerous 
sites  for  dwellings,  in  full  view  of  many  miles  of  water 
scenery  of  the  Sound  and  landscape  on  Long  Island  beyond, 
and  such  as  to  guarantee  a  high  degree  of  health  from  the 


First  Patent  of  Connecticut.  73 

balmy  breezes  of  the  Atlantic  and  the  bracing,  if  not  some- 
times the  biting-  winds  from  the  hills  at  the  west  and  north. 
Great  vigor  of  health,  longevity  of  life,  and  beauty  of  locality, 
have  been  characteristic  of  the  region,  until  the  fame  thereof 
has  reached  from  ocean  to  ocean,  and  is  likely  never  to  grow 
less. 

Stratford  was  the  seventh  plantation  settled  within  the 
present  territory  of  Connecticut.  Windsor,  Hartford  and 
Wethersfield,  the  three  first,  were  commenced  in  the  years 
1635  and  6;  Saybrook  was  commenced  under  John  Winthrop, 
the  younger,  in  1635,  although  but  few  families  had  arrived 
there  in  1636.  Mr.  Davenport's  company  from  London,  with 
Mr.  Pruden's,  arrived  at  New  Haven  the  middle  of  April, 
1638,  and  the  next  spring  Mr.  Pruden  and  his  people  who 
had  remained  all  winter  at  New  Haven,  settled  at  Milford  ; 
and  in  the  spring  of  1639,  a  number  of  families  settled  at 
Stratford,  then  known  b}'  the  Indian  name  of  Cupheag. 

The  right  of  soil  and  manner  of  settlement. 

The  Patent''  for  the  territory  of  Connecticut,  given  by 
the  Earl  of  Warwick  in  163 1,  under  King  Charles  I.,  included 

'  The  first  Patent  of  Connecticut,  given  under  King  Charles  I. 

"To  all  people,  unto  whom  this  present  writing  Shall  come,  Robert,  Earl  of 
Warwick,  sendeth  greeting,  in  our  Lord  God  everlasting. 

Know  ye,  that  the  said  Robert,  Earl  of  Warwick,  for  divers  good  causes  and 
considerations  him  thereunto  moving,  hath  given,  granted,  bargained,  sold, 
enfeoffed,  alienated,  and  confirmed,  and  by  these  presents  doth  give,  grant,  bar- 
gain, sell,  enfeoff,  aliene,  and  confirm,  unto  the  right  honorable  William,  Viscount 
Say  and  Seal,  the  right  honorable  Robert,  Lord  Brook,  the  right  honorable  Lord 
Rich,  and  the  honorable  Charles  Fiennes,  Esq.,  Sir  Nathaniel  Rich,  Knt.,  Sir 
Richard  Saltonstall,  Knt.,  Richard  Knightly,  Esq.,  John  Pym,  Esq.,  John  Hamp- 
den, John  Humphrey,  Esq.,  and  Herbert  Pelham,  Esq.,  their  heirs  and  assigns, 
and  their  associates  forever,  all  that  part  of  New  England,  in  America,  which  lies 
and  extends  itself  from  a  river  there  called  Narraganset  river,  the  space  of  forty 
leagues  upon  a  straight  line  near  the  sea  shore  towards  the  southwest,  west  and 
by  south,  or  west  as  the  coast  lieth  towards  Virginia,  accounting  three  English 
miles  to  the  league  ;  and  also  all  and  singular  the  lands  and  hereditaments  what- 
soever, lying  and  being  within  the  lands  aforesaid,  north  and  south  in  latitude 
and  breadth,  and  length  and  longitude  of  and  within,  all  the  breadth  aforesaid, 
throughout  the  main  lands  there,  from  the  western  ocean  to  the  south  sea,  and  all 
lands  and  grounds,  place  and  places,  soil,  wood,  and   woods,  grounds,  havens, 


74  History  of  Stratford. 

"  all  that  part  of  New  England,  in  America,  which  lies  and 
extends  itself  from  a  river  there  called  Narraganset  river, 
the  space  of  forty  leagues  upon  a  straight  line  near  the  sea 
shore  towards  the  southwest,  west  and  south,  or  west  as  the 
coast  lieth  towards  Virginia,"  and  therefore  covered  more 
area  than  the  present  State  of  Connecticut.  President  Clap 
of  Yale  College  described  it  thus  :  "  All  that  part  of  New 
England  which  lies  west  from  Narraganset  river,  a  hundred 
and  twenty  miles  on  the  sea  coast  ;  and  from  thence  in  lati- 
tude and    breadth  aforesaid  to  the  sea,  which  grant  extended 

ports,  creeks  and  rivers,  waters,  fishings,  and  hereditaments  whatsoever,  lying 
within  the  said  space,  and  ever}'  part  and  parcel  thereof.  And  also  all  islands 
lying  in  America  aforesaid,  in  the  said  seas,  or  either  of  them,  on  the  western 
coasts,  or  parts  of  the  said  tracts  of  lands,  by  these  presents  mentioned  to  be  given, 
granted,  bargained,  sold,  enfeoffed,  aliened,  and  confirmed,  and  also  all  mines 
and  minerals,  as  well,  royall  mines  of  gold  and  silver,  as  other  mines  and  rr:in- 
erals,  whatsoever,  in  the  said  land  and  premises,  or  any  part  thereof,  and  also  the 
several  rivers  within  the  said  limits,  by  what  name  or  names  soever  called  or 
known,  and  all  jurisdictions,  rights,  and  royalties,  liberties,  freedoms,  immuni- 
ties, powers,  privileges,  franches,  preeminences,  and  commodities  whatsoever, 
which  the  said  Robert,  Earl  of  Warwick,  now  hath  or  had,  or  might  use,  exercise, 
or  enjoy,  in  or  within  any  part  or  parcel  thereof,  excepting  and  reserving  to  his 
majesty,  his  heirs,  and  successors  the  fifth  part  of  all  gold  and  silver  ore,  that 
shall  be  found  within  the  said  premises,  or  any  part  or  parcel  thereof:  To  have 
and  to  hold  the  said  part  of  New-England  in  America,  which  lies  and  extends  and 
is  abutted  as  aforesaid.  And  the  said  several  rivers  and  every  parcel  thereof,  and 
all  the  said  islands,  rivers,  ports,  havens,  waters,  fishings,  mines,  minerals,  juris- 
dictions, powers,  franchises,  royalties,  liberties,  privileges,  commodities,  heredita- 
ments and  premises,  whatsoever  with  the  appurtenances,  unto  the  said  William, 
Viscount  Say  and  Seal,  Robert,  Lord  Brook,  Robert,  Lord  Rich,  Charles  Fiennes, 
Sir  Nathaniel  Rich,  Sir  Richard  Saltonstall,  Richard  Knightly,  John  Pym,  John 
Hampden,  John  Humphrey  and  Herbert  Pelham,  their  heirs  and  assigns  and  their 
associates,  to  the  onl)'  proper  and  absolute  use  and  behoof  of  them  the  said  Wil- 
liam, Viscount  Say  and  Seal,  Robert,  Lord  Brook,  Robert,  Lord  Rich,  Charles 
Fiennes,  Sir  Nathaniel  Rich,  Sir  Richard  Saltonstall,  Richard  Knightly,  John 
Pym,  John  Hampden,  John  Humphrey  and  Herbert  Pelham,  their  heirs  and 
assignes,  and  their  associates  for  ever  more.  In  witness  whereof  the  said  Robert 
Earl  of  Warwick,  hath  hereunto  set  his  hand  and  seal,  the  ninteenth  day  of 
March,  in  the  seventh  year  of  the  reign  of  our  sovereign  Lord  Charles,  by  the 
Grace  of  God,  King  of  England,  Scotland,  France  and  Ireland,  defender  of  the 
faith,  &c.  Annoq.  Domini,  1631. 

Signed,  sealed,  and  delivered,  Robert  Warwick." 

in  the  presence  of 

Walter  Williams 

Thomas  Howson 


First  Patejit  of  Connecticut.  75 

from  Point  Judith  to  New  York  ;  and  from  thence  in  a  west 
line  to  the  South  Sea  :  and  if  we  take  Narraganset  river  in 
its  whole  leng-th,  this  tract  will  extend  as  far  as  Worcester, 
and  comprehends  the  whole  of  the  colony  of  Connecticut 
and  much  more."" 

The  title  to  this  land  was  given  to  the  Earl  of  Warwick  by 
the  Plymouth  Company  of  England.  On  "  the  3d  of  Novem- 
ber, 1620,  just  before  the  arrival  of  Mr,  Robbinson's  people  in 
New  England,  King  James  1.,  by  letters  patent,  under  the 
great  seal  of  England,  incorporated  the  Duke  of  Lenox,  the 
Marquis  of  Buckingham  and  Hamilton,  the  Earls  of  Arundel 
and  Warwick,  and  others,  to  the  number  of  forty  noblemen, 
knights  and  gentlemen,  by  the  name  '  of  the  Council  estab- 
lished at  Plymouth  in  the  county  of  Devon,  for  the  planting, 
ruling  and  governing  of  New  England  in  America,' — 'and 
granted  unto  them  and  their  successors  and  assigns,  all  that 
part  of  America,  lying  and  being  in  breadth  from  forty  de- 
grees of  north  latitude  from  the  equinoctial  line,  to  the  forty- 
eighth  degree  of  said  northerly  latitude  inclusively,  and  in 
length  of  and  within  all  the  breadth  aforesaid,  throughout 
the  main  lands  from  sea  to  sea.'  The  patent  ordained  that 
this  tract  of  country  should  be  called  New  England  in 
America,  and  by  that  name  have  continuance  forever.*"  In 
1630,  this  Plymouth  Company  conveyed  to  the  Earl  of  War- 
wick the  territory  named  in  the  Connecticut  Patent,  and 
which  he  sold,  as  above,  to  the  parties  named  in  that  Patent 
to  the  number  of  eleven  persons. 

When  the  companies  settled  at  Windsor  and  Hartford, 
they  supposed  they  were  within  the  jurisdiction  of  the  Mas- 
sachusetts Bay  company,  but  soon  became  aware  of  their 
mistake,  and  on  the  arrival  of  the  younger  Governor  Win- 
throp  soon  after  to  make  a  settlement  at  Saybrook  and  to  be 
governor  of  Connecticut  one  year,  there  was  talk  of  removing 
from  Hartford,  Windsor  and  Wethersfield,  but  finally  the 
two  governments  were  united  at  Hartford. 

It   was  in   the   latter  part  of    the  year    1636  that   trouble 

*  Manuscripts  of  President  Clap.     Trumbull,  p.  28. 

*  Trumbull,  p.  20. 


"J^  History  of  Stratford. 

began  between  the  Pequots  and  the  Connecticut  settlements^ 
which  resulted  in  the  annihilation  of  that  tribe  in  June  of  the 
next  year,  and  by  which  the  English  took  the  Pequot  coun- 
try as  conquered  territory;  and  by  which  also  they  took 
possession  in  March,  1638,  of  the  country  west  of  the  Quinni- 
piac  to  the  Hudson  river,  as  conquered  country,  in  conse- 
quence of  the  Indians  of  this  territory  being  allies  of  the 
Pequots,  and  joining  with  them  in  the  fight. 

Before  giving  proof  of  the  above  statements  some  notice 
must  be  taken  of  the  declarations  of  historians,  that  the  first 
planters  at  Stratford  and  Fairfield  bought  these  townships  of 
the  Indians,  in  favor  of  which  there  is  scarcely  a  scrap  of 
record  to  be  found,  except  in  the  publications  hereafter  men- 
tioned. 

Dr.  Trumbull,  who  was  a  very  careful  collector  of  his- 
tory— although  he  made  a  decided  mistake  this  once,  at  least 
— says : 

"  The  whole  township  [Stratford]  was  purchased  of  the 
natives;  but  first  Cupheag  and  Pughquonnuck  only,  where 
the  settlements  began. "^  The  settlement  did  not  begin  at 
Pequannock,  within  Stratford  bounds,  until  twenty  years 
after  that  at  Cupheag;  besides,  in  the  Colonial  records  the 
Indian  name  Peqnannuck  was  sometimes  applied  in  a  gen- 
eral way  to  the  settlement  at  Cupheag,  or  Stratford  village,, 
but  generally  to  the  open  country  in  Fairfield  adjoining 
Stratford  line  and  including  a  part  of  Stratford  territory  at 
that  place.  Of  Fairfield  he  says:  "The  first  adventures 
purchased  a  large  tract  of  land  of  the  natives," — which  was, 
as  will  be  seen,  wholly  erroneous,  so  far  as  any  records  show. 

Noah  Webster,  LL.D.,  in  his  History  of  the  United  States^ 
printed  in  1842,  says: 

"  Mr.  Ludlow,  of  Windsor,  who  had  traversed  the  lands 
west  of  Quinnipiac,  in  pursuit. of  the  Pequots  in  1637,  was  so 
well  pleased  with  their  fertility,  that  he  and  a  few  friends 
purchased  a  large  tract  at  Unquoway,  and  began  a  settlement 
in   1639,  called   Fairfield.     In    the   same   year  a  company    of 

*  Dr.  Trumbull,  i.  no,  Ibid.,  109. 


The  First  Settlement.  jy 

■men   from    England  and  Massachusetts    purchased   Cupheag 
and  Poquonnoc,  and  began  the  town  of  Stratford.'"" 

Mr.  J.  W.  Barber  and  others  have  followed  this  same 
erroneous  supposition  concerning  the  purchase  of  these 
plantations  of  the  Indians  before  1659,  for  which  there  was 
never  a  scrap  of  record  or  an  authenticated  tradition  until 
these  historians  made  them,  as  far  as  can  be  ascertained. 
Every  Indian  deed  of  lands  in  Stratford  bears  a  date  of  more 
than  twenty  years  later  than  the  first  settlement  of  the  town 
and  the  deeds  were  then  made  more  as  a  mutual  friendship 
act  than  for  any  other  reason.  The  truth  is — and  it  only 
illustrates,  that  historians  have  too  little  time  to  bestow  on 
their  work — that  Dr.  Trumbull  and  all  the  other  writers 
wholly  overlooked  certain  papers  recorded  in  the  first  vol- 
ume of  Stratford  records,  which  give  a  clear  elucidation  of 
this  subject.  Indeed,  the  Indian  deeds  of  later  years  prove, 
in  their  statements,  that  there  were  no  purchases  of  these 
lands  before  1656. 

The  plantations  of  Stratford  and  Fairfield  were  always 
under  the  government  of  the  Connecticut  Colony  and  never 
under  or  connected  with  the  New  Haven  Colony.  The 
cause  securing  this  relation  was  the  possession  of  this  terri- 
tory by  Connecticut  and  the  direction  given  by  that  Colony 
in  the  settlement  of  these  localities.  The  claim  to  this  terri- 
tory was  based  on  the  acquisition  of  it  as  conquered  countr}', 
and,  in  addition,  a  treaty  was  made  with  the  Indians  for  the 
specific  purpose  of  settlement.  The  evidence  of  these  facts 
is  contained  in  several  papers,  made  under  oath,  and  recorded 
at  Stratford  in  1659,  twenty  years  after  the  whites  first  came, 
by  which  the  Court  at  Hartford  decided  that  the  lands  then 
occupied  by  Stratford  and  Fairfield  rightly  belonged  to  those 
towns. 

These  papers  may  be  seen  in  full  on  pages  10  to  15  of  this 
book,  as  a  part  of  the  Indian  history  ;  and  as  authority  they 
are  important  documents.  These  persons  were  :  the  Rev. 
John  Higginson,  a  prominent  minister  living  at  Guilford  at 
the  time,  Thomas  Stanton,  of  Hartford,   Indian  interpreter, 

^Webster's  Hist.  U.  S.,  97. 


78  History  of  Stratford. 

Lieut.  Thomas  Wheeler,  at  first  of  Fairfield  but  afterwards 
of  Milford,  and  John  Minor,  interpreter  to  the  Indians 
and  for  some  years  tow.n  clerk  at  Stratford  before  his  removal 
to  Woodbury.  The  items  given  by  these  persons  are  the  fol- 
lowing. Mr.  Edward  Hopkins  and  Mr.  William  Goodwin, 
then  prominent  men,  were  employed  by  the  Court  at  Hart- 
ford to  "  treat  with  the  Indians  in  regard  to  the  land  from 
Quinnipiac  to  the  Manhattoes "  (New  York),  and  that  Mr. 
Higginson  accompanied  them,  as  interpreter  :  that  after  giv- 
ing notice  to,  and  inviting  the  sachems  and  principal  men  of 
the  tribes  from  Quinnipiac  to  the  Hudson  river,  they  met  at 
Norwalk  in  the  last  week  in  March  in  1638  (really  the  begin- 
ning of  the  year  1638),  not  quite  a  year  after  the  conquest  of 
the  Pequots,  and  after  a  day's  consultation  in  full  council,  all 
the  tribes  being  well  represented,  the  Indians  gave  the  land 
to  the  English,  without  consideration  except  the  protection 
they  should  thereby  secure  against  other  Indians.  In  this 
surrender  they  reserved  only  their  planting  grounds,  which 
were  located  at  that  time  on  the  Pequannock  plain. 

In  these  papers  it  is  also  claimed  that  the  territory, 
specially  of  Stratford  and  Fairfield,  was  conquered  country, 
for  the  reason  that  the  tribes  inhabiting  it  were  tributary  to 
the  Pequots  at  the  time,  and  that  they  being  led  specially  by 
the  Pequannock  tribe,  which  was  the  most  numerous,  joined 
with  the  Pequots  as  they  fled,  the  year  pi-evious,  and  aided 
them  in  the  battles  or  skirmishes  at  Quinnipiac,  Cupheag, 
Pequannock  and  Sashquaket  swamp.  It  was  claimed,  and  it 
is  said  that  the  Indians  acknowledged,  that  if  the  Pequot 
country  was  conquered  territory  and  not  to  be  paid  for,  so 
also  was  that  owned  by  those  who  joined  them  in  the  fight. 
Mr.  Higginson  states  that  the  object  of  this  treaty  was  par- 
ticularly to  secure  the  land  for  future  settlements,  and  keep 
it  from  the  possession  of  the  Dutch  ;  and  that  a  deputation 
of  Indians  returned  with  the  commissioners  to  Hartford  and 
did  ratify  the  agreement  with  a  meeting  of  the  Court,  held 
in  Mr.  Hooker's  barn. 

Mr.  Nicholas  Knell,  a  prominent  planter  at  Stratford, 
confirmed  the  testimony  of  Mr.  Higginson,  and  it  is  said  that 
numbers  of  persons  would  do  the  same,  and  that  it  was  upon 


The  First  Settlement. 


79 


the  right  to  the  soil  thus  obtained  that  the  Connecticut 
Colony  proceeded  to  induce  settlers  to  locate  upon  these 
lands,  beginning  in  1638,  probably  \v.ithin  two  months  after 
the  council  held  with  the  Indians  at  Norwalk. 

The  New  Haven  and  Milford  companies,  not  being 
aware  of  this  acquisition  by  the  cost  of  many  lives,  and  the 
treaty,  took  possession  of  the  Ouinnipiac  lands  about  fifteen 
days  after  the  treaty  was  ratified,  and  afterwards  purchased 
the  same  of  the  natives ;  but  they  were,  as  appears  from  these 
papers,  as  to  the  right  of  the  soil  obtained  from  the  Indians, 
squatters  on  Connecticut  territory.  Also  the  planters  at 
Norwalk,  Stamford  and  Greenwich,  not  being  aware  of  the 
acquisition  and  treaty,  and  the  General  Court  not  urging  its 
claims,  purchased  their  lands  of  the  tribes  living  at  those 
places. 

The  Connecticut  Court,  however,  proceeded  at  once  to 
induce  settlers  to  establish  themselves  at  Stratford  and  Fair- 
field, and  probably  succeeded  in  directing  a  few  families  to 
locate  in  each  place  in  the  year  1638,  and  several  more  in 
1639. 

On  the  loth  of  October,  1639,  Mr.  Ludlow  then  residing 
at  Windsor,  and  being  Deputy  Governor,  made  a  journey  to 
New  Haven  and  thence  to  Pequannock  and  Unco  way,  where 
he  located  some  cattle  for  the  winter,  and  laid  out  lots  of 
land  "  for  himself  and  others."  Upon  his  return  to  Hartford, 
there  arose  some  misunderstanding  as  to  what  he  had 
done,  and  the  Governor — Mr.  Haynes — and  Mr.  Wells 
were  appointed  a  commission  to  visit  these  places,  already 
inhabited  by  a  number  of  settlers,  under  the  following  direc- 
tions :° 

"They  are  desired  to  confer  with  the  planters  at  Pequan- 
nocke  [Fairfield  and  Stratford],  to  give  them  the  oath  of 
fidelity,  make  such  free  as  they  see  fit,  order  them  to  send 
one  or  two  deputies  to  the  two  General  Courts  in  September 
and  x\pril,  and  for  deciding  of  differences  and  controversies 
under  40^  among  them,  to  propound  to  them  and  give  them 
power  to  choose  seven   men   from  among  themselves,    with 

®  Conn.  Col.  Records,  36. 


8o  History  of  Stratford. 

liberty  of  appeal  to  the  Court  here;  and  also  to  assign  Ser- 
geant Nichols  for  the  present  to  train  the  men  and  exercise 
them  in  military  discipline  ;  and  they  are  farther  desired  to 
speak  with  Mr.  Pruden  and  that  Plantation,  that  the  differ- 
ence between  them  and  Pequannocke  plantation  [Stratford] 
may  be  peaceably  decided,  and  to  this  end  that  indifferent 
men  may  be  chosen  to  judge  who  have  most  right  to  the 
places  in  controversy  and  most  need  of  them,  and  accord- 
ingly determined  as  shall  be  most  agreeable  to  equity  and 
reason.'" 

This  act  of  the  Court  in  October,  1639,  to  make  freemen 
in  addition  to  some  who  already  resided  here,  who  should 
vote  in  the  election  of  representatives,  was  the  legal  recog- 
nition of  these  plantations  as  a  part  of  the  Government  of 
Connecticut  ;  and  the  fulfillment  of  these  orders  constituted 
the  organization  of  the  towns,  but  this  was  done  only  in  part 
according  to  the  acceptance  of  the  report  of  the  Governor 
and  Mr,  Wells  the  following  i6th  of  January,  1639;'  and  the 
commission  was  renewed  the  next  April  (9,  1640),  as  follows  : 

"It  is  ordered  that  Mr.  Haynes,  Mr.  Ludlow  and  Mr. 
Welles  shall  settle  the  division  of  the  bounds  betwixt 
Pequannocke  and  Unco  way  e,  by  the  24th  day  of  June  next, 
according  to  their  former  Commission:  And  also  that  they 
tender  the  Oath  of  Fidelity  to  the  Inhabitants  of  the  said 
Townes,  and  make  such  free  as  they  shall  approve  of.'" 

But  before  the  date  specified  had  arrived,  namely,  the 
15th  of  June,  1640,  other  persons  were  appointed  to  attend 
this  work,  as  follows  : 

"  It  is  Ordered,  that  Mr.  Ludlow,  Mr.  Hopkins  and  Mr. 
Blakeman  shall  survey  and  divide  and  set  out  the  bounds 
betwixt  the  Plantations  of  Cupheag  and  Uncoway,  provided 
if  they  cannot  accord,  Mr.  Welles  at  his  next  coming  to  those 
parts  shall  issue  it."'° 

•>  Col.  Rec.  i.  36. 

*  The  year  ending  the  25th  of  March,  1639  ;  but  1640  as  we  now  begin  the 
3'ear. 

^Conn.  Col.  Rec,  47. 

'<' Conn.  Col.  Records,  53. 


The  First  Settlement.  8 1 

In  the  order  for  April  9,  1640,  these  plantations  are  called 
towns,  indicating  their  standing  as  incorporated  parts  of  the 
government ;  and  the  same,  with  other  items  may  be  seen 
in  another  order  of  the  Court  in  June  15,  1640,"  when  Mr. 
William  Hopkins  of  Cupheag  is  appointed  and  sworn  as  the 
first  Magistrate  of  that  town.  On  the  13th  of  April,  1643,  it 
was  "  Ordered,  that  one  or  two  of  the  Magistrates  shall  be 
sent  to  Stratford  and  Uncoway,  to  join  with  Mr.  Ludlow  for 
the  execution  of  justice,  twice  this  year,  namely,  the  last 
Thursday  in  April  and  the  last  in  September.  Captain 
Mason  and  Mr.  Wells  are  appointed  for  the  last  in  April.'"" 

Stratford  does  not  appear  to  have  sent  representatives  to 
the  General  Court  until  1642,  when  Philip  Groves  filled  that 
position.  The  taxes  for  Stratford  and  Fairfield  were  col- 
lected together  as  one  plantation  until  1647,  when  they  were 
ordered  by  the  Court  to  be  divided.  Also  their  courts  were 
held  jointly  some  years  by  magistrates  appointed  for  the 
purpose. 

The  difficulty  of  ascertaining  the  date  when  Stratford 
was  made  a  town,  with  many  other  items  as  to  its  organiza- 
tion and  first  settlement,  is  in  consequence  of  the  town 
records  for  ten  of  the  first  years  having  disappeared.  These 
records  probably  consisted  of  a  volume  or  small  book,  fools- 
cap size,  about  half  an  inch  thick,  which  was  called  "folio." 

Not  only  were  the  plantations  of  Stratford  and  Fairfield 
called  towns  in  April,  1640,  but  they  had  freemen  who  no 
doubt  voted  in  the  adoption  of  the  first  constitution,  in  Jan- 
uary, 1638  (O.  S.),  they  being  a  part  of  the  government  at  the 
time,  and  hence  in  no  great  hurry  to  effect  an  organization  of 
the  town  which  would  be  burdensome  to  maintain  ;  for  dur- 

^'  "  Whereas  by  an  Order  the  14th  of  January  1638,  none  is  to  be  chosen  a 
Magistrate  but  such  as  are  propounded  in  some  General  Court  before,  yet  not- 
withstanding, as  Cupheag  and  Uncoway  are  somewhat  far  distant  from  this  Court, 
and  there  is  a  necessity  for  the  dispensation  of  justice  in  those  Towns,  therefore 
in  the  mean  and  until  the  next  General  Court  of  Election,  that  it  is  thought  meet 
and  so  ordered,  that  Mr.  William  Hopkins  of  Cupheag  be  a  Commissioner  to 
join  with  Mr.  Ludlow  in  all  Executions  in  their  particular  Court  or  otherwise, 
and  is  now  sworn  to  that  purpose."     Col.  Rec,  53. 

15  Col.  Rec,  86. 
6 


82  History  of  Stratford. 

ing  several  years  after  the  commencement  of  the  settlement 
they  seem  to  have  been  released  from  taxes,  and  perhaps  this 
is  the  reason  why  representatives  were  not  sent  earlier  than 
they  were. 

This  first  Constitution  of  Connecticut  was  a  remarkable 
paper,  and  ever  will  be  a  great  honor  to  Roger  Ludlow,  then  of 
Fairfield,  who  drew  it,  as  well  as  to  the  men  who  adopted  it. 
The  basis  of  this  paper  was  an  independent  republic,  there 
being  in  it  no  reference  to  king  or  queen  or  monarchy  or  any 
other  government  except  itself,  which  is  very  remarkable 
when  remembering  that  all  those  who  were  then  to  act  as 
freemen  under  it  were  just  come  from  a  kingdom  of  remarka- 
ble dignity  and  renown. 

Dr.  Trumbull,  in  his  History  of  Connecticut,  remarks 
upon  this  instrument  as  follows: 

"This  probably  is  one  of  the  most  free  and  happy  con- 
stitutions of  civil  government  which  has  ever  been  formed. 
The  formation  of  it,  at  so  early  a  period,  when  the  light  of 
liberty  was  wholly  darkened  in  most  parts  of  the  earth,  and 
the  rights  of  men  were  so  little  understood  in  others,  does 
great  honor  to  their  ability,  integrity  and  love  to  mankind. 
To  posterity  indeed,  it  exhibited  a  most  benevolent  regard. 
It  has  been  continued,  with  little  alteration,  to  the  present 
time  [1818].  The  happy  consequences  of  it,  which,  for  more 
than  a  century  and  a  half,  the  people  of  Connecticut  have 
experienced,  are  without  description."" 

A  recent  writer'*  has  the  following  passage  in  regard  to 
this  constitution  as  formulated  by  Mr.  Ludlowe : 

"  The  Calient  feature  of  Ludlowe's  career,  the  grand 
achievement  of  his  life,  was  his  large  share  in  originating  and 
putting  into  practical  operation  the  original  laws  of  Con- 
necticut. When,  after  the  Pequot  war,  the  General  Court 
met  to  decide  upon  a  frame  of  government,  he  was  unani- 
mously appointed  to  make  the  draft.  Of  this  great  paper  it 
is  not  too  much  to  say,  briefly,  that  in  its  immediate  applica- 

"  Trumbull,  103. 

'''  Mr.  Wm.  A.  Beers,  in  Magazine  of  American  History,  April,  1882. 


The  First  Constitution,  83 

tion  and  far-reaching  results  it  ranks  with  the  best  that  have 
been  formulated  by  the  profoundest  statesmen.  It  was  not 
perfect :  Ludlowe  was  not  a  perfect  legislator ;  but  it  ap- 
proached so  near  completeness,  that  Dr.  Leonard  Bacon  said 
of  it:  '  It  is  the  first  example  in  history  of  a  written  Constitu- 
tion— a  distinct  organic  law,  and  defining  its  powers.'  " 


CHAPTER    V. 


THE    FIRST    PLANTERS. 


1639-1651. 


EGINNING  in  a  wilderness,  bordering  on 
the  great  sea,  a  settlement  of  English  inhab- 
itants, for  the  perpetuation  of  posterity 
under  the  broad  principles  of  religious  free- 
dom and  uprightness,  as  well  as  an  enlarged 
perception  of  civil  rights,  was  the  honored 
privilege  of  the  first  planters  of  Stratford. 
Admitting  that  their  opinions  of  religious 
and  civil  liberty  were  not  equal  to  those 
entertained  two  hundred  years  later,  yet,  the 
advanced  position  which  they  took  upon 
emigrating  from  the  Jerrible  restrictions 
placed  by  their  native  country,  upon  the 
ideas  which  the}^  did  entertain,  was  and  is 
still,  a  marvel  in  itself;  and  it  has  proved 
already  to  be  the  germinating  seed  which  has  been  scattered 
to  a  joyful  extent  to  nearly  every  nation  under  the  sun. 
Notwithstanding  some  odium  of  Blue  Laws,  the  originating 
point  of  liberty  in  its  best  applications,  for  two  hundred  and 
fifty  years,  has  been  the  State  of  Connecticut ;  and,  among 
the  very  earliest  protestants  against  restrictions  upon  such 
freedom  were  found  prominent  planters  at  Stratford.  Dark- 
ness in  the  thought-world  as  well  as  in  the  physical,  is  only 
dispelled  by  the  incoming  of  light  ;  and  as  light  penetrates, 
the  mental  soil  becomes  prolific,  the  same  as  the  physical, 
and  hence  America  has  grown  from  its  small  beginnings  at 
the  germ  principles  of  mighty  freedom,  to  its  present  mar- 
velousl}^  grand  proportions  of  national  liberty  and  goveriivicnt. 
In   the  history  of  the   world,   nothing  has  ever  half  equaled 


TJie  name  of  the   Township.  85 

this  growth,  nor  the  completeness,  and  marvelous  develop- 
ments of  national  gov ernmQut  and  freedom. 

Stratford  began  with  a  few  families  ;  grew  and  prospered 
until  it  surpassed  many  of  its  neighbors  and  thereafter  sent 
forth  an  innumerable  number  of  families  to  establish  and 
replenish  other  plantations  in  the  exercise  of  the  same  energy 
and  expanding  thought  that  marked  its  own  early  history, 
and  which  have  secured  for  it  a  fame  highly  honorable  to  any 
people.  It  was  recognized  first  as  an  established  plantation, 
in  1639,  although  tradition  reports  that  one  family — William 
Judson — if  not  more,  settled  here  in  the  year  1638. 

That  it  was  settled  by  a  number  of  inhabitants  in  1639,  is 
evident  not  only  from  tradition,  but  from  the  following 
extracts  from  the  records  of  the  General  Court,  October  10, 
1639:'  "And  Mr.  Governor  [John  Haynes]  and  Mr.  Wells 
[Thomas  Wells,  afterwards  Governor]  were  intreated  to 
attend  this  service,  [to  view  the  plantation  laid  out  by  Mr. 
Ludlow],  and  they  are  desired  to  confer  with  the  planters  at 
Pequannocke,  to  give  them  the  oath  of  fidelit}^  make  such 
free  as  they  see  fit,  order  them  to  send  one  or  two  deputies 
to  the  General  Courts  of  September  and  April,  and  for 
deciding  of  differences  and  controversies  under  40%  among 
them,  to  propound  to  them  and  give  them  power  to  choose 
7  men  from  among  themselves,  with  liberty  of  appeal  to 
the  Court  here ;  as  also  to  assign  Sergent  Nichols  for  the 
present  to  train  the  men  and  exercise  them  in  military  disci- 
pline :  and  they  are  further  desired  to  speak  with  Mr. 
Prudden,  and  that  plantation  that  the  difference  between 
them  and  Pequannocke  plantation  may  be  peaceably  decided, 
and  to  this  end  that  different  men  may  be  chosen  to  judge 
who  have  most  right  to  the  places  in  controversy  and  most 
need  of  them,  and  accordingly  determine  as  shall  be  most 
agreeable  to  equity  and  reason." 

According  to  this  the  plantation  was  settled  so  far  as  to 
have  men  enough  to  be  exercised  in  training,  and  so  as  to 
choose  seven  men  as  a  court  for  matters  under  40^  of  value ; 
and  also  there  was  a  difference  as  to  boundaries  between  the 

1  Col.  Rec,  i.  36. 


86  History  of  Stratford. 

two  plantations,  Stratford  being  called  Pequannock;  and  the 
Court  sought  to  have  them  send  deputies,  as  a  township. 

This  indicates  that  Mr.  Blakeman  and  his  company  had 
arrived  from  Wethersfield,  for  without  them  there  would 
have  been  too  few  to  meet  the  supposition  of  the  Court. 

At  this  time  the  plantation  is  called  Pequonnocke,  by  the 
Court,  and  in  June  1640,  it  is  called  Cupheag,  and  the  same 
the  next  September,  and  in  April,  1643,  it  is  called  Stratford. 
The  name  therefore,  must  have  been  changed  between 
September,  1640,  and  April,  1643. 

As  to  the  name,  Stratford,  and  how  it  became  the  name 
of  this  locality,  there  are  some  interesting  items.  Hon. 
James  Savage,  author  of  a  Genealogical  Dictionary,  speaking 
of  Thomas  Alsop  and  his  brother  Joseph  Alsop  at  New 
Haven,  says:  "It  may  be  that  the  father  of  these  youth 
was  that  of  John  Alsop,  rated  for  a  subsidy  in  1598,  to  the 
same  parish  and  at  the  same  time  with  William  Shakespear, 
nor  would  it  be  very  extravagant  to  suppose,  that  he  too  went 
up  to  London  from  Stratford  on  Avon,"  and  thence  came  to 
America,  and  also  to  Stratford  among  the  first  settlers,  per- 
haps in  1639,  ^'^d  that  through  him  the  name  was  thought  of 
and  used.  It  has  been  suggested  that  since  Samuel  Sherman, 
an  early  settler  at  Stratford,  came  from  near  Stratford,  Essex 
county,  England,  quite  another  place  from  that  where  Shakes- 
pear  was  born,  the  place  ma}'  have  been  named  after  this 
town  in  Essex  by  the  suggestion  of  Mr.  Sherman  ;  but  it 
should  be  remembered  that  the  Connecticut  Stratford  was 
so  named  ten  years  or  more  before  Samuel  Sherman  settled 
in  it,  and  therefore  he  had  nothing  to  do  with  naming  it.* 

A  company,  it  is  said,  was  organized  at  Wethersfield 
with  Mr.  Adam  Blakeman  as  minister,  for  the  purpose  of 
settlement  at  Cupheag.  Some  of  this  compan}'  were  persons 
who  had  been  connected  in  church  relations  with  Mr. 
Blakeman  in  England  and  had  accompained  him  thither,  and 
others  joined  him  at  Wethersfield.  Tradition  says  there 
were  fourteen  or  fifteen  in  this  company,  and  it  has  appeared 
in  print  that  there  were  seventeen,  but  it  is  impossible,  now, 


See  Biographical  Sketch  of  Wm.  Beardsley. 


First  Settlers  of  Stratford.  8/ 

to  fix  the  number.  Several  of  the  first  planters  had  grown- 
up sons,  over  twenty-one  years  of  age,  and  if  these  were 
counted,  the  number,  apparently,  must  have  been  over  seven- 
teen. 

The  location  at  first  of  quite  a  number  of  families  in  the 
southern  part  of  the  present  village  of  Stratford,  near  the 
site  of  the  first  meeting  house,  may  indicate  that  they  came 
to  the  place  at  the  same  time  and  made  their  homes  near 
each  other  for  better  protection  against  the  Indians. 

It  is  also  improbable  that  a  compan}'  of  families  with  Mr. 
Blakeman  as  their  minister,  should  come  from  VVethersfield 
to  settle  at  Stratford  without  some  agreement  or  specific 
understanding  about  the  ownership  of  the  land,  as  it  was  then 
not  only  under  the  supervision  of  the  Court,  but  claimed  by 
it  as  conquered  and  ceded  territory.  Hence  we  find  in  1656 
the  General  Court  confirms  the  boundaries  and  consequently 
the  right  of  the  soil  to  the  inhabitants  then  residing  here,  in 
these  words:  "This  Court,  at  the  request  of  Stratford,  doe 
graunt  that  their  bounds  shall  be  12  myle  northward,  by 
Paugasitt  River,  if  it  be  att  the  dispose  by  right  of  this 
Jurisdiction  ;"  and  therefore  the  inhabitants  then  in  the  town, 
some  of  them  or  all,  were  the  owners  of  this  territory,  by 
agreement  with  the  Court. 

All  the  proceedings  of  the  town,  from  the  first  record 
now  remaining,  are  founded  upon  the  implied  ownership  by  a 
company  of  first  settlers.  It  appears  by  the  records,  and 
tradition  confirms  the  same,  that  about  the  year  1650  the 
records,  then  kept  in  a  private  house,  were  accidentally 
burned,  destroying  every  entry  made  from  1639  to  that  time, 
and  then  the  claims  of  the  settlers,  most  of  them,  were 
reentered  by  the  tow^i  clerk,  as  the  parties  described  them 
and  as  was  generally  known  to  be  the  facts.  After  this,  when 
new  parties  came  into  the  town,  the}^  were  granted  a  home 
lot  of  about  two  acres  free,  upon  condition  that  they  would 
build  upon  and  improve  it  for  three  years,  after  which  they 
could  sell  it  to  their  own  profit  if  they  desired  so  to  do. 
Hence  most  of  the  entries  are  dated  in  165 1  or  later;  one 
land  record  bears  the  date  of  1648,  and  one  town  meetmg  act 
bears  that  of  1650. 


88  History  of  Stratford. 

If  a  definite  aiithoritativ^e  account  or  biographical  sketch 
of  each  of  these  original  first  settlers  could  be  given,  in- 
cluding the  place  of  birth,  social  and  civil  relations  and  a 
statement  of  the  leading  occurrences  which  drove  them  to 
emigrate  to  this  country,  it  would  be  a  portion  of  histor}'  of 
much  value  as  well  as  of  decided  interest.  We  know  in  a 
general  way  the  causes  of  this  emigration,  but  as  to  individu- 
als we  have  no  particulars  except  those  of  Mrs.  Mirable,  the 
wife  of  John  Thompson.  In  the  absence  of  such  information 
as  we  would  be  delighted  to  obtain,  we  must  be  content  with 
the  few  items  which  can  now  be  gleaned  from  the  desolated 
and  long  neglected  field. 

The  settlement  of  Stratford  was  not  made  by  a  company 
organized  for  the  purpose  in  England  as  was  the  case  with 
several  other  towns,  but  by  individuals,  in  a  kind  of  inde- 
pendent or  isolated  way,  except  those  who  came  in  company 
with  Mr.  Blakeman.  These  seem  to  have  been  more  numer- 
ous than  has  been  generally  conceded.  Of  some  of  the 
families  settled  here  it  is  stated  that  they  came  direct  from 
England,  but  as  no  vessels  landed  at  Stratford  these  must 
have  come  through  Massachusetts,  and  hence  may  have 
joined  Mr.  Blakeman's  company  at  VVethersfield,  or,  under 
a  concert  of  arrangement,  joined  him  at  Stratford  in  the 
Spring  of  1639.  The  fact  that  there  were  a  certain  number 
of  proprietors,  or  patentees,  or  owners  of  the  whole  territory, 
necessarily  requires  concert  of  action  under  some  specific 
agreement  with  the  General  Court,  and  that,  too,  for  some 
consideration  of  value,  else  they  could  have  had  no  right  to 
the  exclusion  of  others.  These  were  15,  perhaps  17,  and  if 
any  others  came  they  were  required  to  buy  land  of  these  17, 
individuall}'  or  collectively,  or  receive  it  by  gift  from  the 
town.  Dr.  Trumbull's  statements,  for  want  of  thoroughness 
of  research  as  to  the  purchase  of  the  township  of  the  natives, 
are  so  erroneous  that  his  other  statements  may  be  taken  with 
some  doubt,  yet  in  regard  to  the  coming  of  the  first  principal 
settlers  he  may  be  nearly  correct,  for  he  probably  obtained 
his  information  in  this  particular  from  aged  living  persons 
who  at  that  date  would  be  likely  to  retain  the  facts.  He 
says : 


First  Settlers  of  Stratford.  89 

"Mr.  Fairchild,  who  was  a  principal  planter,  and  the  first  gentleman  in  the 
town  vested  with  civil  authority,''  came  directly  from  England.  Mr.  John  and  Mr. 
William  Curtiss  and  Mr.  Samuel  [should  be  Joseph]  Hawley  were  from  Roxbury, 
and  Mr.  Joseph  [should  be  William]  Judson  and  Mr.  Timothy  [should  be  William] 
Willcoxson  from  Concord  in  Massachusetts.  These  were  the  first  principal  gen- 
tlemen in  the  town  and  church  of  Stratford.  A  few  years  after  the  settlement 
commenced,  Mr.  John  Birdseye  removed  from  Milford  and  became  a  man  of  emi- 
nence both  in  the  town  and  church.  There  were  also  several  of  the  chief  planters 
from  Boston,  and  Mr.  Samuel  Wells,  with  his  three  sons,  John,  Thomas  and 
Samuel,  from  Wethersfield,  Mr.  Adam  Blakeman,  who  had  been  episcopally 
ordained  in  England,  and  a  preacher  of  some  note,  first  at  Leicester  and  after- 
wards in  Derbyshire,  was  their  minister,  and  one  of  the  first  planters.  It  is  said 
that  he  was  followed  by  a  number  of  the  faithful  into  this  country,  to  whom  he  was 
so  dear,  that  they  said,  in  the  language  of  Ruth,  '  Intreat  us  not  to  leave  thee,  for 
whither  thou  goest  we  will  go  ;  \\\y  people  shall  be  our  people,  and  thy  God  our 
God  !'     These,  doubtless,  collected  about  him  in  this  infant  settlement." 

Mr.  John  W.  Barber,  writing  in  1836,  says: 

"The  first  settlers  appear  to  have  located  themselves  about  one  hundred  and 
fifty  rods  south  of  the  Episcopal  Church,  the  first  chimney  being  erected  near  that 
spot  ;  it  was  taken  down  about  two  years  since.  The  first  burying  ground  was 
near  that  spot.  Mr.  William  Judson,  one  of  the  first  settlers,  came  into  Stratford 
in  1638.  He  lived  at  the  southwest  corner  of  Meetinghouse  hill  or  green,  in  a 
house  constructed  of  stone.  Mr.  Abner  Judson,  his  descendant,  lives  on  the  same 
spot,  in  a  house  which  has  stood  one  hundred  and  thirteen  years,  and  is  still  in 
good  repair." 

The  fact,  repeatedly  recorded,  of  the  divisions  of  the 
common  land  proves  that  the  town  was  owned  by  a  certain 
number  of  persons,  who,  as  proprietors  of  the  whole  (and  if 
so  then  these  persons  obtained  these  shares  or  rights  of  the 
General  Court  which  claimed  the  ownership  at  the  time), 
secured  the  same  for  some  consideration  or  stipulation,  which 
was,  probably,  the  simple  fact  of  taking  possession  by  actual 
settlement  by  a  certain  number  of  inhabitants  within  a  speci- 
fied time;  for  this  was  a  method  pursued  in  other  towns  at 
the  time  and  soon  after. 

Common  land,  or  "the  commons,"  was  land  not  divided 
or  disposed  of;  "sequestered"  was  that  given  away,  either 


'This  is  an  error  according  to  the  Conn.  Col.  Records,  i.  53,  "Genl.  Court, 
June  15,  1640,  .  .  .  It  is  so  ordered  that  Mr.  William  Hopkins  of  Cupheage  be  a 
commissioner  to  join  with  Mr.  Ludlowe  in  all  Executions  in  their  particular  court 
or  otherwise  and  is  now  sworn  to  that  purpose."  This  was  for  Cupheag  and  Un- 
coway,  before  Mr.  Fairchild  was  elected  magistrate. 


go  History  of  Stratford. 

for  public  or  private  use,  but  generally  for  public  ;  "divis- 
ions" were  a  certain  number  of  acres  surveyed  to  each  and 
every  proprietor,  which  sometimes  were  measured  into  lots 
which  were  numbered  and  the  numbers  being  put  on  paper 
and  into  a  hat  or  box  were  drawn  out,  one  to  each  proprie- 
tor; this  was  called  drawing  lots. 

The  "  Common  Field  "  was  land  for  cultivation,  owned 
by  several  or  all  of  the  proprietors,  and  a  fence  made  around 
the  whole  instead  of  each  making  a  fence  around  his  own,  for 
which  latter  work  too  much  time  would  be  required.  There 
were  two  of  these  common  fields.  The  first  was  constructed 
by  making  a  fence  from  the  brook  on  the  west  side  of  Little 
Neck  to  the  swamp  west  and  then  down  to  the  marsh,  and 
thus  shutting  all  the  cattle  and  swine  out  into  the  forests 
northward.  When  the  present  records  begin  this  first  com- 
mon field  is  frequently  called  the  Old  Field,  and  this  name  is 
still  applied  to  a  considerable  part  of  the  territory  imme- 
diately south  of  Stratford  village. 

The  second  common  field  was  made  before  the  year  1648, 
since  that  is  the  date  when  Robert  Rice  has  land  recorded  as 
being  in  that  field.  This  was  called  the  New  Field,  and  was 
made  by  a  fence  running  west  across  Claboard  hill  to  what  is 
now  Buce's  brook  or  still  further  to  Mill  creek.  This  is 
indicated  by  a  record  made  March  5,  1665-6,  locating  a  part 
of  the  fence  at  the  northeast  corner  of  the  field  and  south- 
ward.' This  field  was  then  reserved  for  a  "  winter  field  ;" 
that  is,  the  fence  was  kept  up  and  gates  closed  in  order  to 
leave  the  corn  and  stacks  of  hay  and  grain  in  that  field  secure 
from  the  cattle  during  the  winter.  Some  years  the  Old  Field 
was  kept  for  the  same  purpose — a  "  winter  field."* 

A  few  years  later,  that  is  before  1652,  another  field  was 
constructed  by  a  fence  across  the  neck  about  where  Old  Mill 
Green  now  is,  from   Mill  Creek  to  Pequannock  River,  which 

^  "  It  was  agreed  at  a  lawful  [town]  meeting  that  the  New  field  shall  be  kept 
for  a  winter  field  the  two  following  years  and  liberty  for  a  fence  to  be  drawn  along 
the  swamp  on  the  east  side  of  Claboard  Hill  and  so  down  to  the  old  swamp  land 
to  the  creek." 

•*"  Oct.  10,  1664.  It  was  agreed  that  the  Great  Neck  shall  be  kept  this  year 
for  a  winter  field." 


First  Settlers  of  Stratford.  QF 

was  called  the  "  New  Pasture,"  and  afterwards  the  southern 
part  of  this  field  was  called  "  New  Pasture  Point."  About 
the  same  time,  perhaps  a  little  earlier,  another  field  was  made 
up  the  Housatonic  river,  called  the  "  Oxe  Pasture,"  which 
is  frequently  mentioned  on  the  records. 

It  should  be  remembered  that  these  fields  were  largely 
without  forests  when  the  white  settlers  first  came.  Probably 
the  Old  Field,  and  perhaps  some  part  of  the  land  where 
Stratford  village  was  located  had  been  somewhat  cultivated 
by  the  Indians  before  the  settlers  came,  at  least  it  was  largely 
cleared  from  forests,  for  if  it  had  not  been,  so  few  inhabitants 
could  not  have  cleared  it  and  laid  out  a  village  with  such 
regularity,  to  such  an  extent,  as  was  done  within  four  or  five 
years.  For  in  1639  or  1640  the  principal  company  of  settlers 
came  from  Wethersfield,  and  in  1648  the  village  plot  was  all 
laid  out,  and,  apparently,  had  been  for  several  years.  The 
tradition  is  that  they  came  on  foot  and  horseback,  and  forded 
the  river  to  reach  the  west  side,  which  seems  almost  if  not 
quite  incredible  since  the  depth  of  the  river  at  present  pre- 
cludes a  supposition  of  fording  it.  The  strong  indications 
are  that  they  came  by  boat,  and  if  they  did  not  their  house- 
hold goods  did,  and  were  landed  at  the  mouth  of  Mack's 
creek,  where  they  made  their  first  tents  or  huts,  houses,  and 
meeting  house,  and  afterwards  laid  out  their  village  upon  a 
very  appropriate  and  beautiful  plan,  and  thus  it  remains  to- 
day with  but  few  changes  as  to  its  principal  streets.  When 
they  had  laid  the  highways  they  proceeded  to  make  the  first 
division,  which  was  a  home  lot,  a  piece  of  meadow,  and  a 
piece  of  upland  for  planting;  the  home  lot  containing  usually 
two  and  a  half  acres,  and  the  other  pieces  varying  according 
to  quality  ;  all  distribution  of  lands  being  passed  by  vote  at 
the  town  meetings.  When  after  planters  came  a  grant  of 
two  and  a  half  acres  was  made  to  them  free  of  cost  upon  con- 
dition that  they  should  build  a  dwelling  upon  it  and  improve 
it  during  three  years,  after  which  they  could  keep  it  or  sell 
it  at  their  own  pleasure.  These  grants  were  called  "  home 
lots,"  but  when  a  dwelling  had  been  erected  upon  them  they 
were  called  "  house  lots." 

The  oldest   date  of  such  a  lot  or  of  anything,  now  upon 


92  History  of  Stratford. 

record,  is  that  of  Robert  Rice's  lands,  Sept.  i6,  1648  ;  all 
previous  to  this  having  been  lost  or  destroyed  ; — said  to  have 
been  burned,  probably  by  accident,  they  having  been  kept  in 
a  private  house. 

It  is  quite  certain  that  dwellings  were  not  builded  upon 
every  home  lot  granted,  but  in  some  cases  they  were  sold 
and  united  to  other  lots,  as  in  the  case  of  John  Birdseye  at 
the  south  end  of  the  village,  who  purchased  several. 

Running  through  the  New  Field  was  a  stream  called 
Nesumpaw's  Creek,  and  a  portion  of  the  territory  in  the 
New  Field  was  called  Nesumpaws'  ;  which  title  was  first  the 
name  of  an  Indian  and  applied  to  a  tract  of  land  on  which 
his  wigwam  stood.  The  name  is  spelled  at  first  on  the  town 
records  Nesingpaws  or  Neesingpaws,  and  later  Nesumpaws. 

"  Claboard  Hill  "  lay  at  the  north  of  the  New  Field,  a  part 
of  the  hill  being  included  in  that  field.  Stony  Brook  Hill  was 
afterwards  called  Old  Mill  Hill. 

The  Pequannock  field  was  constructed,  probabl}'',  about 
1655,  for  it  had  been  sometime  established  according  to  a 
town  vote  in  January,  166 1.  It  was  on  the  Pequannock  plain 
south  of  Golden  Hill,  east  of  Fairfield  bounds. 

The  Calf-pen  plain  or  Upper  plain  was  north  of,  and, 
probably,  included  a  part  of,  the  Golden  Hill  Reservation,  as 
the  Reservation  was  laid  out  in  1659.  This  plain  was  estab- 
lished for  young  cattle  very  early,  probably  before  1650. 
This  locality  was  afterwards  and  even  yet  is  known  as  Bull's 
head.  It  was  here  probably  where  Richard  Butler's  swine 
were  pastured  when  Nimrod  "  willfully  killed  some  of  them," 
and  a  law  suit  followed,  or  at  least  was  granted  to  follow,  by 
the  Court. 

The  following  is  the  list  of  the  owners  of  fence  about 
the  first  common  field,  the  fence  being  a  little  over  353  rods 
in  length,  which  if  it  surrounded  the  entire  field  inclosed 
nearly  fifty  acres,  but  if  it  was  a  fence  direct  across  the  neck 
to  Fresh  Pond  it  would  have  inclosed  several  hundred  acres, 
or  all  of  Great  Neck  as  well  as  Little  Neck. 

This  list  is  without  date  but  must  have  been  recorded 
before  165 1,  since  William  Burritt's  name  is  on  it  and  he  died 
that  year. 


First  Settlers  of  Stratford.  93; 

"  A    note   of  every    man  s  fence   in  the  old  field  with   what   numbers  and  the 
several  rods. 

rods.    feet.    inch.  rods.    feet.    inch. 

1  Thomas  Skidmore,.-.i2         3        o  22  William  Crooker,...  2       10        2 

2  John  Wells 600  23  John  Hurd 43         8         o 

3  John  Reader, 10        9        o  24  Arthur  Bosticke 690 

4  Adam  Blakeman, 11       14        o         25  John  Tomson, 10        9        o 

5  Richard  Harvey, 9         i         6  26  Robert  Cooe o       10         2 

6  John  Peacock, 5         4         6  27  Thomas  Ufford, 12         6         3 

7  William  Quenby, 4         o         o  28  Joseph  Hawley, 690 

8  Robert  Rice, 13         8         o  29  Jeremiah  Judson,...ii       14        o 

9  William  Burritt, 546  30  Joshua  Judson 

10  Mr.  Knell 5  4  6          31  Mr.  Seabrook, 4  00  o 

11  John  Peatite, 10  9  o          32   Henry  Gregory, 8  00  o 

12  John  Brownsmayd,..-  9.1  6          33  Richard  Booth. 8  00  o 

13  William  Wilcoxson,..i2  3  o          34  Mr.  Waklin, 2  10  o 

14  Richard  Butler. 6  9  o          35  Widow  Curtis 2  10  2 

15  John  Peake, 10  9  o  36  Thomas  Sherwood,..   546 

16  Thomas  Fayrchild,.. .   6  9  o          37  Francis  Hall, 18  3  o 

17  Joseph  Judson, 4  o  o  38  William  Beardsley,.. 24  6  o 

18  Adam   Hurd, 4  o  o          39  John  Curtis, 4  10  o 

19  Daniell  Titterton, 11  14  o          40  John  Birdzie,. 10  g  o 

20  Philip  Groves, 9  i  6          41   Isack  Nickoles, 2  10  o" 

21  Francis  Peacocke,  .-   -5  4  6 

It  is  probable  that  this  is  not  a  complete  list  of  the 
original  company.  Robert  Cooe — number  26 — was  Robert, 
Junior,  and  just  twenty-three  years  of  age,  and  hence  was  not 
an  original  proprietor,  yet  his  father,  who  was  at  Wethers- 
field  at  the  time,  may  have  been.  Thomas  Alsop  appears 
to  have  been  one  of  the  original  company,  but  his  name  is 
not  on  this  list. 

The  following  sketches  of  the  first  settlers  at  Stratford  are 
much  less  complete  than  they  would  be  if  written  at  the 
end  of  the  work.  It  is  probable  that  these  men  had  not  the 
least  surmise  or  apprehension  of  the  relation  they  were  to 
occupy  in  regard  to  a  free  people  for  many  centuries  to 
come.  Each  supposed  himself  to  be  simply  an  individual, 
seeking  the  prosperity  of  himself  and  family,  but  time  has 
revealed  that  each    was  a  pillar  in  a  great  temple  of  human 


94  History  of  Stratford. 

government,  for  freedom  and  marvelous  success.  They 
sought,  modestly  and  mainly,  a  simple  home  of  personal 
possession  and  comforts,  and  in  securing  these,  laid,  in  con- 
nection with  other  like  plantations  which  were  as  independent 
republics,  the  foundations  for  a  government  which,  after  a 
little  less  than  two  centuries  and  a  half,  is,  for  the  elevation  of 
mankind,  the  most  sublime  the  sun  ever  shone  upon.  It  is 
often  the  case  that  the  most  perfectly  carved  marble  statue 
occupies  but  an  unobtrusive  corner  in  a  great  temple,  so  the 
work  and  life  of  each  family  in  such  a  plantation  may  seem 
at  the  time  but  an  insignificant  space  partially  filled,  yet  in 
the  ages  to  follow,  that  which  was  the  obscure  germ  will 
bloom  into  the  crowning  national  glory ;  even  as  accom- 
plished Presidents  of  the  United  States  from  the  back-woods 
log  cabins.  Under  such  possibilities  no  family  is  too  obscure 
to  be  noticed  in  a  work  like  the  present ;  and  even  if  it 
were,  the  fact  of  a  faithful  mention  of  all,  may  prove  a  stim- 
ulant to  high  ambition  and  success  in  a  most  obscure  corner  ; 
and  therefore,  so  far  as  time  and  cost  will  allow,  it  is  the  pur- 
pose to  mention  in  a  historical  manner  as  far  as  possible, 
every  person  that  has  had  a  residence  in  the  good  old  town 
of  Stratford.  But  few  books  if  any  in  the  English  language 
have  had  greater  influence  to  incite  noble  ambition  and  histori- 
cal culture  than  Plutarch^s  Lives,  and  following  in  this  same 
line  America  has  already  an  unprecedented  number  of  large 
volumes  of  Biographical  Dictionaries  and  Cyclopedias.  It  is 
not  then  unseemly  or  aside  from  good  historic  order  to  allow 
local  history  to  partake  largely  of  the  biographical  style. 

When  the  years  are  counted  over,  and  the  generations 
numbered  who  have  already  passed  away  since  Stratford  was 
first  settled,  the  time  seems  long,  and  the  various  paths 
through  which  its  citizens  have  journeyed  seem  wearisome  to 
think  of,  but  when  we  bring  to  mind  the  courage,  endurance, 
toil  and  enjoyments  which  were  the  portion  of  these  citizens 
we  are  both  sad  and  delighted.  Two  hundred  and  thirty- 
four  years  have  passed  since  the  date  of  the  paper  which 
contains  the  forty-one  names  of  whom  we  give,  first,  a  brief 
outline  of  their  remarkable  lives — remarkable,  if  for  nothing 
•else,  yet  for  the  circumstances  which  surrounded  them,  and 


First  Settlers  of  Stratford,  95 

for  the  nation  planted  by  them,  and  for  that  which  has  grown 
from  their  intellectual  and  religious  planting.  And  what 
changes  have  taken  place  since  those  forty-one  built  their 
rude  log  houses  at  or  near  Sandy  Hollow  Banks,  where  they 
erected  their  first  meeting-house!  Some  years  since  while 
digging  near  the  site  of  the  old  meeting-house  a  party  ex- 
humed a  skull-bone  :  that  was  a  representative  of  one  of  these 
early  settlers,  which  one  it  matters  not;  it  was  one  of  them  ; 
— all  gone  to  dust  but  one  bone — and  so  are  they  all. 

"  Two  hundred  years  ago  !  how  strange 
To  look  back  o'er  the  way 
And  think  of  the  great,  amazing  change 
From  that  until  th'  present  time. 

Slow  rising  in  the  eastern  sky, 
Our  fathers  hailed  the  rising  sun  ; 
But  saw  not  in  the  western  skies 
What  wonders  should  be  done." 

The  old  meeting-house,  after  about  forty  years'  service, 
disappeared  in  1683,  but  some  of  the  timbers  were  used  as 
sills  and  sleepers  in  a  house  now  standing  a  little  way  west 
from  the  site  of  the  old  meeting-house,  on  the  north  side  of 
the  street,  w^hich  is  now  occupied  by  Mr.  Joseph  Savage. 
These  timbers  having  been  in  use  about  two  hundred  and 
forty  years,  are  interesting  as  showing  the  work  of  human 
hands  which  have  slept  in  the  dust  two  centuries. 

A  barn  now  stands  on  the  site  of  the  old  meeting-house, 
with  a  stone  cellar  which  was  long  used  as  a  kind  of  store  or 
storage  house,  and  is  rather  an  unseeml}'  sentinel  to  tell 
where  the  first  bell  that  called  worshipers  together  in  the 
state  of  Connecticut  was  suspended  to  perform  its  weekly 
musical  task.  There  Goodman  Peat  stood  for  ten  or  fifteen 
years  pulling  the  rope  that  caused  the  sound  of  the  bell  to 
echo  across  the  placid  waters  of  the  old  Pootatuck,  but  now 
Housatonic  river ;  and  after  him  Goodman  Pickett  performed 
the  same  duties  to  save  Stratford  from  being  in  fashion  in 
coming  to  the  meeting  at  the  beat  of  the  drum. 


g6  '  History  of  Stratford. 

1 — Thomas  Skidniore  was  of  Cambridge,  Mass.,  in 
1642;  in  1636  he  had  been  engaged  for  John  Winthrop  in  his 
preparation  for  planting  Saybrook,  Conn.  He  was  early  in 
Stratford,  with  his  son-in-law  Edward  Higby,  probably  before 
1649,  when  they  had  a  suit  in  law  tried  before  the  Court  at 
Hartford.  He  was  in  Stratford  in  1659,  but  appears  to  have 
removed  not  long  after  to  Fairfield,  where  his  descendants 
continued  many  years.  His  will  was  dated  April  20,  1684, 
and  proved  soon  after.  Judge  Savage  says  he  had  a  wife 
Ellen,  but  in  his  will  he  speaks  of  his  wife  Sarah,  which  may 
have  been  a  second.     He  had  two  sons  and  several  daughters. 

2 — John  Wells,  son  of  Gov.  Thomas  Wells  of  Wethers- 
field,  was  probably  one  of  the  original  proprietors  of  Strat- 
ford, or  sent  there  by  his  father  to  occupy  the  lands  which  he, 
the  father,  owned  as  one  of  the  proprietors  of  the  plantation, 
and  he  afterwards  received  considerable  land  in  Stratford 
from  his  father.  John  Wells  was  made  a  freeman  in  1645, 
perhaps  in  Stratford,  but  was  here  in  1650;  was  made  an 
Assistant  in  1656  and  again  in  1658  and  1659.  He  was  a 
prominent  man  while  he  lived,  but  died  in  1660,  or  in  1661, 
about  the  same  time  his  father  did,  a  comparatively  young 
man,  not  far  from  thirty-five  years  of  age. 

Governor  Thoinas  Wells,  the  father  of  John  Wells, 
above,  was  an  original  proprietor  at  Hartford  and  Wethers- 
field  ;  appears  there  on  the  records  first  as  the  Secretary 
Magistrate  at  the  General  Court,  May  i,  1637,  when  war  was 
declared  against  the  Pequots.  It  is  uncertain  when  he  came 
from  England  and  whether  he  brought  a  wife  or  not,  but  he 
brought  three  sons  and  three  daughters.  He  married  a  sec- 
ond wife  Elizabeth,  widow  of  Nathaniel  Foot  of  Wethers- 
field.  In  1654,  he  was  chosen  Deputy  Governor,  and  Gov- 
ernor Hopkins  being  in  England,  he  acted  as  Governor  all 
the  year,  and  in  1655  he  was  elected  Governor  of  Connecti- 
cut, and  then  re-elected  again  in  1658.  Governor  Wells  died 
in  Wethersfield  Jan.  14,  1660. 

3 — John  Reader,  of  New  Haven,  1643,  came  to  Strat- 
ford among  the  first  settlers.     His  home  lot,  No.  10,  he  sold 


First  Settlers  of  Stratford.  97 

Avith  several  pieces  of  land  in   1659,  to  David  Mitchell,  and 
appears  to  have  removed  from  the  town. 

4 — Mev.  Ada/)n  BlakeitiaUf  was  the  son  of  a  private 
citizen  of  Staffoi"dshire,  Eng.;  born  in  1598,  and  entered 
Christ  College,  Oxford,  May  23,  1617,  when  nineteen  years  of 
age/  where  he  wrote  his  own  name,  Blakeman.'  Mather  says 
of  him:  "He  was  a  useful  preacher  of  the  gospel,  first  in 
Leicestershire,  then  in  Derbyshire,  England."  Mather  also 
gives  the  impression  that  he  was  attended  to  this  country  by 
several  families  of  his  parish,  but  in  what  year  he  came  over 
or  by  whom  accompanied  he  does  not  say,  Allen,  Hinman 
and  other  writers  have  asserted  that  he  first  preached  a  while 
in  Scituate,  Mass.,  but  they  were  led  into  this  error  by 
Deane's  History  of  Scituate,  the  author  of  which  afterward 
acknowledged  that  he  had  mistaken  the  name  of  "  Mr.  Black- 
man  "  for  that  of  Rev.  Christopher  "  Blackwell."  Cotton 
Mather  also  represents  him  as  having  preached  in  Guilford 
before  Stratford,  but  of  this  no  evidence  appears,  nor  could 
it  have  been,  since  Guilford  was  settled  not  a  year  before 
Stratford,  and  its  people  had  with  them  their  minister,  Mr. 
Henry  Whitfield.  In  June,  1640,  the  General  Court  appointed 
him  with  Mr.  Ludlow  of  Uncoway  and  William  Hopkins  of 
Cupheag  to  run  the  line  between  these  two  plantations,  and 
from  this  it  is  concluded  he  was  already  settled  at  Cupheag, 

On  May  17,  1649,  the  Court  directed  :  "  Concerning  Mr. 
Blakeman's  maintenance,  Mr.  Ludlowe  is  directed,  both  for 
what  is  behind  as  also  for  the  future,  to  take  care  that  it  be 
levied  according  to  the  several  seasons  as  is  provided  by  the 
order  of  the  country."  This  indicates  that  his  salary  was  so 
long  in  arrears  as  to  make  it  important  for  the  Court  to  take 
action  in  regard  to  it.  In  165 1,  "by  the  town  in  public  meet- 
ing it  was  agreed  that  Mr.  Blakeman  shall  have  63  pounds 
and  pay  part  of  his  own  rate."  His  name  occurs  only  a  few 
times  on  the  existing  town   records.     In  1660,  he  is  named 

'  Taken  largely  from  MS.  of  Rev.  B.  L.  Swan. 

'  Mass.  Hist.  Coll.,  vol.  viii.  249. 

^  His  sons  James  and  Benjamin  wrote  their  names  Blakemnn  and  Klackeiuaii. 
7 


^8  History  of  Stratford. 

as  executor  of  William  Beardsley's  will,  and  on  April  20, 
1665,  he  is  named  in  a  vote  inviting  Mr.  Chauncey  to  help 
him  in  the  ministry  for  one  year.  Mr.  Blakeman  died  Mon- 
day, Sept.  1665,  ce.  6^  years.'  His  home  lot  was  number  20 
on  the  plan  of  the  village  of  Stratford. 

From  Mather's  brief  notice  of  him  Mr.  Blakeman  appears 
to  have  been  a  man  of  learning,  prudence  and  fervent  piety. 
The  famous  Rev.  Thomas  Hooker  said  of  him  :  "  for  the  sake 
of  the  sacred  and  solemn  simplicity  of  the  discourse  of  this 
worthy  man,  if  I  might  have  my  choice,  I  would  choose  to 
live  and  die  under  Mr.  Blakeman's  ministry." 

Nothing  remains  of  Mr.  Blakeman's  writings  except  his 
will  on  the  Fairfield  probate  records  and  his  autograph  in  the 
Connecticut  Historical  Society's  Collections,  at  the  bottom 
of  a  document  in  Mr.  Chauncey's  handwriting,  and  dated  in 
•  the  spring  of  1665.  It  is  the  answer  of  the  Church  of  Strat- 
ford to  questions  by  the  General  Court  of  the  preceding 
year,  relating  to  the  matters  transacted  in  the  Synod  at  Bos- 
ton in  1662  ;  chiefly  respecting  the  membership  and  rights  of 
baptized  persons. 

A  paragraph  in  Mr.  Blakeman's  will  indicates  that  he 
was  a  member  of  the  Synod  from  1646  to  1648  which  drew 
up  the  Cambridge  platform. 

Extracts  from  Rev.  Adam  Blakeman  s    Will. 
The  will  was  dated  March  16,  1665-66. 

"  Item.  Concerning  my  books  which  I  intended  for  m}'  son  Benjamin,  seeing 
his  thoughts  are  after  another  course  of  life — that  his  thoughts  be  not  to  attend 
the  work  of  Christ  in  the  ministry,  my  wish  is  that  my  son  Atwater  [son-in-law] 
make  his  son  Joshua  a  scholar  and  fit  him  for  that  work.  I  give  unto  him  all  my 
Latin  books  ;  but  if  not  they  shall  be  put  into  my  estate  and  disposed  of  as  my 
wife  any  my  overseers  shall  think  fit. 

"  Item.  Because  man)^  of  God's  servants  have  been  falsely  accused  concern- 
ing the  judgment  of  the  kingly  power  of  Christ,  though  I  have  cause  to  bewail 
my  great  ignorance  and  weakness  in  acting,  yet  I  do  hope  I  shall,  through  the 
strength  of  Christ  to  my  dying  day,  adhere  to  that  form  of  Church  discipline 
agreed  upon  by  the  honored  Elders  and  Brethren,  now  in  print,  and  to  the  truth 
of  God  concerning  that  point  left  on  record  by  that  famous  and  Reverend  Servant 
of  God,  of  blessed   Memory.  Mr.  Thomas   Hooker,  in   his  elaborate  work  called 

*  Savage,  vol.  ii.  472. 


First  Settlers  of  Stratford.  99 

The  Survey  of  Church  Discipline,  to  which  most  in  all  the  churches  of  Christ 
then  gathered  in  this  Colony  gave  their  consent  as  appears  in  the  Rev.  Author's 
Epistle — so  at  Milford,  New  Haven,  Guilford,  and  those  in  the  Bay  who  could 
be  come  at  in  that  stress  of  time.  And  being  one  who  in  the  name  of  our  church 
subscribed  that  copy,  could  never  (through  the  Grace  of  Christ)  see  cause  to 
receive  any  other  in  judgment,  nor  fall  from  those  principles  so  solemnly  backed 
with  Scripture,  and  arguments  which  none  yet  could  overturn." 

Mr.  Blakeman  is  described  by  Mr.  Mather  as  having  been 
attended  on  his  departure  for  New  England  with  a  consid- 
erable and  "  desirable  company  of  the  faithful  "  who  would 
not  be  separated  from  him.  He  also  describes  him  as  a  very 
"  holy  man  "  and  as  greatly  beloved  by  his  people. 

Mr.  Blakeman's  death  should  have  been  on  Stratford 
town  records,  but  is  found  only  on  his  tombstone,  which  was 
removed  to  the  second  grave  yard.  There  is  a  pretence  (in 
accordance  with  repeated  orders  of  the  Court)  of  keeping  a 
burial  record,  which  begins  (p.  49)  with  John,  son  of  Nicho- 
las Knell,  January,  165 1,  and  ends  with  Elizabeth  Porter  in 
1683,  but  in  these  thirty-two  years  only  twenty-four  names — 
and  one  or  two  infants  without  names — are  recorded.  Mr. 
Blakeman  had  five  sons  and  one  daughter,  all  except  perhaps, 
Benjamin,  were  born  in  England. 

Jl>'s.  Jane  Blakeman^  widow  of  the  Rev.  Adam, 
appears  to  have  been  sister  to  Moses  Wheeler  of  Stratford, 
for  her  son  John  in  his  will  dated  in  1662,  mentions  his 
"  Uncle  Wheeler."  Moses  Wheeler  was  born  in  1598,  and  if 
she  was  next  younger,  and  born  in  1600,  she  was  two  years 
younger  than  her  husband,  and  at  her  death  in  1674,  was  74 
years  of  age.  Her  name  appears  several  times  on  the  Colo- 
nial and  Town  records,  in  consequence  of  the  misconduct  of 
her  son  Deliverance,  in  whose  behalf  she  was  obliged  to 
intercede  more  than  once  with  the  Colonial  authorities,  but 
who  afterwards  retrieved  himself  from  his  former  life,  mar- 
ried and  settled  in  Stonington  about  1685,  where  he  died  in 
April,  1702.     Her  will  is  on  the  Fairfield  Probate  records. 

John  Blakemanf  son  of  the  Rev.  Adam  Blakeman, 
married  Dorothy,  daughter  of  the  Rev.  Henry  Smith  of 
Wethersfield  about  1653,  removed  to  Fairfield  where  he  died 


lOO  History  of  Stratford. 

in  1662,  leaving-  a  widow  and  three  sons,  Joseph,  John  and 
Ebenezer;  from  the  last  of  these,  who  married  a  Willcoxson,, 
descended  the  Blakeman  families  of  Newtown  and  Monroe. 

The  widow  Dorothy  (Smith)  Blakeman  appears  to  have 
possessed  remarkable  charms,  either  of  person,  intellect  or 
heart,  for  besides  passing  through  a  case  of  litigation  in 
Court  for  her  hand,  she  was  married  four  times,  twice'after 
she  was  over  fifty  years  of  age.  Rev.  Adam  Blakeman,  who 
survived  his  son  John,  in  his  will — 1665 — says:  "  I  give  to  my 
daughter  [Dorothy]  Blakeman,  if  she  marry  not  John  Thomas, 
and  shall  take  her  friends'  consent  in  the  matter,  or  continue 
a  widow,  five  pounds,"  and  the  General  Court,  Oct.  10,  1665, 
recorded  :  "  The  magistrates  do  order  that  in  case  John 
Thomas  and  the  widow  Blakeman  do  not  issue  their  differ- 
ence by  reference  now  concluded  on,  that  the  said  Thomas 
shall  make  good  his  claim  to  that  woman  at  the  next  Court 
at  Fairfield,  otherwise  the  widow  shall  have  liberty  to  marry." 
Upon  this  John  Thomas  seems  to  have  abandoned  his  claims 
instanter,  for  Francis  Hall  of  Stratford,  who  had  been  the 
attorney  for  the  widow  of  Rev.  Mr.  Blakeman  in  this  case 
before  the  Court,  became  charmed  with  his  opponent  and 
married  her  that  same  month,  October  31,  1665,  his  for- 
mer wife  having  died  on  July  6th  previous.  Twenty-two 
years  afterwards,  before  the  decease  of  Francis  Hall,  his  son 
Isaac  Hall  entered  a  claim  in  Fairfield  to  recover  certain 
amount  of  money  which  was  his  own  mother's  estate  at  mar- 
riage, and  guaranteed  to  her  in  writing  by  her  husband 
Francis  Hall,  when  he  sold  the  estate  in  England,  in  1664,  the 
apparent  object  being  to  keep  it  from  the  possession  of  this 
brilliant  step-mother.  Francis  Hall  died,  apparently,  in 
Stratford,  but  this  is  not  certain,  in  1690,  and  his  widow 
Dorothy  still  possessing  charms  too  attractive  to  be  confined 
to  widowhood,  married  Mark  Sension  (St.  John)  of  Norwalk, 
who  died  in  1693,  alter  which  she  married  Dea.  Isaac  Moore 
of  Farmington. 

Samuel  JBlakemanf  son  of  Rev.  Adam  Blakeman,  mar- 
ried Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Moses  Wheeler  in  1660,  and  died  in 
1668,   leaving  several   children.     His  widow   married  Jacob 


First  Settlers  of  Stratford.  loi 

Walker,  a  lawyer,  in  1670.  He  was  the  son  of  Robert 
Walker  of  Boston  and  brother  of  the  Rev.  Zachariah  Walker, 
pastor  of  the  Second  Congregational  Church  in  Stratford, 
and  which  removed  to  Woodbury.  Samuel  Blakeman  was 
only  forty-eight  years  of  age, 

JMarif  lildkeitiaUf  the  daughter  of  the  Rev.  Adam 
Blakeman,  was  born  in  1636,  and  when  fifteen  years  of  age — 
in  165 1 — married  Joshua  Atwater  of  New  Haven,  who 
seems  to  have  resided  for  a  time  in  Stratford,  purchasing  a 
considerable  estate  here,  and  then  removed  to  Boston  where 
he  died  in  1676,  leaving  several  children.  After  his  death  she 
married  the  Rev.  John  Higginson,  then  of  Salem,  Mass.,  but 
formerly  assistant  minister  to  Rev.  Henry  Whitfield  of  Eng- 
land and  Guilford,  Conn.,'  whose  daughter  was  his  first  wife. 
Mr.  Higginson  was  an  interpreter  of  the  Indian  language 
while  in  Connecticut,  and  gave  a  valuable  paper  in  the  settle- 
ment of  the  claims  of  Stratford  territory  in  1659,  in  which 
year  he  removed  to  Salem.  He  died  in  1708,  and  his  widow 
Mrs.  Mary  Higginson  died  March  9,  1709.  Her  character  is 
finely  set  forth  by  Cotton  Mather  as  illustrative  of  the  noble 
women  of  that  age/ 

5— Richard  Harvey,  a  tailor  by  trade,  came  from 
Great  St.  Albans,  Hertfordshire,  England,  in  the  ship  Planter, 
in  which  also  came  Rev.  Mr.  Blakeman  and  William  Will- 
coxson,  in  1635 ;  was  probably  among  the  first  settlers  in 
Stratford  in  1639.  He  appears  to  have  had  no  sons  but  three 
daughters.  His  home  lot  was  number  43.  If  this  was  his 
first  lot,  then  either  he  did  not  come  as  early  as  is  supposed 
above,  or  did  not  obtain  one  until  some  years  after  he  came. 

6 — John  JPeacocke,  was  of  New  Haven  in  1638,  Mil- 
ford,  1642,  and  came  to  Stratford  before  1651.  He  had  a 
home  lot  in  the  southern  part  of  the  village  on  Main  street, 
and  died  in  1670.  He  had  four  children  born  before  he  came 
to  Stratford,  and  his  only  son  died  while  a  child  and  hence 
his  descendants  of  the  name  soon  became  extinct  in  the  town. 

*  Thoughts  on  the  Sleep  of  Death,  by  Cotton  Mather,  D.D.  1712.  Pp.  4,  5, 
6,  7,  8,   MS.     Rev.  B.  L.  Swan. 


I02  History  of  Stratford. 

7 — William  Qiienhy  was  one  of  the  first  proprietors 
in  Stratford  territory,  his  lands  being  re-entered  on  the  town 
books  in  1652;  a  house  lot.  two  pieces  of  land  in  the  New 
field,  and  three  acres  on  the  Neck.  These  possessions  he 
sold  April  i,  1657,  to  Henry  Tomlinson.  William  Quenby, 
probably,  was  a  resident  of  Stratford  only  about  four  years. 

8 — Robert  Rice  was  not  of  the  original  proprietors, 
but  came  soon  after  them  and  was  granted  land  from  the 
town  which  was  recorded  Sept.  16,  1648,  which  is  the  earliest 
record  now  on  the  town  books.  Hence  the  plan  or  plot  for 
the  village  was  laid  before  this  date,  else  the  lot  could  not 
have  been  bounded  on  the  highway.  The  record  says  :  "  One 
house  lot,  two  acres,  more  or  less,  butting  south  upon  the 
highway,  north  upon  William  Beardsley,  west  upon  Mr. 
Knell  and  east  upon  John  Brownsmayd."  He  had  also 
"meadow  and  upland  in  the  Old  Field,  8  acres  in  the  New- 
feyld  upon  Mr.  Waklin's  Neck,"  and  other  pieces  elsewhere. 
On  February  6,  1660,  Mr.  Rice  sold  these  parcels  of  land, 
including  "one  house  lot,  one  dwelling  house  upon  it  and 
barn  "  to  "  Thomas  Wheeler  now  of  Paugusit,"  and  removed 
to  New  London.  A  family  of  the  same  name  have  been  resi- 
dent on  the  south  side  of  Long  Island  for  many  years  to  the 
present  time,  in  the  vicinity  of  Bellville.  This  dwelling  and 
lot  was  afterwards  owned  by  Richard  Beach,  and  then  Rev. 
Israel  Chauncey. 

9 — William  JSurritt  came  from  England  with  wife 
Elizabeth  and  settled  in  Stratford  among  the  first  planters 
and  died  in  165 1,  the  inventory  of  his  estate  is  dated  May  28, 
165 1.  His  home  lot  was  at  the  south  end  of  the  village,  west 
side  of  Main  street.  He  left  two  sons  and  one  daughter,  and 
the  name  has  been  perpetuated  with  honor  in  the  line  of 
blacksmiths  as  well  as  in  other  pursuits,  in  various  interior 
towns  of  Connecticut,  as  well  as  in  the  person  of  the  "  learned 
blacksmith,"  the  late  Elihu  Burritt  of  New  Britain,  Conn. 

10 — Nicholas  Knells  married  in  1650,  Elizabeth,  widow 
of  Thomas  Knowles  and  daughter  of  Francis  Newman  of 
New  Haven.  He  was  in  Stratford  probably  before  his 
marriage  and  appears  to   have  been  an   original   proprietor 


First  Settlers  of  Stratford.  103 

The  record  of  his  land  that  is  preserved  is  without  date,  but 
was  made  soon  after  1650.  Besides  his  house  lot  and  other 
pieces  of  meadow  and  upland  there  was  given  to  him  by  the 
town  as  a  part  of  his  first  division  •*  One  Island  of  meadow 
lying  in  the  midst  of  our  harbor,  lying  for  five  acres  and  a 
half;"  and  hence  the  island  has  always  borne  his  name — 
Knell's  Island — and  should  never  he  spelled  without  the  K. 
Mr.  Knell  seems  to  have  been  an  influential  man  as  to  char- 
acter and  public  efficiency  and  work.  He  died  April  2,  1675, 
and  the  town  clerk  added  to  the  record:  "that  aged  bene- 
factor in  3^e  county."  He  had  four  children — one  died  an 
infant,  and  the  family  name  continued  in  the  town  quite  a 
number  of  years,  but  has  long  since  disappeared. 

Elea^er  Knoivlea  was  the  son  of  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Knell. 
His  father,  Thomas  Knowles,  was  in  New  Haven  in  1645,  and 
died  before  1648,  leaving  widow  Elizabeth  and  sons  Thomas 
and  Eleazer.  The  widow  married  Mr.  Knell  as  above,  but 
what  became  of  Thomas  Knowles,  Jr.,  does  not  appear ; 
probably  he  died  young.  Eleazer  Knowles  settled  in  Strat- 
ford, married  Jane  Porter  and  had  two  sons,  Eleazer  and 
Thomas,  and  Eleazer  removed  to  Woodbury,  Conn.,  where 
his  descendants  still  continue.  Thomas  Knowles,  the  first 
in  New  Haven,  was  one  of  a  compan}^  of  seventy  who  sailed 
in  a  new  ship  from  New  Haven  for  Liverpool  in  January, 
1646,  of  whom  nothing  was  ever  heard. 

11 — John  Pettit  was  in  Roxbury  in  1639,  and  was  at 
Stratford  in  165 1,  removed  soon,  probably  to  Stamford  and 
thence  to  Newtown,  Long  Island. 

12 — John  Sriusmade  united  with  the  church  at 
Charlestown,  Mass.,  in  March,  1638,  and  in  October,  1639, 
his  wife  Mary  joined  also ;  but  he  seems  to  have  removed 
that  year  to  Dorchester,  Mass.,  where  in  1640  his  son  John 
was  born.  He  settled  in  Stratford  before  1650,  and  became 
prominent  in  the  town.  He  has  been  reported  as  a  Ruling 
Elder  in  Stratford  church,  which  is  an  error  arising  from  the 
fact  of  his  name  being  on  the  town  records  as  John  Brins- 
made  the  elder,  that  is,  not  the  younger,  who  was  his  son. 
The  only  Ruling  Elder  this  church   had  was  Philip  Groves. 


I04 


History  of  Stratford. 


First  Inhabitants  and  their  Home  Lots^ 


Home 

Home 

Lots. 

Lots. 

1-2 

John  Birdse)-, 

H 

3 

Thomas  Sherwood, 

4 

Wid.  Elizabeth  Beardsley, 

42  \ 

5-8 

Jeremiah  Judson, 

43  \ 

6 

John  Minor,  1667, 

44  ] 

7 

William  Burritt. 

9 

Nathaniel  Porter, 

45 

10 

j  John  Reader,  then 

46 

/  David  Mitchell, 

47  j 

II 

John  Hurd, 

47a  ( 

12-13 

Robert  Seabrook, 

48 

14 

John  Peacock, 

49 

15 

Henry  Wakelyn, 

50 

16 

Thomas  Uffoot, 

51 

17 

Robert  Coe, 

52 

18 

Samuel  Sherman,  1652, 

53 

KQ 

Philip  Groves, 

54 

20 

Rev.  Adam  Blakeman, 

55 

j  John  Barlow,  then 

56 

21 

\  John  Hurd, 

57 

22 

James  Harwood, 

58 

23 

Edward  Higby, 

59 

24 

John  Jenner, 

60 

25 

Arthur  Bostwick, 

61 

26 

Jeremiah  Judson, 

62 

27 

Joshua  Judson, 

63 

28 

Thomas  Fairchild,  Sen., 

64 

29 

Richard  Booth, 

65 

30 

Isaac  Nichols,  Sen., 

66 

31 

Adam  Hurd, 

66a 

(  Francis  Nichols,  then 

66b 

32 

1  Caleb  Nichols, 

67 

1  Thomas  Ouenby,  then 

68 

33 

-   Joshua  Atwaier,  then 

69 

Henry  Tomlinson, 

70 

34 

William  Curtis, 

71 

35 

Adam  Hurd, 

72 

36 

j  John  Beach,  1660, 

73 

\  bought  of  .\.  Bryan, 

74 

j  Richard  Miles,  then 

75 

37 

/  Joseph  Hawley, 

76 

38 

John  Thompson, 

77 

38a 

Francis  Jecockes, 

78 

39 

William  Read, 

79 

40 

William  Crooker, 

80 

William  Judson,  then 
Josej.h  Judson, 
First  Parsonage  Lot 
taken  from  Public  Green. 
Hugh  Griffin,  then 
John  Wheeler, 
Richard  Harvey, 
Francis  Hall, 

John  Blakeman, 

Wid.  A.  Kimberly,  1680, 

David  Sherman,  1686, 

Common, 

Land  of  L  Nichols, 

Samuel  Sherman,  Jr.,  1665, 

Street. 

John  Beers, 

Nathaniel  Foot, 

Burial  Place,  1678, 

Daniel  Tilterton,  Jr., 

Timothy  Willcoxson, 

Jabez  Harger, 

John  Hull, 

John  Pickett, 

Robert  Lane, 

John  Young, 

Thomas  Wells, 

John  Thompson's  2d  lot, 

John  Wells, 

Daniel  Titterton,  Sen., 

John  Wilcoxson,  Sen., 

John  Peake,  [Peat], 

Moses  Wheeler, 

Thomas  Curtis, 

William  Wilcoxson, 

William  Beardsley,  ist, 

John  Brinsmade, 

Nicholas  Knell, 

Robert  Rice, 

First  Meetinghouse, 

Thomas  UfToot, 

Jehiel  Preston.  1662, 
Second  Meetinghouse,  1678, 
Third  Meetinghouse,  1743, 
Burned  by  lightning,  1785. 


'  This  Map  was  first  constructed  by  the  Rev.  B.  L.  Swan,  and  has  been  care- 
fully revised  by  the  deeds  of  the  first  settlers.  It  is  intended  to  have  a  map 
double  this  size  in  a  future  part  of  the  book.  The  numbers  have  no  significance, 
except  for  convenience  in  referring  to  the  Map.  For  want  of  room  lots  57,  58,  59, 
60,  61,  62  and  63  are  not  designated  on  the  map. 


66  b 


19 

IF 
17  <. 


41 

42 

43 

H 

Cl] 

ill 
H 

36 

34 

32 

30    1 

28 

25 

24 

20 

21 

s 

22 

a 

IS 

12        13 

AS. 

STRATFORD 

IN     16  6  0. 


io6  History  of  Stratford. 

Hence,  with  the  fiction  of  Mr.  Brinsmade's  office  as  Elder 
goes  also  the  silly  stor^^  of  the  leather  mitten  ordination. 

John  Brinsmade  died  in  1673  leaving  an  estate  valued  at 
;^5I9.  He  had  a  brother  William  who  entered  Harvard 
College  in  1644,  and  was  settled  minister  in  Marlborough 
from  1660  to  1 70 1.' 

By  a  town  vote  in  1664,  it  is  ascertained  that  the  Indian 
wigwams,  some  of  them  at  least,  were  located  in  the  south- 
west part  of  what  is  now  Stratford  village,  west  of  Main 
street,  along  the  path  that  went  to  the  first  mill  at  the 
"  Eagle's  Nest."°  A  tract  of  land  there  was  called  Wigwam 
Meadow,  in  consequence  of  the  wigwams  having  stood  there. 
It  may  not  have  been  the  only  place  where  wigwams  were 
located, 

13 — William  Willcoxson  came  from  England  in  April, 
1635,  in  the  ship  Planter,  in  company  with  Richard  Harvey 
and  William  Beardsley  who  settled  in  Stratford.  He  was 
made  freeman  in  Massachusetts  in  1636,  and  came  from 
Concord,  Mass.,  to  Stratford,  probably,  in  1639,  and  hence 
was  one  of  the  first  proprietors  and  a  prominent  man  of  the 
township.  In  his  will,  dated  May,  1651,  he  gave  ;^40  to  the 
church  in  Concord.  He  left  a  widow  and  five  sons,  through 
whom  the  descendants  of  his  name  are  widely  scattered  in 
the  nation.  The  name  has  become  contracted  in  some 
localities  to  that  of  Willcox. 

"  See  Allen's  Biog.  Dictionary. 

*  "  Oct.  10,  1664.  In  consideration  of  some  meadow  being  not  answerable 
to  the  grant  given  to  Goodman  Brinsmade  the  town  at  a  lawful  meeting  gave  him 
a  little  island  below  the  ferry  being  south  of  the  ferry,  and  one  acre  of  land  in  the 
swamp  on  the  right  hand  of  the  path  as  they  go  from  Beardsley  Gate  to  the 
meadow  called  by  the  place  where  the  wigwams  used  to  be  and  three,  more  or 
less,  on  the  other  side  of  the  path  by  the  swamp  side,  John  Hurd's  ground  on 
the  west  side  of  it." 


CHAPTER   VI. 


THE    FIRST    PLANTERS. 

{Continued.) 
1639-165  I. 

OMMONS  or  "commoning"  was  land  not 
^ijj deeded  from  the  town  to  any  purposes. 
Hence  in  their  deeds  parties  frequently  sold 
their  "commoning"  or  interest  in  the  undi- 
vided lands.  Rights  of  this  kind  are  said  to 
exist  still  in  the  town. 

Sequestered  land  was  that  given  away 
or  devoted  to  some  specific  public  purpose, 
but  when  given  to  settlers,  as  many  of  the 
home  lots  were,  it  was  not  called  seques- 
tered land.  When  the  first  parsonage  lot 
was  given  by  the  town,  which  comprised 
the  two  lots  42  and  43  in  the  map  on  page 
105,  it  was  taken  out  ot  sequestered  land, 
that  is  out  of  the  public  highway  or  green,  and  probably  the 
highway  now  called  Elm  street  was  proportionally  wide  as 
these  lots  would  make  it  at  that  place.  Many  changes  have 
occurred  in  regard  to  the  topography  of  the  place  since  the 
first  settlement.  A  brook  once  crossing  where  the  railroad 
and  the  Old  Mill  road  intersect  and  known  as  Gallows  brook, 
has  disappeared.  Tanner's  brook,  so  called  from  the  earliest 
settlement,  was  then  a  larger  stream  than  now,  having  one 
tannery,  probably  the  oldest,  standing  on  it  where  Dorman's 
blacksmith  shop  now  stands. 

The  salt  meadow  and  sedge  on  the  west  and  south  of  the 
creek  below  New  Lane  were  largely  covered  with  water, 
and  the  point  where  the  shipyard  is,  being  then  described  as 
bounded  east,  south  and  west  by  the  river,  cove  and  beach. 


lo8  History  of  Stratford. 

Knell's  island  contained  five  or  six  acres.  An  island  just 
below  the  old  Washington  bridge,  once  known  as  Brinsmade's 
island,  has,  the  last  of  it,  disappeared  within  the  memory  of 
persons  now  living. 

The  creek  setting  back  from  the  river  into  Sandy  Hollow 
and  now  almost  choked  up  was  two  hundred  years  ago  open 
and  navigable.  At  the  elbow  of  that  creek  where  the  barn 
now  stands  was  the  center  of  the  first  settlement,  and  the 
meeting-house  and  the  burying  ground. 

14: — Jiichavd  Sutler  was  a  proprietor  in  Stratford  and 
received  his  divisions  of  lands  as  others,  but  may  not  have 
resided  here  until  after  1660.  He  was  a  juryman  in  Hartford 
in  1643,  and  in  1648  was  made  executor  of  his  brother  Wil- 
liam's estate  at  Hartford,  who  seems  to  have  had  no  heirs 
but  this  brother  Richard  and  two  sisters  in  England.  In 
165 1  the  General  Court  granted  him  liberty  to  prosecute  the 
Indian  Nimrod  at  Pequannock  who  had  "  willfully  killed 
some  of  his  swyne."  In  1659  he  is  appointed  Custom  officer 
at  Stratford  and  allowed  for  his  duty  as  collector  2s.  for  ever}' 
butt  of  wine  entered,  and  I2d.  for  ever}'  anker  of  liquor,  and 
in  proportion  for  other  casks ;  and  the  Colonial  Records 
make  him  one  of  the  grand  jury  for  Hartford  in  1660.  He 
died  in  Stratford  in  1676,  having  an  estate  of  iJ^350.  His 
home  lot  was  the  southern  part  of  lot  number  68  on  the  dia- 
gram of  home  lots  in  this  book.  He  was  prominent  in  the 
organization  of  the  Second  Church  from  1666  to  1670. 

15 — John  Peake,  afterward  written  Peat  and  then  Feet, 
is  said  to  have  come  from  Duffield  Parish,  county  of  Derby, 
England,  in  the  Hopewell,  Capt.  Bundock,  master,  in  1635. 
He  had  a  wife,  Sarah,  but  whose  daughter  she  was  is  not  cer- 
tain, although  the  Fairfield  Brand  book'  in  1669,  styles 
Richard  Osborn,  John  Feat's  father,  which  in  modern  terms 
would  be  father-in-law.  He  may  have  been  one  of  the  orig- 
inal proprietors  in  Stratford  ;  had  his  house  lot,  No.  6y,  on 
Front  street,  now  Elm,  bordering  on  Salt  Fond,  and  died  in 
1678,  aged  81  years.  His  descendants  have  been  and  are  still 
quite  numerous,  and  scattered  in  the  States.     He  was  sexton, 

■  Manuscript  of  the  Rev.  B.  L.  Swan. 


First  Settlers  of  Stratford.  1 09. 

and    rang    the    bell    of  the    first  meeting-house    some    years, 
giving  up  his  position  in  1660,  in  consequence  of  age. 

Thomas  FalrcJiildf  Sen.,  was  among  the  first  settlers 
of  Stratford,  but  whether  he  came  here  in  1638  or  1639  is  not 
known.  He  was  a  merchant  and  may  have  come  with  his 
brother-in-law  Thomas  Sherwood,  and  with  .William  Judson 
in  1638,  for  the  purpose,  principall}-,  of  trading  with  the 
Indians,  or  he  may  have  joined  Mr.  Blakeman's  company  at 
VVethersfield  and  come  in  1639.  Mr.  Fairchild's  wife  was  the 
daughter  of  Robert  Seabrook,  and  therefore  sister  to  the 
wives  of  Thomas  Sherwood,  William  Preston,  of  New 
Haven,  and  Lieut.  Thomas  Wheeler,  of  Milford.  Mrs.  Sher- 
wood was  much  older  than  her  sisters,  she  having  been 
married  twent3'-one  or  twenty-two  years  when  she  came 
here,  and  probably  two  of  her  sisters  were  married  after  they 
came,  about  1640.  In  what  year  Mrs.  Fairchild  died  is  not 
known,  but  her  last  child  was  born  in  1653,  and  Mr.  Fairchild 
married,  2d,  Catharine  Craigg,  of  London,  a  relative  of  Mrs. 
Elizabeth  Whiting,  of  Hartford,  to  whom  he  secured  in  writ- 
ing' ^200  out  of  his  estate,  but  he  died  without  fulfilling 
the  agreement,  and  the  matter  being  brought  before  the 
General  Court  with  the  contract  in  writing,  that  body 
ordered  it  paid,  but  that  she  must  support  her  three  children 
by  Mr.  Fairchild.  He  died,  Dec.  14,  1670,  and  the  select- 
men reported  his  inventory  at  £3,S0-  He  had  four  sons 
by  his  first  wife  and  two  by  his  second,  and  the  descendants 
are  numerous. 

The  family  name  is  of-  long  standing  in  England,  the 
coat-of-arms  indicating  that  members  of  it  were  in  the  Cru- 
sades from  (A.  D.  1096  to  1400).  The  name  is  said  to  have 
been  Fairbairn  in  Scotland,  whence  the  family  passed  into 
England. 

*  A  foot  note  in  the  Col.  Rec.  ii.  199,  gives  the  following  facts:  "A  copy  of 
thi  marriage  contract  between  Thomas  Fairchild  of  Stratford,  merchant,  and 
Katharine  Craigg,  a  sister  of  Elizabeth  Whiting,  widow,  of  London  (executed 
in  England,  Dec.  22,  1662,  is  in  Priv.  Controv.,  Vol.  I,  Doc.  20),  in  which  Mr. 
Fairchild  binds  himself  to  convey  to  the  said  Katharine  a  life  estate  in  his  lands 
at  Stratford,  or,  in  case  of  his  death  before  his  arrival  in  New  England,  to  cause 
to  be  paid  to  the  said  Katharine  the  sum  of  ;i^20o. 


no  History  of  Stratford. 

Mr.  Fairchild  was  one  of  the  most  prominent  and 
respected  men  of  Stratford.  He  was  appointed  by  the 
General  Court,  with  Thomas  Sherwood  and  the  Constables 
of  Stratford,  to  draft  men  in  1654  for  the  then  proclaimed 
Narraganset  war ;  and  again  on  a  committee  with  Philip 
Groves,  as  leather  sealer  of  Fairfield  county.  In  1654  he  was 
elected  Deputy,-  and  a  number  of  times  after  that,  and  in  1663 
he  was  nominated  for  an  Assistant,  and  the  same  for  three 
successive  years,  but  was  not  elected.  As  these  nominations 
were  made  at  or  by  the  General  Court,  this  shows  the 
estimation  of  him  by  that  body.  In  1664  he  was  appointed 
a  Commissioner,  which  was  a  Justice  of  the  Peace,  for  Strat- 
ford and  was  reappointed  afterwards. 

Dr.  Trumbull's  statement,  repeated  by  Mr.  J.  VV.  Barber, 
that  "  Mr.  Fairchild  was  the  first  gentleman  vested  with  civil 
authority,'"  appears  to  be  erroneous,  since  the  Colonial  Rec- 
ords state  that  William  Hopkins  was  appointed  in  1640  Assist- 
ant, which  must  have  been  the  first ;  and  that  Philip  Groves 
was  appointed  several  successive  years  from  1654. 

It — Lieut,  Joseph  Jxidson,  son  of  William,  was  born 
in  1619  in  England,  and  died  in  1690,  aged  71  years.  He 
became  so  prominent  in  the  town,  and  his  name  so  frequent 
in  the  records,  that  he  was  supposed  by  Dr.  Trumbull  and 
others  to  have  been  the  first  of  the  name  in  Stratford,  but  he 
came  with  his  father,  probably  among  the  first  settlers,  and 
married  Sarah,  daughter  of  John  Porter  of  Windsor,  about 
1644.  He  was  made  a  freeman  in  1658,  elected  a  Deputy 
the  next  year,  and  was  one  of  the  foremost  men  in  the  work 
and  offices  of  the  town  about  thirty  years.  He  died  in  1690, 
aged  71  years,  having  been  for  quite  a  number  of  years  the 
highest  military  officer  in  the  town. 

William  Judsotif  born  in  Yorkshire,  England,  emigra- 
ted to  Concord,  Mass.,  in  1634,  and  settled  in  Stratford  in 
1638,  the  first  inhabitant  in  the  place,  if  here  in  that  year; 
and  the  only  one  unless  Thomas  Fairchild  or  Thomas  Sher- 
wood, one  or  both  of  them,  were  with  him. 

^  Trumbull,  i.  log. 


First  Settlers  of  Stratford.  1 1 1 

After  residing  in  Stratford  some  years  he  became  an 
owner  in  the  iron  works  in  East  Haven  and  made  his  resi- 
dence in  New  Haven,  where  he  died  July  29,  1662. 

His  will,  recorded  in  New  Haven,  was  dated  20th  of 
ninth  month,  1661,  in  which  he  gives  to  his  son  Joseph 
twent}^  pounds,  and  to  his  sons  Joseph  and  Jeremiah  Judson 
*'  all  my  part  in  the  iron  works  (and  the  privilege  I  have  in 
it)  which  are  near  Stony  river,  belonging  to  New  Haven." 
He  says  also  :  "  I  give  to  my  wife's  daughter,  Hannah  VVill- 
mott,  five  pounds ;  to  my  wife's  daughter,  Mercy  Willmott, 
five  pounds  ;  and  to  m}'  wife's  daughter,  Elizabeth  Willmott, 
five  pounds  ;  and  the  remaining  time  of  service  of  my  servant 
Peter  Simson  1  give  to  my  wife,  and  for  his  encouragement 
therein,  he  being  a  diligent  servant  to  his  dame,  I  give  unto 
him  five  pounds,  to  be  paid  him  when  he  hath  served  out  his 
time  according  to  his  indenture  ;  and  the  residue  I  give  unto 
my  loving  and  beloved  wife  Elizabeth  Judson." 

The  inventory  of  his  estate  was  taken  Dec.  15,  1662,  and 
amounted  to  ^369,  i6s.  6d. 

Widow  Elizabeth's  will  was  made  in  January  or  Febru- 
ary, 1685,  and  the  inventory  of  her  estate  was  taken  Nov.  10, 
1685,  amounting  to  ^63,  8s.  id. 

18— Adam  Htird^  son  of  John  Hurd,  Sen.,  came  with 
his  father  from  Windsor,  Conn.,  where  they  had  been  among 
the  first  settlers,  to  Stratford,  before  or  not  later  than  the 
spring  of  1644.  Instead  of  there  being  two  brothers,  it  is 
quite  evident  that  there  were  the  father  and  two  sons,  and 
yet  it  is  not  certain.  A  clause  in  the  will  of  John  Thompson, 
who  was  brother  to  Sarah,  the  wife  of  John  Hurd  (1681), 
represents  said  John  Hurd  as  having  become  senior  by  the 
death  of  his  father,  and  if  so,  his  father  came  to  Stratford  and 
was  one  of  the  first  settlers  there.  The  town  records  style 
this  John  brother  of  Adam,  uncle  to  Adam's  son  John,  and 
yet  Adam's  son  John  styles  him  cousin. 

Adam  Hurd  had  two  house  lots,  Nos.  31  and  3$,  and 
other  lands,  but  his  name,  while  prominent  on  the  records, 
is  not  as  much  so  as  his  supposed  brother  John's. 

19— Daniel  Titterton  (also  spelled  Titharton)  appears 
to  have  been  in  Boston  in  1643,  removed  to  Stratford  before 


112  History  of  Stratford. 

1647,  for  he  was  Representative  from  Stratford  in  1647  and 
also  in  1649,  1652  and  1654.  He  died  in  1661,  his  will  being 
proved  July  6,  1661,  in  which  he  mentions  three  sons,  Daniel, 
Samuel  and  Timothy,  the  last  being  the  only  one  whose  birth 
is  recorded  in  Stratford,  which  was  March  25,  165 1.  To 
these  he  gave  his  estate  and  lands  in  England,  besides  some 
in  New  England.  He  mentions  three  daughters;  one,  name 
not  given,  had  married  John  VVilcoxson,  and  Mary  and 
Elizabeth,  to  whom  he  gave  ^^30  each,  and  besides  £\o  for 
marriage  dresses.  His  wife  Jane  outlived  him,  and  two  sons 
may  have  returned  to  England  to  enjoy  the  estate  there,  3^et 
Timothy  and  Samuel  are  here  in  the  year  1700. 

20 — Phili])  Groves  was  among  the  first  settlers  at 
Stratford  and  was  early  appointed  the  Ruling  Elder,  and  the 
only  one,  of  the  Stratford  church.  He  seems  to  have  mar- 
ried Ann,  the  daughter  of  the  Rev.  Henry  Smith  of  Wethers- 
field,  for  John  Blakeman,  Jr.,  who  married  another  daugh- 
ter calls  Philip  Groves  "  brother."  Mr.  Groves  was  prom- 
inent in  the  town.  He  was,  in  1642,  the  first  Deputy  of 
this  town,  and  in  1647  a  juryman  at  Hartford,  but  living  at 
Stratford  ;  in  1653  he  was  appointed  with  William  Beardsley 
by  the  General  Court  to  settle  a  question  of  boundaries 
between  Fairfield  and  Norwalk ;  and  the  same  year  was 
directed  as  "  Goodman  Groves  with  Goodman  Thornton," 
both  of  Stratford,  to  assist  the  Constables  in  making  the  draft 
of  soldiers  and  provisions  for  the  supposed  impending  war 
against  the  Dutch  at  New  York;  in  1654  he  was  appointed 
by  the  Court,  with  others,  an  Assistant  to  the  Magistrates," 

*  General  Court,  May  1654. 

"  It  is  ordered  by  this  Court,  that  Mr.  George  Hull  and  Alexander  Knowles 
of  Fairfield,  Philip  Groves  of  Stratford,  and  Matthew  Canifield  of  Norwalk,  shall 
be  Assistant  to  such  Magistrates  as  the  Court  shall  at  any  time  send  among  them, 
in  the  execution  of  justice,  and  they  hereby  empower  them  to  examine  mis- 
demeanors, to  grant  out  summons,  or  bind  over  delinquents  to  Court,  in  this 
Jurisdiction,  for  either  of  them  to  marry  persons,  to  press  horses  by  warrant 
from  them  as  the  public  welfare  of  this  Comonwealth  and  their  particular  Towns 
may  or  shall  at  any  time  require  ;  they  giving  an  account  to  this  Court  of  the 
same  when  required  thereunto."  In  1658  this  office  was  further  defined  and 
restricted  in  the  following  language  ;  "  to  assist  Mr.  John  Wells  and  Assistant 
Camfield  in  procuring  wills  and  taking  inventories,  and  distributing  estates  of 


First  Settlers  of  Stratford,  1 1 3 

which  might  be  sent  to  execute  justice  in  the  town,  and 
reappointed  in  1655  and  '56,  thus  showing  that  at  this  date 
this  town  had  no  regularly  elected  Magistrate.  In  1655  he 
was  elected  Deputy  ;  in  1656  he  was  again  appointed  Assist- 
ant; in  October,  1656,  he,  with  Robert  Rice,  was  appointed 
leather  sealer  for  Stratford,  perhaps  the  first  in  that  office ; 
and  in  May,  1660,  he  was  appointed  one  of  the  grand  jury  for 
the  Colony.  He  died  in  1675,  having  been  a  useful,  promi- 
nent man  in  the  church,  town  and  state. 

21 — Francis  JPeacoclxf  supposed  brother  of  John  Pea- 
cock, was  a  land  owner  in  Stratford,  but  no  further  account 
of  him  has  been  seen. 

22 — Williafu  Crooher  was  a  land  owner  in  Stratford, 
but  probably  did  not  reside  here,  or  if  he  did  it  was  but  a 
short  time.  His  wife  was  the  daughter  of  Henry  Gregory. 
William  Crooker,  an  original  proprietor,  deeded  his  land  in 
Stratford  to  Henry  Wakeley,  and  probably  went  to  Norwalk, 
1654,  and  thence  to  Newtown,  L.  I. 

23 — John  Hut^df  Sen.f  the  emigrant,  among  the  first 
settlers  in  Windsor,  Conn.,  was  in  Stratford  i»  October,  1644, 
when  he  and  William  Judson  were  appointed  by  the  General 
Court  to  solicit  subscriptions  in  the  town  of  Stratford  for  the 
maintenance  of  scholars  at  Cambridge,  and  this  collection 
was  "  to  continue  yearly,"  such  being  the  enterprise  of  that 
da)^  in  behalf  of  education.  In  May,  1649,  he  was  a  chosen 
deputy  to  the  General  Court,  and  was  appointed  by  that 
Court  on  a  committee  with  Daniel  Titt'erton  to  view  land 
desired  by  the  town  of  Fairfield  for  an  enlargement  of  their 
territory,  and  in  May,  1650,  the  report  being  favorable,  the 
request  of  Fairfield  was  allowed,  which  extended  their 
bounds  to  the  Saugatuck  river.  He  was  deputy  also  at  other 
times.  Hence  it  seems  that  this  John  must  have  been  an 
older  man  than  the  John  who  was  married  in  1662,  and  is 
credited  with  being  the  first  of  the  name  at  Stratford. 


persons  that  died  intestate,  and  to  appoint  administrators.  .  .  .  This  order 
respects  Stratford,  Fairfield  and  Norwalk."  Hence  the  origin  of  the  Probate 
Court.     Col.  Rec.  i.  257,  323. 


114  History  of  Stratford. 

A  grave-stone  ot  "John  Hurd,  1681,  aged  68,"  taken  from 
the  old  burying-ground,  is  probably  his,  and  hence  he  was 
born  in  161 3,  seven  years  before  the  landing  at  what  we  now 
know  as  the  old  Plymouth  Rock.  Stratford  should  be  proud 
of  such  a  monument  as  this  stone,  for,  although  naught  but  a 
rude  field  stone,  yet  what  visions  of  long  years  gone  by  are 
brought  to  our  minds  by  it.  Two  hundred  and  three  years 
this  plain  and  often  unnoticed  stone  has  borne  its  unpreten- 
tious title — John  Hurd,  1681,  aged  68 — a  fitting  monument  for 
the  plain,  earnest  life  he  and  his  associated  brethren  lived,  as 
emigrants  to  the  then  New  World,  for  the  sake  of  the  truth 
as  they  viewed  it,  in  obedience  to  the  Gospel  of  the  Son  of 
God.  Standing  by  such  a  stone  in  the  light  of  two  hundred 
years  is  sufficient  inspiration  to  cause  every  man  to  defy 
religious  proscription,  bigotry  or  oppression. 

John  Hurd  was  a  miller,  and  in  connection  with  Thomas 
Sherwood  built  the  first  mill  at  Old  Mill  Green,  in  1653, 
where  he  himself  probably  was  the  first  or  among  the  first 
residents  in  that  part  of  the  town.  He  and  Thomas  Sher- 
wood, or  one  of  Sherwood's  sons,  may  have  located  there 
together. 

24: — Arthur  Sostivickf  came  from  Cheshire,  county 
of  Chester,  England,  with  son  John,  and  probably  a  wife,  and 
was  an  early  settler  in  Stratford,  before  1650,  and  probably  in 
1639.  In  1659  he  had  a  second  wife,  a  widow  Ellen  Johnson, 
who  petitioned  the  General  Court  in  regard  to  her  husband's 
lands,  and  by  the  order  of  the  Court  their  united  property 
was  divided  equally  between  them,  and  in  the  same  year 
Arthur  gave  the  most,  if  not  all  of  his  estate,  to  his  son  John, 
by  contract,  in  which  John  agrees  to  maintain  his  father  with 
whatever  he  shall  need  for  his  comfort,  and  among  other 
things  "  to  find  him  wines  and  spirituous  liquors,  and  a  horse 
when  he  shall  wish  to  ride  forth."  The  widow,  Ellen,  in 
after  years  gave  a  portion  of  her  propert}'  to  her  son  Johnson 
by  a  former  husband.  The  reason  for  dividing  the  property 
appears  from  the  use  they  made  of  it,  in  each  bestowing  it  on 
children  by  their  former  marriage  ;  a  matter  of  no  surprise. 
Arthur  was  in  the  list  of  freemen  in  1669,  and  probably  died 
within  four  vears  thereafter. 


First  Settlers  of  Stratford.  1 1 5 

His  home  lot,  25,  indicates  him  to  have  been  among  the 
first  settlers.  His  descendants  have  been  numerous  in  New 
Milford  as  well  as  in  Fairheld  county. 

,*^J — John  Thotnpsotii  being  a  little  over  twenty-one 
years  of  age,  came  to  New  England  on  a  visit  of  inspection, 
and  being  satisfied  with  its  appearance  returned  home  to 
dispose  of  his  property  and  come  here  for  life.  From  the 
seaport  where  he  landed  in  England  to  his  home  in  the  inte- 
rior was  a  distance  of  many  miles,  which  he  journeyed  on 
foot.  While  passing  at  early  morn  a  farm-house  where  the 
daughters  were  bringing  the  milk,  he  stopped  for  some 
refreshments,  and  disclosing  the  fact  that  he  was  from  New 
England,  he  found  himself  among  ardent  friends  of  the  Puritan 
Colonies.  Conversation  grew  earnest  and  he  was  urged  to 
stay.  Many  questions  were  asked  in  regard  to  the  land  of  the 
exiles.  "  It  is  a  goodly  land,"  said  he,  "  but  as  yet  full  of 
wild  beasts  and  savage  men,  but  a  place  where  we  may  wor- 
ship God  with  a  true  conscience."  "  Would  God  1  were 
there,"  said  Mirable,  a  younger  daughter  of  the  farmer,  pro- 
testing that  for  love  of  Christ  and  to  be  free  from  the  severe 
restrictions  then  laid  upon  Puritan  worship,  she  would 
gladly  endure  the  hardships  and  peril  in  order  to  attain  that 
end.  Not  long  before  this  she  had  been  imprisoned  for 
attending  a  conventicle.  Thompson's  stay  was  prolonged  ; 
the  interest  between  him  and  Mirable  increased  and  they 
were  engaged  to  be  married.  He  went  home,  closed  his 
business  affairs,  returned,  married  her,  and  they  came  to 
New  England.  It  is  thought  that  his  first  coming  was  in  the 
Elizabeth  and  Ann  in  1635,  he  being  then  twenty-two  years  of 
age,  yet  this  is  not  certain,  nor  is  it  certain  in  what  year  he 
came  the  second  time,  nor  what  year  he  arrived  at  Stratford, 
although  he  was  there  before  1646. 

This  sketch  is  taken  from  the  narrative  of  these  events 
by  the  Rev.  Nathan  Birdseye  who  died  in  1818,  aged  103 
years,  who  relates  among  other  things  that  Mr.  Thompson 
brought  to  Stratford  some  of  the  first  fruit  trees  introduced 
there,  and  also  that  he  harvested  the  first  wheat  raised  there. 


•  From  the  manuscript  of  Mr.  Curtis  Thompson. 


ii6  History  of  Stratford. 

The  family  tradition  was  that  he  and  his  wife,  walking  in  the 
field  by  the  Fresh  Pond,  found  that  numerous  heads  of  wheat 
had  already  become  yellow,  whereupon  he  gathered  hand- 
fulls  of  these  heads  and  she  rubbed  out  the  wheat  until  nearly 
a  peck  was  secured,  which  they  dried,  and  probably  pounded 
in  a  mortar,  and  made  bread  from  it,  the  first  made  from 
wheat  grown  in  the  town. 

Mr.  Thompson  died  in  July  or  August,  1678  ;  his  will 
being  drawn  in  July  and  the  inventory  was  made  in  August, 
and  he  is  supposed  to  have  been  65  years  of  age.  His  widow, 
Mirable,  died  April  13,  i6go.  The  storv  is  related  that  on  a 
certain  day  soon  after  their  settlement  in  Stratford,  while 
engaged  in  her  house  with  her  face  from  the  door  two 
Indians  rushed  in,  the  one  giving  a  fearful  yell,  and  the  other 
just  then  buried  his  tomahawk  in  the  head  of  the  first,  who 
fell  dead  across  the  table.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Thompson  had  two 
sons  and  four  daughters,  whose  descendants  still  abide 
within  the  limits  of  the  old  town. 

26 — Robert  (Joe,  Ji*.,  settled  in  Stratford  before  165 1, 
where  he  purchased  of  widow  Ramble  (?)  a  house  lot  recorded 
in  1652,  bounded  "east  upon  the  highway,  west  upon  the 
swamp,  Samuel  Sherman  on  the  north  and  Thomas  UfFoot 
on  the  south  ;  with  land  in  the  New  Field,  at  Carman's  Neck, 
at  Nesumpaws  and  in  the  great  meadows."  Previous  to  this 
purchase  he  held  land  in  the  Old  Field,  and  hence  was  one  of 
those  who  kept  up  the  fence  around  it,  and  therefore  it  is 
probable  that  his  father  was  one  of  the  original  owners  of 
Stratford  and  afterwards  gave  his  share  to  this  son  Robert, 
else  why  should  he  have  left  Hempstead  to  settle  at  Strat- 
ford ?  He  died  in  1659,  at  the  age  of  32,  leaving  a  widow, 
three  daughters  and  one  son,  among  whom  his  estate,  amount- 
ing to  ^179,  i8s.  was  divided,  the  daughters  receiving  ;^35 
each.  The  widow,  Susannah  Coe,  married,  2d,  Nicholas 
Elsey  of  New  Haven,  and  upon  her  son  John  becoming  of 
age  she,  with  her  husband,  made  over  to  him  the  homestead 
of  his  father,  December,  1682. 

The  following  verses  were  made  by  the  Rev.  Abraham 
Pierson,  pastor  at  Branford,  on  the  death  of  Robert  Coe : 


First  Settlers  of  Stratford.  wj 

"  Rest  blessed  Coe,  upon  thy  bed  of  ease  ; 
I'the  quiat  grave  with  the  is  no  desease. 
all,  all  our  anguish  hath  its  perod  fixt, 
Err  hens  we  goe  :  not  any  joy  but  mixt. 
Raer  grace  which  maks  the  life  of  man  the  best, 
this  young  man  lived  to  God  and  now  is  blest. 
Come  parallel  this  saint :  now  far  exceed  : 
Omit  no  means  that  may  true  goodness  breed, 
are  tr3'als  come,  bestowed  for  days  of  need  ? 
the  Lord  his  widow  bless,  and  take  his  seed." 

Cooe  or  Coe,  It  is  an  interesting  fact  that  during  Queen 
Mary's  reign,  in  the  year  1555,  Roger  Cooe,  of  Suffolk  county, 
England,  the  section  of  the  country  whence  the  family  came 
to  America,  was  burned  at  the  stake,  in  his  extreme  old  age, 
a  martyr  to  the  truths  of  the  gospel.  His  trial  is  related  by 
Fox  in  the  Book  of  Martyrs,  where  it  is  represented  that  he 
most  decidedly  and  faithfully  testified  to  the  truth  and 
suffered  patiently  but  firmly  for  Christ  and  his  teachings. 

Robert  Cooe^  Sen.f  the  first  in  America,  who  is  said  to 
have  been  born  in  Suffolkshire,  England,  in  1596,  sailed  from 
Ipswich  in  the  ship  Frances  in  1634  with  his  wife  Anna,  who 
was  born  in  1591,  and  three  children.  He  was  made  freeman 
in  Watertown,  Mass.,  in  1634,  and  tarried  there  about  two 
years,  but  was  among  the  first  at  Hartford,  Conn,  (then 
called  Newtown),  where  in  1636,  at  the  first  Court  held  there, 
he  and  others  presented  their  certificates  of  dismission  from 
the  church  at  Watertown,  dated  in  the  March  previous,  to 
form  anew  in  church  covenant  "  on  the  River  of  Connecticot." 
He  and  others  settled  at  Wethersfield,  where  he  with  others, 
after  about  four  years,  formed  a  company  and  bought  of 
New  Haven  colony,  the  plantation  of  Ripowams  (now  Stam- 
ford), where  they  settled  in  1641.  For  this  territory  they 
agreed  to  pay  100  bushels  of  corn,  and  Robert  Cooe's  pro- 
portion was  four  bushels  and  one  peck.  In  1644,  Robert 
Coe,  with  other  inhabitants,  removed  with  their  minister, 
Mr.  Richard  Denton,  to  Hempstead,  L.  I.,  at  which  date, 
Robert,  Jr.  was  seventeen  years  of  age.  In  1652,  Robert, 
Sen.,  removed  to  Middlebury,  now  Newtown,  L.  I.,  where 
he  was  made  sheriff  in  1669,  which  office  he  held  until  1672. 


1 1 8  History  of  Stratford. 

27 — Thomas  JJffoot  came  from  England  in  the  ship 
Lion  in  1632,  with  William  Curtis  ;  was  made  freeman  in 
Boston  that  same  year;  may  have  lived  in  Roxbury  ;  came, 
probably,  in  1639  to  Stratford,  and  ma}^  have  been  related  to 
the  Curtis  family  by  marriage.  His  house  lot  was  No.  16, 
which  still  remains  in  the  family,  yet  his  descendants  are 
scattered  far  and  wide,  like  those  of  many  other  families. 
He  was  a  juryman  at  Hartford  as  early  as  1643  and  again  in 
1644  ;  was  in  Milford  in  1646,  when  he  and  his  wife  joined 
the  church  there,  and  is  said  to  have  been  there  in  1654. 
He  died  in  1660,  and  as  the  inventory  of  his  property  is  at 
New  Haven,  he  may  have  been  residing  at  Milford  at  his 
decease. 

28 — Joseph  Haivley  was  in  Stratford  a  proprietor  as 
early  as  1650  and  probably  a  few  years  earlier.  His  home  lot 
was  No.  37,  which  he  purchased  of  Richard  Miles  in  or 
before  the  year  1650.  The  tradition  in  Stratford  has  been 
and  is  that  he  married  Catharine  Birdseye,  a  niece  of  John 
Birdseye,  her  father  residing  first  in  New  Haven  and  then  in 
Wethersfield.  He  was  prominent  in  the  town  and  a  more 
than  usually  energetic  business  man.  He  purchased  of  the 
Indians  a  large  tract  of  land  in  Derby,  of  which  that  town 
allowed  him  to  retain  the  old  Indian  planting  field,  and  also 
another  tract  which  joined  it,  including  Great  Hill.  He  was 
chosen  Deputy  in  1665  and  many  times  thereafter  until  near 
his  decease.  He  made  his  will  in  1689  and  died  the  next 
year.  His  descendants  are  numerous  and  a  genealogy  of 
them  is  largely  collected  and  nearly  ready  for  publication  by 
Mr.  Elias  S.  Hawley,  of  Buffalo,  N.  Y. 

29 — Sevfft,  Jeremiah  Judson,  son  of  William,  born 
in  England  in  162 1,  and  hence  was  16  years  of  age  when  he 
came  to  Stratford  ;  married  about  1652,  and  was  a  prominent 
man  in  the  business  transactions  of  the  town.  He  died  in 
1700,  aged  79. 

30 — Joshua  Judsorif  third  son  of  William  Judson,  born 
in  England  in  1623,  came  to  Stratford  with  his  father  ;  mar- 
ried Ann  Porter  of  Windsor  about  1656,  and  died  in  1661, 
aged  38,  leaving  two  sons  and  a  widow,  who  married  John 
Hurd,  Jr. 


First  Settlers  of  Stratford.  1 19 

51 — 3/>'.  liobert  Seabt'ook  came  to  this  countrv,  prob- 
ably with  two  daughters  unmarried,  in  company  with  his 
son-in-law,  Thomas  Sherwood,  and  came  to  Stratford,  proba- 
bly, with  the  same.  One  daughter  married  Thomas  Fairchild, 
perhaps  before  they  came  to  Stratford.  In  165 1  he  must  have 
been  about  85  years  of  age  or  more.  In  1634  his  daughter 
Alice,  who  was  the  wife  of  Thomas  Sherwood,  was  47  years 
of  age.  He  was  also  the  father  of  William  Preston's  wife,  of 
New  Haven,  and  in  his  will  gave  his  home  lot  in  Stratford 
to  his  grandsons,  Jehiel  Preston  of  New  Haven  and  Thomas 
Fairchild,  Jr.,  of  Stratford.  He  is  also  supposed  to  have 
been  the  father  of  Lieut.  Thomas  Wheeler's  wife,  who  was 
married,  probably,  in  this  country.  . 

32 — Henri/  Gregory  was  in  Stratford  in  1647,  when  he 
is  described  in  the  New  Haven  Records  as  having  sons 
Judah  and  John  and  a  daughter  who  was  the  wife  of  William 
Crooker  of  Stratford. 

The  Probate  Court,  June  19,  1655,  orders  administration 
on  Henry  Gregorey's  estate,  giving  the  eldest  son,  John, 
a  double  portion  and  making  him  the  distributer  of  the  estate. 
It  mentions  the  children,  but  names  only  John.  In  1647  the 
son  John  testified  that  his  father  was  old  and  that  his  sight 
had  failed  him.  The  descendants  remained  in  the  town 
many  years,  but  were  not  numerous. 

33 — liicliard  Boothe,  was  born  in  England  in  1607, 
for  in  an  affidavit,  March  15,  1687-8,  he  describes  himself  as 
about  81  years  of  age.  From  what  part  of  England  he  came, 
or  in  what  year  is  not  fully  known,  nor  is  there  certain  evi- 
dence of  his  immediate  ancestors,  but  his  name — Richard — 
and  those  of  John  and  Robert,  are  family  names  in  the  line  of 
the  Boothe  families  of  Cheshire,  England,  an  ancient  house, 
connected  also  by  marriage  with  several  families  of  distinc- 
tion. If,  as  is  not  improbable,  Richard,  of  Stratford,  were  of 
that  stock,  the  relationship,  it  is  supposed,  would  be  estab- 
lished through  Richard,  of  Coggshill,  and  Baron  in  Cheshire, 
who  was  son  of  Sir  William  Boothe,  by  his  wife  Elizabeth, 
daughter  of  Sir  John  Warburton,  and  was  born  about  1570, 
and  died  in  1628.'° 


See  Booth  Genealogy. 


I20  History  of  Stratford. 

Richard  Boothe's  name  and  those  of  his  descendants  are 
prominent  on  Stratford  records.  His  home  lot,  29,  indicates 
his  settlement  there  among  the  earliest,  but  probably  not 
before  his  marriage  in  1640.  He  married,  ist,  Elizabeth,  the 
sister  of  Joseph  Hawley,"  for  his  son  Ephraim,  in  his  will 
styles  Samuel  Hawley  (son  of  Joseph)  cousin.  He  was  one 
of  the  proprietors  of  the  township  and  received  divisions  of 
land  located  in  various  parts  of  the  town,  as  did  also  the 
other  proprietors.  He  was  probably  married  twice  and  had 
eight  children.  The  latest  mention  of  him  extant  is  in 
March,  1688-9,  i*"*  his  82d  year. 

34: — **  Mr,  WaMiii,'"  Henry  Wakelee,  was,  probably, 
an  original  proprietor  of  Stratford,  and  was  there  before  1650. 
His  home  lot  was  No.  15,  indicating  him  to  have  been  among 
the  first  settlers.  In  1663  he  was  attorney  before  the  General 
Court  in  behalf  of  his  son  James,  but  the  matter  was  with- 
drawn from  court. 

Ebenezer  Wakelee  went  from  Sti-atford  to  Waterbury, 
the  part  of  the  town  now  VVolcott,  where  his  descendants 
still  reside.  The  name  is  now  generally  spelled  Wakelee, 
but  at  first  it  was  generally  written  Wakelyn,  and  sometimes 
Weaklin  and  Waklin.     The  family  have  not  been  numerous. 

3S — Widow  Curtis  was  Elizabeth  Curtis,  the  mother  of 
William  and  John,  with  whom  she  came  to  Stratford,  leaving, 
apparently,  three  of  her  children  at  Roxbury,  Massachusetts. 
The  reason  for  the  separation  of  the  members  of  the  family 
may  have  been  the  fact  that  the  father,  now  deceased,  had 
acquired  a  considerable  property  in  land  at  Roxbur}'  which 
could  not  readily  be  disposed  of  to  advantage,  and  hence 
three  stayed  to  care  for  it  and  three  came  to  Stratford. 
Widow  Curtis's  home  lot  was  near  or  joining  Rev.  Mr. 
Blakeman's.  She  died  in  June,  1658,  and  her  estate  was 
apprised  at  i^ioo,  3s.  6d.     (See  sketch  of  William  Curtis.) 

36 — Tliomas  Sherwood  came  from  England  in  the 
ship  Frances  from  Ipswich,  in  1634,  aged  48  years,  with  wife 


"  Rev.  B.  L.  Swan  makes  a  note  as  follows:  "There  is  more  than  a  proba- 
bility that  Jane,  wife  of  Rev.  Adam  Blakeman,  Ann,  wife  of  Philip  Groves,  and 
Miriam,  wife  of  Moses  Wheeler,  were  also  sisters  of  Joseph  Havvley. 


First  Settlers  of  Stratford.  121 

Alice,  aged  47  years,  and  four  children.  His  wife  Alice  was 
the  daughter  of  Robert  Seabrook  and  sister  of  the  wife  of 
Thomas  Fairchild,  and  hence  in  all  probability  these  two 
families  came  in  each  other's  company  to  Stratford. 

In  June,  1645,  he  had  four  suits  for  slander,  in  three  of 
which  he  was  plaintiff  and  in  one  defendant,  and  he  gained 
the  four  with  costs  of  the  suits  and  thirty-nine  pounds  money 
as  damages.  He,  in  the  autumn  of  the  same  year,  was  elected 
deputy  with  William  Beardsly,  the  first  sent  from  Stratford, 
to  the  General  Court.  In  October,  1654,  when  a  draft  was 
made  for  an  expected  war  with  the  Narraganset  Indians, 
Thomas  Sherwood  and  Thomas  Fairchild  were  appointed 
with  the  constables  to  "  press  men  and  necessaries  "  for  the 
war,  from  Stratford.  In  this  same  year,  1654,  John  Hurd  and 
Thomas  Sherwood  received  from  the  town  of  Stratford  forty 
acres  of  land  and  three  pieces  of  meadow  in  the  New  Pas- 
ture in  consideration  of  the  expenses  of  building  a  corn-mill 
"to  grind  the  town's  corn,"  at  what  is  now  the  east  end  of 
■Old  Mill  Green.  The  amount  of  toll  they  were  to  have  for 
grinding  was  one-sixteenth  of  a  bushel,  and  the  town  was  to 
furnish  a  correct  measure  for  the  purpose  of  taking  the  exact 
amount.  Thomas  Sherwood  did  not  remove  to  Fairfield,  as 
stated  by  some,  but  died  in  Stratford  in  1656,  where  his  death 
is  recorded. 

In  1645,  in  his  suits  at  law,  he  is  called  "  Thomas  Sher- 
wood the  elder,"  in  every  case,  showing  that  there  was  then 
a  Thomas  Sherwood  the  younger.  The  stor}^  of  the  three 
brothers  who  came  over  has  been  historical  in  this  family, 
and  is  true,  for  Thomas  Sherwood,  Jr.,  Stephen  Sherwood 
and  Matthew  Sherwood,  sons  of  Thomas  Sherwood,  Sen., 
were  made  freemen  in  the  town  of  Fairfield  in  the  3'ear  1664, 
where  the3'  and  their  descendants  were  prominent,  influen- 
tial citizens  for  two  hundred  years.  The  family  has  been  also 
considerably  numerous  in  the  interior  towns  and  in  New 
York  State. 

57 — Francis  Mallf  a  professional  lawyer,  was  of  New 
Haven,  in  1639,  and  came  to  Stratford  before  1651  ;  his  dwel- 
ling-house seems  to  have  been  west  of  Main  street,  on  what 
was    afterwards    called    Lundv's    Lane,   being    the    old    road 


122  History  of  Stratford. 

through  the  village  to  Fairfield.  He  and  his  family  removed 
to  Fairfield,  where  he  purchased  considerable  land,  and  in 
1687  a  paper  was  recorded  showing  that  his  wife  possessed  a 
house  and  lands  in  England  when  she  was  married,  and 
which  he  had  sold  and  for  which  he  gave  the  paper  signed 
by  himself  securing  the  amount  to  her  from  his  prop- 
erty." In  1654  he  and  his  wife  bought  of  Thomas  Wheeler, 
of  Fairfield,  "  all  that  mesuage  or  tenement  with  ye  apperte- 
nances,"  or  a  house  and  lot,  and  he  may  have  resided  in  it 
thereafter  a  part  of  the  time,  for  his  residence  was  in  Strat- 
ford years  after.  His  wife  Elizabeth  died  July  6,  1665,  and 
he  being  an  attorney  at  law  was  employed  by  Mrs.  Jane, 
widow  of  Rev.  Adam  Blakeman,  against  her  daughter-in-law, 
then  widow  Dorothy,  and  became  charmed  with  his  oppo- 
nent in  the  case,  and  married  her  Oct.  31,  1665,  just  twenty- 
one  days  after  the  suit  was  tried  in  court,  and  six  days  less 
than  four  months  after  the  decease  of  his  first  wife.  Francis 
Hall  died  March  5,  1689-90.  His  widow,  Dorothy,  married 
3d  Mark  Sension,  of  Norwalk,  who  died  in  1693,  after  which 
she  married  4th,  Dea.  Isaac  Moore,  of  Farmington. 

3S — William  IBeardsley  came    from    England    in    the 
ship    Planter,'"  Capt.  Travice   commander,  he   being   then  30 

"  Isaac  Hairs  Caveat  against  his  father's  property. 

"Whereas  my  Honored  Father  Francis  Hall  hath  formerly  sould  a  house 
and  land  in  England  which  was  my  mother's  at  her  marriage  with  him  and  for 
which  he  hath  acknowledged  himself  Ingaged  to  make  her  as  good  a  right  in  ye 
like  kind  in  sum  other  place  by  a  writing  under  his  hand  bearing  date  ye  gth  day 
of  March,  1664,  may  more  fully  appear  and  for  ye  performance  of  sd.  Ingagement 
hee  hath  nominated  all  ye  housing  and  land  he  hass  had  in  the  libarties  of  Fair- 
field as  in  ye  sd  writing  is  expressed. 

I  Isaac  Hall  as  heir  to  my  Honoured  Mother  Elizabeth  Hall  deceased  enter 
Caveate  against  ye  sd  housing  and  lands  yi  they  may  be  responsible  to  ye  aforesd 
Ingagement  and  for  yt  time  this  cavet  is  to  stand  according  as  ye  law  directs  in 
such  cas. 

Dated  Fayrfeild  This  27  of  Septem.  1687." 

'^  The  following  is  the  list  of  the  vessel  in  which  William  IVillcoxson  and  several  other 
families  came  to  America  who  settled  in  Stratford,  and  it  is  given  here  to  show  the 
method  of  emigration. 

"  2  Aprilis  1635.  These  under  written  names  are  to  be  transported  to  New  Eng- 
land imbarqued  in  the  Planter,  Nico  :  Travice  Mr.  bound  thither  the  parties  have 


First  Settlers  of  Stratford. 


125. 


years  of  age,  his  wife  Marie  26,  his  daughter  Marie  4,  son 
John  2,  and  Joseph  6  months.  They  embarked  in  April, 
1635,  on  the  same  vessel  with  Richard  Harvie  and  William 
Wilcoxson,  both  of  whom  settled  in  Stratford.  He  was  a 
mason  by  trade  and  it  is  claimed  very  emphatically  by  his 
descendants  that  he  was  also  a  Freemason — a  remarkable  fact, 
if  true — and  that  he  came  from  Stratford  on  the  river  Avon, 
in  Warwickshire,  the  birth-place  of  William  Shakespeare. 
This  tradition  has  been  confirmed  (it  is  said  by  good  author- 
ity), by  some  of  the  Beardsley  family,  residing  at  Avon, 
N.  Y.,  who  have  visited  England  and  Stratford-on-Avon,  and 
made  a  careful  search  for  the  facts,  and  which  were  satisfac- 
factory  to  this  effect.  The  town  of  Avon,  N.  Y.,  was 
named  by  descendants  of  William  Beardsley  of  Stratford, 
Conn.,  and  thus  named  in  honor  of  the  old  river  in  England. 
Some  of  the  members  of  the  x\von,  N.  Y.,  family  have  been 
very  distinguished,  specially  Judge  Samuel  Beardsley,  many 
years  Chief  Justice  of  the  State  of  New  York.  The  Beards- 
ley family  have  claimed  the  honor  of  securing  to  the  town  of 


brought    Certificates   from    the    minister 
attestations  from  the   justice  of  the  peace 

years. 

A  Mercer,  Jo  :  Tuttell, 39 

John  Tuttell, - 42 

John  Lawrence, 17 

Wm.  Lawrence,- -12 

Marie  Lawrence, 9 

Abegall  Tuttell, 6 

Symon  Tuttell, •-  4 

Sarah  Tuttell 2 

Jo:  Tuttell I 

Joan  Antrobuss, 65 

Marie  Wrast, 24 

Tho  :  Green 15 

)  servant  to 

Nathan   Heford,  f  r      t-   ..  n  a 

)  Jo  :  Tuttell, 16 

Marie  Chittwood, 24 

Shoemaker,  Tho  :  Olney, 35 

Marie  Olney 30 

Tho:  Olney 3 

Epenetus  Olney,.. i 

Husbandman,  Geo  :  Giddins, 20 


of    St.    Albons    in     Hertfordshire    and 

according  to  the  Lord's  order. 

years. 

Tho  :  Savage,  a  Taylor, ..20 

A  Taylor,  Richard  Harvie, 22 

Husbandman,  Francis  Pebody, 21 

Lynen  Weaver,  Wm.  Wilcockson,  -.34 

Margaret  Wilcockson, --24 

Jo:  Willcockson, 2 

Ann  Harvie, 22 

A  Mason,  Wm.  Beardsle)', 30 

Marie  Beardsley, 26 

Marie  Beardslie 4 

John   Beardslie, 2 

Joseph  Beardslie, 6  mo. 

Husbandman,  AUin  Perlej',. 27 

Shoemaker,  Willm  Felloe, 24 

A  Taylor,  Francis  Baker, 24 

Tho:  Carter,  25]      servants  to 

Michell  Williamson,  30   \-        George 
Elizabeth  Morrison,    12    I       Giddins." 

See  Hotten's  List  of  Etnigrants. 


124  History  of  Stratford. 

Stratford,  Conn.,  its  name,  in  honor  of  their  old  native  place 
in  their  mother  country,  with  much  credible  evidence. 

William  Beardsley  was  among  the  first  settlers  of  Strat- 
ford in  1639.  He  was  made  freeman  in  Massachusetts,  Dec.  7, 
1636,  but  where  he  then  resided  is  not  known.  He  was  a 
substantial,  prominent  man  in  the  new  plantation,  but  died  in 
1660  at  the  early  age  of  56,  leaving  property  inventoried  at 

;^333,  15s. 

He  was  elected  deputy  for  Stratford  in  1645,  with  Thomas 
Sherwood.  In  1649  he  was  appointed  with  Mr.  Hull,  of 
Fairfield,  to  assist  Roger  Ludlow  in  securing  provisions  for 
the  soldiers  then  drafted  for  the  war  against  the  Dutch  at 
New  York;  and  in  165 1  he  was  propounded  for  an  "Assistant 
to  join  with  the  magistrates  for  the  execution  of  justice  in  the 
towns  by  the  sea  side." 

There  was  a  Thomas  Beardsley  who  died  in  Stratford  in 
1667,  who  is  said  to  have  been  son  of  Thomas,  of  Milford. 
He  had  a  home  lot  near  William  Burritt. 

39 — John  Curtis.  The  Curtis  family  in  Stratford  has 
been  curiously  represented  as  to  the  first  settlers,  in  which 
confusion  rather  than  history  has  prevailed. 

John  and  William  Curtis,  with  their  mother  Elizabeth, 
appear  at  Stratford  among  the  first  settlers ;  the  brothers 
have  each  the  birth  of  a  child  recorded  in  1642,  but  that  does 
not  prove  that  the  children  were  born  in  Stratford,  since  such 
records  were  sometimes  transferred  from  one  town  to 
another;  but  these  brothers  probably  came  here  in  1639,  or 
with  those  who  came  in  company  with  Mr.  Blakeman,  and 
the  record  shows  that  at  that  time,  1642,  they  were  of  age, 
and  married,  which  could  not  have  been  the  case  according 
to  the  account  given  in  the  Woodbury  History,  which  makes 
William  at  that  time  not  more  than  ten  years  of  age.  The 
Curtises  of  Scituate  and  Roxbur3%  Mass.,  were  different  fam- 
ilies, and  remained  with  their  descendants  in  and  about  each 
of  those  places  except  those  who  came  to  Stratford. 

William  Curtis,  who  came  in  the  ship  Lion  in  1632,  was 
the  settler  at  Roxbury  and  father  of  William  and  John  who 
settled  in  Stratford,  and  he  died  at  Roxbury  near  the  end  of 
•the  year  1634.     He  came  to  America,  leaving  his  family  for 


First  Settlers  of  Stratford.  125 

the  time,  as  did  many  others,  in  England,  and  in  the  spring- 
of  1634  they  came  and  joined  him  at  Roxbury,  where  his 
name  appears  frequently  in  the  records  as  a  land  holder,  and 
he  died  about  eight  months  after  the)'  came.  His  children 
were  William,  Thomas,  Mary,  John  and  Philip  ;  William  and 
John  with  their  mother  Elizabeth,  came  to  Stratford,  the 
others  appear  to  have  remained  at  Roxbury,  where  are  still 
their  descendants. 

Thomas  Uffoot  came  in  the  ship  Lion  in  1632,  with  William 
Curtis,  Sen.,  and  he  and  the  Curtises  probably  came  in  com- 
pany to  Stratford. 

John  Curtis  was  made  freeman  in  1658  ;  had  his  home, 
perhaps,  with  his  mother,  bought  the  shares  of  the  other 
heirs  after  her  death,  and  gave  it  to  his  son  Israel  in  1660. 
John  and  William  Curtis  had  each  a  home  lot  at  No.  69  (on 
diagram).  William  had  the  east  half,  John  the  west.  This 
was  before  1660. 

John  Curtis  was  prominent  as  a  citizen  and  in  the  work 
of  settling  the  township,  but  he  was  not  as  much  in  public 
life  as  his  brother  William. 

William  Curtis,  son  of  William,  came  to  Stratford 
with  his  widowed  mother  Elizabeth,  and  his  brother  John 
Curtis,  probably  in  the  spring  of  the  year,  1640,  where  he 
died  in  1702,  full  of  years  and  honors. 

Much  effort  has  been  made  to  ascertain  the  relation  of 
several  families  of  this  name  at  Roxbury,  Mass.,  and  Strat- 
ford, Conn.,  with  little  success,  except  by  the  Rev.  B.  L. 
Swan,  who  succeeded  finely. 

A  paper  has  come  to  light  since  the  commencement  of 
this  book,  which  has  been  preserved  with  great  care  about 
200  years,  which  makes  the  matter  quite  definite.  This 
paper  reads:  "  William  Curtis  came  to  this  land  in  the  year 
1632,  and  soon  after  joined  the  church;  he  brought  four  chil- 
dren with  him — Thomas,  Mary,  John  and  Philip,  and  his 
eldest  son  William  came  the  year  before  ;  he  was  a  hopeful 
scholar,  but  God  took  him  in  the  end  of  the  year  1634. 
Sarah  Curtis,  wife  of  William  Curtis."  This  is  all  there  was 
on  the  original  paper  except  a  description  of  the  coat-of-arms, 
a  painted  copy  of  which  has  been  preserved  with  the  paper, 


126  History  of  Stratford. 

both  being  the  property  of  the  late  Samuel  Curtis  Trubee,  of 
Fairfield,  and  which  had  been  preserved  very  carefully  by  his 
mother  Elizabeth  (Curtis)  Trubee,  who  was  born  in  Stratford 
Dec.  25,  1788. 

This  paper  was  evidently  written  by  some  member  of 
the  family  at  Stratford  about  the  year  1700,  or  earlier,  for  it 
must  have  been  William  Curtis  the  father  who  died  at  Rox- 
bury  in  1634,  since  the  five  children  of  that  family  were  then 
born,  and  the  William  Curtis  of  Stratford  had  a  family  of 
nine  children,  all  born  after  1641,  and  also  since  Elizabeth 
Curtis,  widow,  and  mother  of  William  and  John,  came  to 
Stratford  with  the  first  settlers,  probably,  in  1639,  and  died 
there.  And  also  the  Sarah  Curtis  mentioned  on  the  old 
paper  was  the  second  wife  of  the  second  William  Curtis,  or 
the  one  who  came  to  Stratford. 

Further:  The  high  standing  of  William  Curtis  of  Strat- 
fort  as  a  military  officer  corresponds  to  the  description 
given  :  "  he  was  a  hopeful  scholar;"  for  education  above  the 
ordinary  ability  to  read  and  write  was  greatly  appreciated 
and  honored  in  those  days.  His  standing  in  this  respect, 
having  been  Sergeant  as  early  as  1650,  as  well  as  the  militar}' 
affairs  of  Stratford,  are  somewhat  revealed  in  the  following 
extracts  and  facts  :  "June,  1672.  This  Court  confirms  Will- 
iam Curtis,  Captain,  and  Joseph  Judson,  Lieutenant,  and 
Stephen  Burritt,  Ensign,  of  the  Train  Band  of  Stratford." 

At  the  same  time  the  General  Court  declared  that  "until 
further  order  be  taken,  Capt.  Nathan  Gold  [of  Fairfield]  shall 
be  deemed  chief  military  officer  of  the  county  of  Fairfield, 
and  Capt.  William  Curtis,  his  second." 

In  August,  1672,  Capt.  William  Curtis  was  appointed 
by  the  General  Court  one  of  six  commissioners,  with  the 
Governor,  Deputy  Governor  and  Assistants,  as  a  war  council 
against  the  Dutch  at  New  York,  "  to  act  as  the  Grand 
Committee  of  the  Colony  in  establishing  and  commissionating 
militar}'  officers,  in  pressing  men,  horses,  ships,  barques  or 
other  vessels,  arms,  ammunition,  provision,  carriages  or 
whatever  they  judge  needful  for  our  defence,  and  to  manage, 
order  and  dispose  of  the  militia  of  the  Colon)^  in  the  best 
way  and  manner  they  can  for  our  defence  and  safet}^" 


First  Settlers  of  Stratford.  \  27 

In  the  next  November,  Captain  Curtis  was  appointed 
Captain  "  for  such  forces  as  shall  be  sent  from  Fairfield 
County  "  against  the  Dutch  at  New  York,  and  in  1675  his 
commission  in  the  same  position  was  renewed  ;  this  showing 
that  he  stood  the  highest  in  the  county  as  a  military  officer, 
except  field  officers. 

While  he  was  thus  engaged  in  military  affairs  he  was  for 
some  years  regularly  elected  Deputy  to  the  General  Court, 
his  election  being  repeated,  sometimes  after  intervals,  sixteen 
times. 

His  home  lot  was  No.  34,  but  he  owned  a  part  of  No.  69, 
and  his  name  does  not  occur  on  the  list  of  fence  about  the 
old  field,  probably  because  his  cultivated  land  was  in  or 
nearer  the  village  or  in  the  new  field.  Several  of  these 
planters  had  land  to  cultivate,  at  first,  from  two  to  six  acres, 
near  or  adjoining  their  home  lots. 

40 — John  Jiirtlseye  came  to  Stratford  among  the 
earliest  settlers.  According  to  his  age  at  death,  he  was 
born  in  1616,  since  he  died  in  1690,  aged  74  years.  The  Rev. 
Samuel  Peters,  who  married  into  the  family,  says  he  came 
from  Reading  in  Berkshire,  England,  emigrated  to  America 
in  1636;  came  to  New  Haven,  thence  to  Milford  in  1639,  and 
thence  to  Stratford.  Mr.  Peters  says,  also,  he  came  to  New 
Haven  with  his  two  sons,  and  one  of  them  settled  in  Middle- 
town  and  the  other  in  Stratford.  This  is  an  error,  for 
Middletown  was  not  commenced  as  a  settlement  until  1650, 
and  this  John  Birdseye's  children  were  not  born  when  he 
came  to  America.  If  this  tradition  is  true,  it  must  have  been 
another  John  Birdseyc,  father  of  this  John,  which  may  have 
been  the  case.  The  tradition  still  in  the  family  is  that  two 
brothers  came  to  New  Haven,  one  settled  in  Wethersfield, 
who  had  a  family  of  daughters,  and  that  Joseph  Hawley,  the 
first  of  the  name  at  Stratford,  married  Catharine,  one  of 
those  daughters;  and  that  John  came  to  Milford  and  thence 
to  Stratford,  but  the  precise  year  is  not  known.  The  births 
of  his  only  children  are  recorded  in  Stratford,  John  in  1641 
and  Joanna  in  1642,  but  their  baptisms  are  recorded  in 
Milford  ;  and  he  and  his  wife  Phillis  (Phillipa)  were  dis- 
missed from  the  Milford  church  to  Stratford  church  in  1649. 


1 28  History  of  Stratford. 

It  seems  very  improbable  that  he  would,  under  the  circum- 
stances and  customs  of  those  days,  remain  at  Stratford  eight 
years  and  continue  his  membership  at  Milford,  and  therefore 
it  is  more  probable  Ihat  he  remained  at  Milford  until  1649 
and  had  his  children's  births  recorded  in  Stratford  after  he 
came  here.  The  time  of  her  death  is  not  known,  but  he 
married  a  second  wife,  Alice,  widow  of  Robert  Tomlinson, 
about  1688.  An  agreement  between  himself  and  her  in  1688 
respecting  property  is  on  the  probate  records. 

Both  of  his  children  survived  him.  Joanna  married 
Timothy,  son  of  William  Willcoxson  ;  the  latter  in  his  will 
in  165 1  refers  to  his  "  brother  Birdseye,"  whence  it  may  be 
inferred  that  either  William  Willcoxson's  wife  was  Birdseye's 
sister  or  Birdseye's  wife  was  Phillis  Willcoxson,  and  in  either 
case  John  Birdseye's  children  married  their  cousins,  for  John 
Birdseye,  Jr.,  married  Phebe,  daughter  of  William  Willcoxson. 

John  Birdseye  is  said  to  have  been  one  of  the  first  dea- 
cons in  the  Congregational  Church  of  Stratford.  His 
descendants  have  been  considerably  numerous,  widely  scat- 
tered and  of  honorable  position  and  standing  as  citizens. 
Victory  Birdseye  of  Onondaga  county,  N.  Y.,  son  of  the 
Rev.  Nathan  Birdseye,  became  a  member  of  the  Congress 
of  the  United  States. 

John  Birdseye  seems  to  have  married  Phillipa,  daughter 
of  Rev.  Henry  Smith  of  Wethersfield,  for  John  Blakeman, 
Jr.,  who  married  Dorothy,  daughter  of  Rev.  Henry  Smith, 
called  Birdseye  "  brother."  It  is  true  that  the  term  "  broth- 
er "  was  used  in  those  times  familiarly  in  public  documents, 
among  the  members  of  the  church,  to  designate,  simply,  that 
relation,  but  it  is  not  certain  that  it  was  used  in  this  sense  in 
wills,  where  definite  terms  are  supposed  to  have  been  used. 

4il — Isaac  'NicliolSf  son  of  Francis,  one  of  the  first  com- 
pany of  settlers  in  Stratford,  came  from  England  with  his  father 
and  became  a  prominent  citizen  in  the  town,  where  he  died  in 
1695.  He  was  a  deputy  to  the  General  Court  three  sessions  in 
1662  and  1665.  He  was  a  farmer  but  seems  to  have  dealt  some- 
what in  merchandise.  In  his  will  he  says  :  "  Concerning  my  In- 
dian servant  George,  I  give  him  to  my  wife  during  her  natural 
life."    His  descendants  are  scattered  far  and  wide  in  the  land  ot 


First  Settlers  of  Stratford.  129' 

freedom  and  prosperity.     Of  the  brothers  Caleb  and  John  a 
notice  will  be  made  further  on  in  this  book. 

Francis  NicholH  from  Enoland  was  in  Stratford  among 
the  very  first  settlers.  The  General  Court,  on  October 
10,  1639,  directed  "  Mr.  Governor  and  Mr.  Wells  to  con- 
fer with  the  planters  at  Pequannocke  [Stratford],  to  give 
them  the  oath  of  Fidelity,  make  such  free  as  they  see  fit, 
order  them  to  send  one  or  two  deputies  to  the  General  Courts 
in  September  and  April,  and  for  deciding  of  differences  and 
controversies  under  40  s.  among  them,  to  propound  to  them 
and  give  them  power  to  choose  7  men  from  among  them- 
selves, with  liberty  of  appeal  to  the  Court  here  ;  as  also  to 
assign  Sergeant  NichoUs  for  the  present  to  train  the  men  and 
exercise  them  in  military  discipline."  This  establishes  the 
fact  that  Francis  Nichols  was  in  Stratford  with  several  other 
families  in  1639,  and  that  he  was  the  first  military  officer  in 
the  plantation,  which  was  a  matter  of  considerable  distinction 
in  those  days,  and  it  indicates  that  he  had  become  somewhat 
acquainted  with  military  matters  before  coming  to  this 
country. 

He  died  in  1650  and  Ihe  inventory  of  his  estate  in  1655, 
on  Stratford  records,  was  £2^,  9s.  His  sons  were  Isaac, 
Caleb  and  John,  all  born  in  England.  His  widow  Anne  was 
the  daughter  of  Barnabas  Wines  of  Southold,  L.  I.,  and  she 
married,  2d,  John  Elton  of  that  place,  and  found  a  home  on 
one  of  the  most  healthy  islands,  with  the  most  charming 
climate  in  the  world. 

Thomas  Alsop^  born  in  161 5,  came  to  America  in  the 
Elizabeth  and  Ann  in  1635,  aged  20  years,  and  evidently  was 
one  of  the  first  settlers  in  Stratford,  where  he  died  1650- i, 
leaving  property  which  went  to  Joseph  Alsop  of  New  Haven, 
probably  a  brother.  Judge  Savage  thinks  that  John  Alsop, 
who  is  found  on  a  tax-list  with  Edward  Jackson  and  Thomas 
Child,  who  came  to  New  England,  and  William  Shakespeare, 
at  Stratford  on  the  river  Avon,  England,  in  1598,  was  the 
father  of  Thomas  Alsop  of  Stratford,  and  from  this  supposi- 
tion it  has  been  claimed  that  the  new  plantation  in  Connecti- 
cut received  the  name  oi  Stratford. 
9 


130  History  of  Stratford. 

William  Sophins  was  a  resident  in  Stratford  in  1640, 
and  in  1641-2  was  one  of  the  magistrates  at  the  General 
Court;  then  he  disappears  and  nothing  further  is  known  of 
him. 

Thomas  Thoi'nton  was  a  business  man  early  at  Wind- 
sor and  served  on  a  jury  at  Hartford  in  1643.  In  1646  there 
was  a  motion  before  the  General  Court  to  excuse  him  and 
his  men  from  training  because  "  by  having  his  men  suddenly 
taken  off"  from  work  '*  he  might  sustain  great  loss  ;"  but  we 
have  no  information  what  his  trade  or  business  was.  In  the 
spring  of  165 1  he  seems  to  have  been  at  Stratford  and  become 
acquainted  with  business  matters  in  Fairfield,  for  he 
"  affirmed  in  court  that  it  was  reported  there  were  a  hundred 
beeves  killed  in  Fairfield  last  year."  He  was  on  a  committee 
for  Stratford  in  1653,  with  Goodman  Groves  to  draft  soldiers. 
Lands  were  granted  to  him  by  the  town  in  September,  165 1. 

Hohert  Rose  was  of  Wethersfield  in  1639.  He  came 
from  Ipswich,  county  Suffolk,  in  the  ship  Frances  in  1634, 
aged  40,  with  wife  Margery,  aged  40;  children,  John,  15; 
Elizabeth,  13;  Mary,  11;  Samuel,  9;  Sarah,  7;  Daniel,  3; 
and  Dorcas,  2.  He  was  residing  in  Wethersfield  in  1639,  and 
was  constable  in  1640;  representative  in  1641,  '42  and  '43 ; 
removed,  says  Savage,  before  1648  to  Stratford,  which  is 
probable.  He,  and  not  his  son  Robert,  purchased  a  home 
lot  and  several  pieces  of  land  in  Stratford,  April  3,  1668,  of 
the  town,  which  had  been  John  Young's.  Nov.  3,  1685, 
Robert  Rose,  of  Stratford,  gives  his  son-in-law  Moses  John- 
son, of  Woodbury,  "  fifty  or  sixty  acres  of  land  granted  to  me 
b}'  the  General  Court  for  gratification  for  services  done  by 
me,  the  said  Rose,  in  the  Pequot  wars."  It  is  probable  that 
his  son,  Robert  Rose,  settled  at  East  Hampton,  L.  I.,  in  1650. 

John  Jentter  had  land  recorded  to  him  in  1652,  in 
Stratford ;  a  home  lot,  land  in  the  Old  field.  New  field, 
Nesumpaws  and  in  the  great  meadow.  Having  land  in  the 
Old  field  it  is  a  little  surprising  that  his  name  does  not  appear 
among  those  who  made  the  fence  around  that  field.  He  soon 
disappeared  from  Stratford,  but  his  name  is  found  with 
others  on  a  petition   to   the  General  Court  from  Cromwell 


First  Settlers  of  Stratford.  1 31 

Bay,  now  Setauket,  L.  1.,  in  1659,  asking  to  be  admitted  into 
Connecticut  colon3^ 

Jloses  Wheeler  was  at  New  Haven  and  had  land  pro- 
portioned to  him  in  the  first  division  that  was  made  in  that 
town,  which  occurred  between  the  years  1641  and  1643.  At 
that  time  his  family  consisted  of  two  persons,  which  must 
have  been  himself  and  wife,  and  his  estate  was  fift3^-eight 
pounds. 

There  is  nothing  definite  as  to  when  he  came  to  America 
or  from  what  part  of  England,  but  the  Wheeler  family  have 
been  residents  several  hundred  years  in  the  county  of  Kent, 
southeast  of  and  adjoining  to  London,  and  it  would  seem 
probable  that  he  came  with  the  New  Haven  Company  which 
came  from  London  ;  yet,  if  his  sister  married  the  Rev.  Adam 
Blakeman,  as  believed,  it  would  indicate  that  possibly  he  may 
have  come  from  another  county  than  that  of  Kent. 

In  May,  1648,  Moses  Wheeler  was  an  inhabitant  of  Strat- 
ford, for  at  that  time  Roger  Ludlow  presented  to  the  General 
Court  a  request  that  Mr,  Wheeler  should  be  allowed  to  keep 
a  ferry  at  Stratford,  and  the  decision  of  the  matter  being 
referred  to  the  next  Fairfield  Court,  the  request  was  granted. 
It  appears  from  these  records  that  the  ferry  was  then  already 
established,  and  the  application  to  the  court  was  to  secure 
the  privilege  as  legal  property. 

What  the  conditions  for  the  privilege  of  the  ferry  were 
is  not  stated,  but  seventeen  years  later,  Nov.  21,  1670,  the 
town  saw  fit  to  lease  to  "  Moses  Wheeler,  ship  carpenter,  the 
ferry  with  thirty  or  forty  acres  of  upland  and  six  of  meadow 
joining  to  the  ferry  for  twenty-one  3'ears,  without  tax  or  rate 
except  six  pence  per  annum  during  said  lease."  The  inhabit- 
ants were  to  be  "  ferried  over  for  one  half-penny  per  person, 
two  pence  per  horse  or  beast."  If  he  should  leave  the  ferr}'- 
at  the  end  of  twenty-one  years,  the  town  agreed  to  pay  him 
for  his  improvements  and  take  the  property.  By  the  will  of 
Moses  Wheeler,  Jr.,  proved  Jan.  23,  1724-5,  it  is  ascertained 
that  he  received  the  ferry  from  his  father  and  left  it  to  his 
own  son  Elnathan  Wheeler,  and  therefore  the  ferry  contin- 
ued in  the  same  family,  at  least  three  generations,  or  nearly 
one  hundred  years. 


132  History  of  Stratford. 

It  is  probable  that  Moses  Wheeler  was  the  first  ship 
carpenter  in  Stratford,  and  that  he  continued  to  work  at  his 
trade,  then  much  needed,  and  to  cultivate  his  forty-six  aCres 
or  more  of  land,  while  he  attended  the  duties  of  the  ferry 
many  years.  He  died  in  1698;  having  been  born  in  1598, 
therefore  may  have  been  the  first  centenarian  white  man  in 
New  England. 

Jfr.  SaTnuel  Sherman  purchased  in  Stratford  of 
Caleb  Nichols  a  house  and  lot  and  other  land  in  about  1650, 
and  became  one  of  the  substantial,  prominent  men  of  the 
town.  The  family  is  traced  back  into  England  by  the  Rev. 
Henry  Beers  Sherman,  of  Esopus,  N.  Y.,  and  the  Rev. 
David  Sherman,  D.D.,'  of  Hopkinton,  Mass.,  in  regular  suc- 
cession, to  the  beginning  of  the  sixteenth  century,  with  inter- 
esting notes  of  the  family  a  number  of  generations  anterior  to 
that. 

"The  family  is  of  German  extraction.  In  the  fatherland 
the  name  Sherman,  Schurman,  Schearmaun,  Scherman  often 
occurs,  and  was  doubtless  transferred,  many  centuries  ago,  to 
the  vicinity  of  London  by  the  Saxon  emigration,  where  it  still 
remains.  From  this  metropolitan  stock  a  scion  was  trans- 
planted to  Dedham,  county  of  Essex,  England,  which  long 
flourished  and  sent  forth  other  shoots.  The  name  is  derived 
from  the  original  occupation  of  the  family,  for  they  were 
cloth  dressers,  or  shearers  of  cloth.  The  family  at  Dedham 
retained  the  same  occupation  and  also  the  same  coat-of-arms 
as  worn  by  those  in  and  about  London. 

"  There  are  found  in  New  England  two  distinct  families, 
one  of  them  descending  from  William  Sherman,  who  came  to 
Plymouth  with  the  Pilgrims  about  1630,  and  settled  at 
Marshfield,  where  some  of  his  descendants  still  remain,  but  of 
his  place  of  birth  or  immediate  ancestry  nothing  is  known. 

"  The  other  is  the  Dedham  family,  a  branch  of  which 
emigrated  to  America  and  settled  in  the  vicinity  of  Boston. 
Of  this  family,  the  first  in  the  line,  and  perhaps  the  one  who 
emigrated  to  Dedham,  was  Henry  Sherman,  of  whom  but 
few  dates  or  facts  are  known,  except  that  he  bore  the  Suffolk 

*  See  New  England  Genealogical  Register  for  January  and  May,  1870. 


First  Settlers  of  Stratford.  133 

coat-of-arms  and  died  in  1589.  His  son  Henr}'  was  the  father 
of  Edmund,  the  first  emigrant  of  this  line  to  America.  He 
was  born  in  Dedham,  and  married  in  England,  in  161 1,  Judith 
Angier,  and  came  to  America  about  1632,  and  settled  in 
VVatertown,  Mass.,  whence  they  removed  to  VVethersfield, 
Conn,,  and  thence  to  New  Haven,  where  he  died." 

Samuel  Sherman,  born  in  Dedham,  England,  in  1618,  son 
of  the  above  Edward,  came  to  this  country  with  his  father 
and  was  in  Wethersfield  as  early  as  1637,  for  in  May  of  that 
3^ear  he  was  a  member  of  the  Committee  which  acted  as  the 
Court  when  war  was  declared  against  the  Fequots,  before  the 
General  Court  was  organized.  The  position  he  thus  occu- 
pied was  that  afterwards  denominated  an  assistant,  and  now  a 
senator;  the  title  he  bore  was  that  of  "  Mr."  and  this  when, 
according  to  the  dates  given,  he  was  only  nineteen  years  of 
age  ;  but  he  was  probably  twenty-one,  and  his  being  elected 
or  appointed  to  that  office  even  at  twenty-one,  assures  that 
he  possessed  superior  education,  or  he  would  not  have  been 
so  selected  from  a  score  of  others  capable  and  older,  his  own 
father  among  the  number. 

Mr.  Samuel  Sherman  was  elected  an  assistant  three  suc- 
cessive years  from  1662,  and  he  served  the  State  in  this  or 
some  other  capacity  so  profitably  that  the  court  granted  him 
"a  farm  of  two  hundred  and  fifty  acres  of  land  upon  New 
Haven  river  whereof  fifty  acres  may  be  meadow,  so  it  be  out 
of  the  bounds  of  the  town." 

His  next  service  was  upon  an  important  war  committee 
consisting  of  Mr.  Gould,  Mr.  Camfield,  Ens.  Judson,  Mr. 
Lawes,  Lt.  Olmstead  or  any  three  of  them,  for,  war  between 
England  and  the  Dutch  States  general  having  been  declared 
Feb.  22,  1665,  and  the  news  of  it  having  reached  the  colonies 
in  June  of  that  year  with  the  information  that  DeRuyter,  the 
Dutch  admiral,  with  a  considerable  force  was  to  visit  New 
York  City,  the  coast  on  Long  Island  Sound  was  divided  into 
three  districts  for  self-defence.  But  the  Dutch  admiral  did 
not  come.  This  news  of  war  dangers  produced  great  excite- 
ment among  the  people  on  the  coast. 

Liberty  was  granted  by  the  General  Court  May  9,  1672,  to 
'"Mr.  Samuel  Sherman,  Lt.  \Vm.  Curtis,  Ens.  Joseph  Judson 


134  History  of  Stratford. 

and  John  Minor,  themselves  and  their  associates,  to  erect  a, 
plantation  at  Pomperaug,"  which  grant  eventuated  in  the  set- 
tlement of  Woodbury. 

Mr.  Sherman  was  thus  a  valuable  as  well  as  a  prominent 
member  of  the  early  township  of  Stratford.  He  died  in  the 
year  1700. 

Henry  Tonilinson  was  in  Milford  as  early  as  1652  ; 
removed  to  Stratford  in  the  autumn  of  1656,  where,  April  i, 
1657,  he  purchased  of  Joshua  Atwater  a  house  and  lot  and 
several  pieces  of  land  and  became  a  permanent  inhabitant. 
Before  coming  to  Stratford,  in  June,  1656,  the  town  of  Mil- 
ford  brought  a  complaint  against  him  and  he  against  it,  as  to 
the  ownership  of  a  house,  both  claiming  it,  as  an  ordinar)-  or 
tavern  which  he  had  conducted  one  or  more  years  as  a  town 
officer,  and  the  town  charged  him  with  "  breaking  the  juris- 
diction order  in  selling  strong  water  at  a  greater  price  than 
is  allowed,  and  wine  and  dyet  at  (as  is  conceived)  immoderate 
prices,  whereby  the  town  suffers,  and  some  have  said  they 
never  came  at  the  like  place  for  dearness."  Soon  after  this 
Mr.  Tomlinson  removed  to  Stratford,  but  the  suit  was 
brought  in  court  several  times  until  the  spring  of  1659,  when 
it  was  again  put  over  until  the  next  October,  and  that  is  the 
last  that  is  recorded  concerning  it  except  as  it  came  up  in 
another  form.  The  Governor  of  New  Haven  had  rendered  a 
decision  of  small  penalty  against  Mr.  Tomlinson,  and  he  in 
turn  arrested  the  governor,  by  legal  process,  as  having  done 
him  a  personal  injury.  This  arrest  of  the  chief  magistrate  of 
the  colony  created  much  excitement,  and  after  two  hearings 
in  court  Mr.  Tomlinson  was  fined  iJ^ioo,  and  required  to  give 
bonds  in  that  sum  with  the  assurance  that  the  court  would 
"call  for  the  i^ioo  when  it  should  see  cause,"  and  there  the 
matter  stands  to  the  present  time,  so  far  as  the  records  show. 
In  Milford  he  was  not  a  member  of  the  church  and  hence  not 
a  voter,  and  this  may  have  had  something  to  do  with  the 
lawsuit. 

Henry  Tomlinson  came  from  England  with  a  wife,  two 
sons,  Jonas  and  Abraham,  and  several  daughters.  His  son 
Abraham  died  on  the  passage  hither,  and  his  son  Agur  was 
born  in  Stratford.     The  ti"adition  is  that    his    nephew  came 


First  Settlers  of  Stratford.  135 

with  him  to  this  country,  and  there  was  a  Robert  Tomlinson 
in  Milford  whose  wife  was  dismissed  from  the  church  in  Mil- 
ford  to  Stratford  Church  in  1653,  and  who  died  in  Stratford, 
and  his  widow  married  John  Birdsey,  Sen.,  about  1688. 

William  Tomlinson  was  accepted  an  inhabitant  in  Derby 
in  December,  1677,  who  is  supposed,  in  consequence  of 
several  favoring  facts,  to  have  been  the  son  of  this  Robert 
of  Milford  and  Stratford. 

Henry  Tomlinson  was  one  of  the  most  active  business 
men  of  Stratford  and  known  as  such  in  the  Colony.  He 
was  not  a  military  man  ;  he  had  no  title  to  his  name,  but 
was  a  farmer,  buying,  selling  and  cultivating  land.  In  1668 
he  and  Joseph  Hawley — another  land  buyer — purchased  a 
large  tract  of  land  in  Derb}^ — "  all  that  tract  of  land  lying 
upon  the  Great  Neck  near  unto  Pawgassett,  ....  for 
the  consideration  of  ;^6.  los.,'"  and  in  1671  he  and  others  by 
permission  of  the  General  Court  purchased  a  large  tract  of 
land  of  the  Indians  of  Weantinock — New  Milford. 

His  will  was  dated  in  the  winter  of  1680-81  and  proved 
April  28,  1681,  and  his  inventory  amounted  to  ;^5i8  i6s.  2d., 
besides  his  tract  of  land  at  Weantinock,  which  he  gave  to  his 
"two  sons,"  Jonas  and  Agur. 

The  old  Bible,  printed  in  1599,  which  Henry  Tomlinson 
brought  to  this  country,  is  still  preserved,  although  it  has 
removed  west  to  the  state  of  Michigan.  The  coat-of-arms 
in  a  painting  of  the  family  has  been  preserved  many  years 
through  the  care  of  Governor  Gideon  Tomlinson  and  his 
descendants. 

The  descendants  of  Henry  Tomlinson  have  been  promi- 
nent in  business  enterprises  and  professions  in  many  parts 
of  the  country. 

Mugh  Gi'ijfin  became  an  inhabitant  probably  about 
1654,  and  purchased  of  the  town  a  house  and  lot. 

John  Ferf/iisoii  purchased  land  in  Stratford  of  James 
Blakeman,  Nov.  28,  1660,  and  appears  to  have  been  a  resident, 
and  in  October,  1664,  sold  his  estate  to  Abraham  Wakeman 
and  removed  from  the  town. 

'  Col.  llec,  ii.  303, 


136  History  of  Stratford. 

Thomas  Beardsley  purchased  in  Stratford,  Feb.  7, 
1661,  a  house  and  lot  of  land  amounting  to  ten  acres  or 
more,  became  an  inhabitant,  and  died  Feb.  13,  1688.  How 
he  was  related  to  the  other  Beardsley  family,  if  at  all,  has 
not  been  ascertained. 

John  Heachf  son  of  Richard  of  New  Haven  (sa3's  Sav- 
age), perhaps  a  brother,  came  to  Stratford  and  bought  his 
first  land  here  May  21,  1660,  of  Ens.  Bryan  of  Milford,  "one 
house  lot  2  acres."     He  had  then  a  wife  and  four  children. 

In  January,  167 1,  he  was  made  an  auctioneer  by  the 
following  vote  :  "John  Beach  was  chosen  crier  for  the  town, 
and  to  be  allowed*  four  pence  for  every  thing  he  cries  ;  that 
is  to  say  for  all  sorts  of  cattle  and  all  other  things  of  smaller 
value,  two  years." 

Benjamin  Seachf  son  of  Richard  of  New  Haven,  came 
to  wStratford  a  single  man. 

Thomas  Quenhy  may  have  been  a  son  of  William 
Quenby,  had  a  home  lot  and  was  a  land  owner  in  Stratford 
about  1660,  and  removed  to  West  Chester,  N.  Y.,  about  1664. 

Francis  Jacoches  had  a  home  lot  in  Stratford  about 
1660,  but  disappeared  soon.  He  may  have  been  the  father 
of  William  and  Joshua,  who  were  in  Hempstead,  L.  I.,  in 
1682.     His  descendants  are  said   to  be  still  in  New  Haven, 

Conn. 

Jonas  Halstead  was  among  the  early  dwellers  of  Strat- 
ford, went  to  Jamaica,  L.  I.,  before  1660. 

JEdward  HUjhee  had  a  home  lot  in  Stratford,  but 
removed  to  Jamaica,   L.   1.,  before   1660. 

John  Harlow  had  a  home  lot  in  Stratford  about  1660 
and  removed  to  Fairfield. 


CHAPTER   VII. 


CONFLICTS,    WARS,    WITCHCRAFT. 


ONCERNING  the  toil,  endurances  and 
hope  through  which  the  settlers  of  Strat- 
ford, as  well  as  those  of  neighboring  plan- 
tations, passed  the  first  stage  of  their  pro- 
gress, it  is  difficult  to  write  without  com- 
miseration, gloom  and  indignation.  Com- 
miseration for  them  as  separated  from  their 
native  land  and  kindred,  the  greatness  of  their 
privations  and  toils,  and  the  enmity  with 
which  they  were  watched  by  the  natives 
around  them  ;  gloom  in  view  of  their  early 
dead,  and  general  want  of  knowledge  in 
order  to  adapt  themselves  to  the  untried 
conditions  of  life  to  which  they  were  sub- 
ject ;  and  of  indignation  at  the  outrage  of 
ecclesiastical  governments  which  drove 
them  to  renounce  their  manhood  as  to  conscience  and 
reason,  or  flee  from  their  native  land  into  an  untried,  unset- 
tled and  uncivilized  wilderness;  and  finally,  indignation  that 
these  commonly  intelligent  and  Christianized  men  should 
have  brought  with  them  so  much  of  the  superstition,  bigotry 
and  stupid  foolishness  of  the  old  country  as  they  did,  by 
which  they  were  lead  to  treat  the  natives  of  the  land  in  a 
barbarous  manner,  and  to  hang  poor  innocent  old  women  as 
supposed  witches.  However  execrable  some  of  their  beliefs 
and  practices  were,  they  brought  them  all  with  them  from 
Old  England  with  the  exception  of  a  very  few  items  taken  up 
anew  from  the  law  of  Moses.  They  came  here  with  the 
same  minds  and  principles  with  which  they  and  their  neigh- 
bors were  possessed  in  England,  with  one  grand  and  noble  ex- 


and 


138  History  of  Stratford. 

ception,  which  was  that  they  had  scarcely  put  their  feet  upon 
American  soil  before  a  great  light  of  freedom  shone  around 
them  and  at  once  transformed  them  into  independent  repub- 
lics;  the  like  of  which  had  never  yet  been  conceived  by 
mortal  man.  Suddenly,  as  the  comet  dashes  into  sight  from  its 
trackless  journey,  the  new  earth  spread  its  wide  and  fertile 
domain  to  a  coming  nation  of  liberated  and  enlightened  free- 
men ;  and  such  was  the  amazement  to  the  awakened  mind 
that  they  scarcely  dreamed  to  what  end  it  would  come,  only 
that  they  were  defiant  to  tyrants,  and  pledged  to  the 
improvement  of  the  grand  opportunities  spread  before  them 
until   '^further  light  should  coined 

With  such  a  comprehensive  view  of  practical  life,  destiny 
spread  before  them  the  grand  achievements  which  they  in 
due  time  organized  and  established,  and  into  the  glory  of 
which  we  have  already  in  part,  entered.  Hence,  in  view  of 
the  reward  we  now  possess  as  to  a  largely  enlightened  nation, 
it  is  unfitting  that  we  should  cast  a  disparaging  reflection 
upon  those  through  whom  we  possess  so  advantageous  an 
inheritance.  No  greater  eulogy  can  be  set  forth  concerning 
any  one  than  the  actualities  of  life,  for  anything  beyond  this 
dwindles  into  insignificance.  Therefore  we  proceed  to 
gather  the  items  now  scattered  far  and  wide  in  hundreds  of 
family  Bibles,  stacks  of  town  records  and  personal  manu- 
scripts, and  place  them  in  book  form  for  the  perusal  of 
thousands  of  interested  readers,  and  as  the  starting  point  for 
future  and  further  research  and  collections. 

How,  then,  did  these  wilderness  planters  make  such 
steady  and  marvelous  progress  under  the  new,  varied  and 
difficult,  as  well  as  discouraging  circumstances  around  them, 
during  the  first  twenty  years  of  their  Stratford  plantation? 

Wars  and  Rumors  of  Wars. 

In  a  preceding  chapter,  pages  55-60,  the  effects  upon 
Stratford  and  neighboring  towns  of  the  Indian  war  with  the 
Dutch  at  New  York,  which  began  in  1643,  has  been  carefully 
narrated,  and  only  a  few  things  remain  to  be  written.  The 
settlers  did  not  come  to  this  country  prepared  for  war,  but 
were  almost   wholly   without    implements  and   materials  for 


Wars  and  Rumors  of  Wars.  139 

such  a  conflict.  Neither  had  they  the  means  or  necessary 
appliances  for  making  war  materials  to  any  considerable 
extent,  and  therefore  they  were  to  a  great  degree  defenceless. 
One  of  the  first  things  they  did  in  Stratford,  after  fitting  up 
the  few  guns  they  possessed,  was,  according  to  tradition,  the 
fortifying  the  village  against  the  Indians,  by  building 
palisades.  This  was  done  by  setting  into  the  ground  wide 
slab-like  stakes  or  split  logs  and  posts  close  together,  from 
eight  to  twelve  feet  high,  making  a  palisade  fence,  from  the 
Housatonic  river  across  the  north  part  of  what  was  soon 
afterwards  known  as  Watch-house  Hill,  and  still  later 
Academy  Hill,  to  the  swamp  on  the  west  side  of  the  village, 
and  then  southward  as  far  as  was  necessary  to  secure  the 
settlers  from  a  sudden  attack  by  the  Indians.  In  later  years 
these  palisades  were  renewed  and  the  place  further  secured 
as  directed  by  the  General  Court  and  attended  to  by  a  Strat- 
ford town  vote. 

In  providing  for  the  safety  of  the  community,  soldiers 
were  drafted  and  placed  on  watch  during  the  nights,  and  at 
particularly^  alarming  times,  during  the  day,  and  for  the  con- 
venience of  these  soldiers  a  house  was  built  on  the  hill,  and 
hence  the  name  Watch-house  Hill.  From  this  hill,  when  the 
trees  were  not  half  or  a  quarter  as  numerous  as  now,  the 
whole  village  and  far  beyond  it,  could  be  overlooked  and  a 
careful  watch  kept  by  a  few  men. 

It  is  possible  that  as  early  as  1643  the  palisades  were 
built  so  as  to  inclose  a  small  territory  at  the  mouth  of  the 
creek  where  the  first  meeting-house  stood,  for  the  hill  a  little 
to  the  east  was  called  Guard  Hill  because  of  the  soldiers 
keeping  guard  there  at  a  very  early  period.  From  this  hill,  in 
1643,  a  careful  watch  could  have  been  kept  over  a  few  families 
— perhaps  twenty  or  tv.^enty-five — who  were  then  dwelling 
there. 

In  1649,  new  difficulties  arose  with  Indians  about  Stam- 
ford and  adjoining  plantations.  Forty-five  soldiers  were 
ordered  by  the  General  Court  to  be  drafted  and  placed  under 
Roger  Ludlow,  with  William  Hull  and  William  Beardsley  to 
assist,  but  the  war  passed  off  without  bloodshed,  although 
with  a  great  fright  to  the  people. 


140  History  of  Stratford. 

Added  to  this  at  this  time  was  the  great  Revolution  in 
England  which  resulted  in  the  execution  of  Charles  I.  and 
the  military  dictatorship  of  Cromwell,  which  in  effect  threw 
the  Colonies  upon  their  own  resources  of  sustenance  and 
military  defence,  and  furthered  their  ideas  of  personal  and 
Colonial  freedom,  although  they  had  not  the  least  thought  of 
independency  from  the  mother  country.  Stratford  above  all 
the  plantations  was  loyal  although  some  of  its  citizens  were 
among  the  most  pronounced  opponents  to  the  political 
claim  that  none  but  church  members  should  be  freemen  so 
far  as  to  be  allowed  to  vote  ;  for,  in  1663,  after  the  restoration 
of  Charles  II.  to  the  throne  and  the  officers  were  sent  to  this 
colony  to  arrest  Messrs.  Goff  and  VVhalley,  the  Regicides, 
Stratford  Constables  obeyed  the  order  of  search,  while  other 
towns  refused,  and  presented  a  bill  to  the  General  Court  for 
£6.  17^  i"^,  which  the  Court  refused  to  allow,'  and  probably 
the  bill  is  still  unpaid. 

In  the  year  1652  war  broke  out  between  England  and 
Holland,  and  it  at  once  was  expected  that  the  conflict  would 
be  extended  to  America  and  prosecuted  between  the  Dutch 
possessions  at  New  Amsterdam,  afterwards  New  York,  and 
the  New  England  Colonies.  Trumbull  says:  "The  com- 
mencement of  hostilities  this  year  between  England  and 
Holland,  the  perfidious  management  of  the  Dutch  Governor, 
with  apprehensions  of  the  rising  of  the  Indians,  spread  a 
general  alarm  through  the  Colony."^ 

In  May,  1653,  "the  Commissioners  of  the  United  Col- 
onies, who  were  at  this  time  in  session  at  Boston,  having 
'considered  what  number  of  soldiers  might  be  requisite  if 
God  call  the  Colonies  to  make  war  against  the  Dutch,  con- 
cluded that  five  hundred  for  the  first  expedition  shall  be 
the  number  out  of  the  four  jurisdictions,  and  apportioned 
this  number  to  the  several  Colonies  as  follows:  to  Massa- 
chusetts, 333;  to  Plymouth,  60;  to  Connecticut,  65;  to  New 
Haven,  42."^  At  this  time  also  England  sent  over  "a  par- 
cel of  arms  and  ammunition,  as  a  supply,  and  for  the  con- 
venience   of    the    United    Colonies,    and    ordered    "that    the 

'  Col.  Rec.  i.  393.  *  Trumbull,  i.  201.  ^  Col.  Rec,  i.  241. 


Wars  and  Rumors  of  Wars.  141 

same  should  be  divided  as  follows:  to  the  Massachusetts, 
^^309,  I7^  8^;  to  Plymouth,  ^^57,  14',  10";  to  Connecticut, 
£60,  6',  lo*^;  and  to  New  Haven,  £^0,  4^"  the  division  being 
made  according  to  tax  lists  of  the  several  Colonies. 

The  part  which  Connecticut  was  to  bear  in  this  cam- 
paign is  indicated  by  the  record  of  the  General  Court,  May 
21,  1653.  "The  Court  having  received  orders  from  the 
Commissioners  that  there  are  to  be  sixty-five  men  to  be 
prepared  forthwith,  to  be  at  a  day's  warning  with  provisions 
suitable  ;  the  Court  raiseth  the  men  out  of  the  several  towns 
of  this  Jurisdiction  as  followeth,  who  are  to  be  forthwith 
impressed  to  be  at  a  day's  warning  or  call,  as  also  that  suita- 
ble provisions  and  ammunition  shall  be  forthwith  prepared  : — 

Windsor,  12  Norwack,  i  Farmington,  5 

Pequett,  5  Hartford,  15  Seabrook,  5 

Mattebezek,  i  Wethersfield,  8  Fairfield,  8 

Stratford,  6  =  64.'* 

"The  officers  of  this  Company  that  the  Court  requires 
to  be  over  them,  are  as  follows:  Lieut.  Cooke  is  to  be  Com- 
mander in  Chief;  Lieut.  Bull  to  be  their  Lieutenant;  Lieut. 
Thomas  Wheeler,  of  Fairfield,  to  be  their  Ensign  ;  Richard 
Olmstead,  of  Norwocke,  to  be  a  Sergeant;  and  the  other  is 
to  be  chosen  by  the  officers  of  this  Company  ;  Hugh  Wells 
to  be  their  drummer." 

In  drafting  men  for  this  war  a  committee  was  appointed 
in  each  town  to  act  with  the  constable,  to  fill  which  Goodman 
Groves  and  Goodman  Thornton  were  appointed  for  Stratford. 

The  tax  list  for  Stratford  for  the  year  1654,  only  one  year 
later,  as  rendered  to  the  General  Court,  contained  seventy- 
four  tax  payers,  who  were  the  owners  of  land  or  heads  of 
families,  but  not  the  entire  number  of  the  inhabitants.  Hence 
this  draft  took  one  in  twelve  of  the  men,  and  this  while  a 
home  guard  or  watch  was  kept  for  self-defence,  just  in  plant- 
ing time  in  the  spring.  The  calamity  of  the  time  is  indicated 
by  the  General  Court,  June  25,  1653,  thus:  "It  is  ordered 
by  this  Court  that  there  shall  forthwith  be  presented  to  the 
Bay  the  present  distresses,  fears  and  dangers  that  the  English 

*  Ibid,  242. 


142  History  of  Stratford. 

bordering  upon  the  Dutch,  both  upon  the  Main  [land]  and 
Long  Island  are  in." 

After  these  preparations  for  war  had  continued  from 
May  until  September,  the  news  came  that  Massachusetts 
would  take  no  part  in  the  proposed  war  against  the  Dutch, 
which  decision  gave  great  offense  to  Connecticut  and  New 
Haven,  because  they  were  greatly  exposed  to  injury  by  the 
Dutch,  and  had  already  made  large  expenditures  for  the  war, 
while  Massachusetts  was  not,  and  had  not.  The  Court  of 
New  Haven  convened  October  12,  and  that  of  Connecticut 
November  25,  both  considering  that  the  Court  of  Massachu- 
setts had  willfully  violated  the  articles  of  union.  The  people 
at  Stamford  and  Fairfield  became  much  agitated  and  Capt. 
Underbill,  of  Greenwich,  sent  to  his  friends  at  Rhode  Island 
for  assistance  "and  with  such  Englishmen  as  he  could  obtain 
made  the  best  defence  in  his  power.'" 

Trumbull  says:  "  The  Dutch  at  New  Netherlands  waited 
only  for  a  reinforcement  from  Holland  to  attack  and  reduce 
the  English  colonies.  Of  this  both  they  and  the  English 
were  in  constant  expectation.  It  was  reported  and  feared 
that  when  the  signals  should  be  given  from  the  Dutch  ships 
the  Indians  would  rise,  fire  the  English  buildings  and  make 
destructive  work."  If  such  had  been  the  case  no  plantations 
would  have  suffered  more  than  Stratford,  Fairfield  and  Derby, 
for  here  were  by  far  the  greatest  number  of  Indians  except 
east  of  New  London.  But  fortunately  the  Dutch  fleet  of 
reinforcement  was  defeated  by  the  English  at  sea,  and  the 
Indians  remained  friends  to  the  settlers. 

It  was  from  the  midst  of  these  times  of  peril  that  some 
trouble  arose  concerning  Mr.  Roger  Ludlow,  the  staunchest 
and  ablest  man  as  a  lawyer  and  statesman  that  was  at  the 
time  in  Connecticut.  Trumbull  says:  "  Stamford  complained 
that  the  government  was  bad,  and  the  charges  unreasonable, 
and  that  they  were  neglected  and  deprived  of  their  jusf 
privileges.  They  sent  to  the  General  Court  at  New  Haven 
desiring  them  to  prosecute  the  war  against  the  Dutch,  re- 
solved to  raise  a  number  of  men  among  themselves,  and 
prayed  for  permission  to  enlist  volunters  in  the  several  towns. 

^  Trumbull,  i.  213. 


Wars  and  Rtiviors  of  Wars.  143 

"  The  town  of  Fairfield  held  a  meeting  on  the  subject, 
and  determined  to  prosecute  the  war.  They  appointed  Mr. 
Ludlow  commander-in-chief.  He  was  in  the  centre  of  the 
evidence  against  the  Dutch,  had  been  one  of  the  commission- 
ers at  the  several  meetings  at  Boston  relative  to  the  affair, 
had  been  zealous  and  active  for  the  war,  and  conceiving 
himself  and  the  town  in  imminent  danger  unless  the  Dutch 
could  be  removed  from  the  neighborhood,  too  hastily  accepted 
of  the  appointment.  Robert  Bassett  and  John  Chapman 
were  at  the  head  of  this  party.  They  attempted  to  foment 
insurrections  and,  without  any  instructions  from  authority, 
to  raise  volunteers  for  an  expedition  against  the  Nether- 
lands." 

This  insurrection  business  was  moonshine  in  the  eye  of 
the  historian,  of  which  there  probably  never  was  a  particle 
of  evidence.  Robert  Bassett  and  John  Chapman  with  the 
others  had  been  arraigned  before  the  New  Haven  Court 
about  eight  months  previous  for  speaking  against  the  New 
Haven  Colony  law  that  none  should  vote  except  church 
members,  which  was,  in  the  minds  of  some  of  those  in  au- 
thority at  that  time,  a  terrible  wickedness,  and  now,  when 
they  again  moved  with  energy  to  protect  the  plantations  to 
which  they  belonged  from  slaughter,  after  Massachusetts  had 
broken  its  agreement  and  left  these  towns  to  take  care  of 
themselves  or  be  annihilated,  it  was  thought  noble  to  make 
Roger  Ludlow,  Robert  Bassett  and  John  Chapman  the  scape- 
goats for  the  perfidy  of  others,  who,  although  vested  with 
authority  to  protect  the  people  and  ordered  to  it  by  the  home 
government  with  war  material  furnished  to  hand,  saw  fit  to 
sit  down  in  their  chairs  of  state  and  take  their  ease  at  the 
peril  of  the  whole  coast  of  Long  Island  Sound.  Had  the 
Dutch  fleet  escaped  the  English  on  the  ocean,  as  was  intended, 
there  might  not  have  been  left  a  living  man  on  the  coast  from 
Rhode  Island  to  the  New  Netherlands. 

No  wonder  Mr.  Ludlow  sailed  the  next  spring  for  Vir- 
ginia, and  Robert  Bassett  soon  removed  to  Hempstead,  L.  I. 

All  these  things  added  to  the  calamities  which  hindered 
the  toiling  planters  at  Stratford  as  well  as  elsewhere  through- 


144  History  of  Stratford, 

out  one  whole  year,  during  which  fortifications  were  estab- 
lished along  the  Sound  at  considerable  expense  of  money 
and  time,  worked  discouragement  in  the  minds  of  the  people^ 
when  in  September,  1654,  the  Commissioners  resolved  on 
war  with  the  Indian  Chief  Ninigret,  or  the  Narraganset  na- 
tion, and  for  this  expedition  soldiers  were  drafted  from  the 
several  plantations  in  the  following  October:  Windsor,  8; 
Pequot,  4;  Mattabeseck,  i  ;"  Norwalk,  o;  Hartford,  9;  Weth- 
ersfield,  6;  Farmington,  2;  Seabrook,  4;  Fairfield,  6;  Strat- 
ford, 5  =  45.  The  other  colonies  were  to  provide  as  follows: 
"Massachusetts,  40  horsemen  and  153  foot;  Plymouth,  41; 
and  New  Haven,  31."  A  part  of  this  force  was  to  be  "dis- 
patched with  all  expedition  to  the  Niantic  country,  and  the 
remainder  to  hold  themselves  in  readiness  to  march  on  notice 
from  the  commander  in  chief."  But  as  in  the  previous  case 
the  Massachusetts  General  Court  when  it  came  together, 
refused  to  take  any  part  in  this  war.  The  committee  to  draft 
the  men  in  Stratford  to  fill  this  order  was  Thomas  Sherwood 
and  Thomas  Fairchild,  with  the  Assistant  and  Constables. 

At  this, time  (October,  1654)  Connecticut  and  New  Haven 
fitted  a  frigate  of  ten  or  twelve  guns  with  forty  men,  to 
defend  the  coast  against  the  Dutch  (whom  they  had  so  def- 
erentially declined  to  fight  the  year  before),  and  to  prevent 
Ninigret  and  his  Indians  from  crossing  the  Sound  to  prose- 
cute his  hostile  designs  against  the  Indians  in  alliance  with 
Connecticut.  After  considerable  playing  war  by  the  Massa- 
chusetts Major  Willard,  who  finally  came  with  troops  as 
commanding  general  in  this  expedition,  the  whole  display 
ended  without  so  much  as  any  smoke  of  battle,  and  the  brave 
troops  returned  home,  while  Ninigret  flaunted  his  colors 
more  lively  than  ever. 

The  Connecticut  Court  allowed  its  soldiers  in  this  expe- 
dition pay  as  follows:  common  soldiers,  16^  per  day;  drum- 
mers, 20"^;  sergeants,  2^;  ensigns,  2^  6^;  lieutenants.  3^;  and 
stewards,  2*  per  day.'' 

This  proposed  Indian  war  again  awakened  fear  of  a  rising 
or  at  least  hostile  conduct  of  the  Indians  still  residing  in  for- 

^Middletown.  '  Col.  Rec,  i.  273. 


Witches  and  Witchcraft  145 

midable  numbers  in  and  near  Stratford.  Probably  not  less 
than  one  thousand  Indians  were  residing  in  Stratford,  Mil- 
ford,  Fairfield  and  Derby,  if  not  fifteen  hundred  ;  and  it  was 
not  an  infrequent  thing  for  individuals  and  families  to  have 
some  difficulty  with  the  Indians. 

Thus  matters  continued  as  to  the  outside  world  with 
only  now  and  then  a  report  of  trouble  with  Ninigret's  people, 
until  into  the  year  1656,  when  "The  Protector,  Oliver 
Cromwell,  having  conquered  Jamaica,  made  it  a  favorite 
object  to  remove  the  people  of  New  England  to  that  island; 
but  while  this  proposition  made  some  commotion  as  to  its 
importance  and  desirability  and  the  contrar}^  it  soon  ceased 
to  excite  interest,  and  the  people  remained  on  their  several 
plantations  to  improve  them  as  best  they  could. 

Witches  and  Witchcraft. 

Historically  speaking,  the  topics  of  witches  and  witch- 
craft are  to-day  treated  as  questions  of  undoubted  absurdity, 
demanding  only  pity  for  their  unfortunate  victims.  They 
are  also  often  ignorantly  spoken  of  as  the  inventions  of  the 
early  settlers  of  New  England,  whereas  they  had  been  more 
strongly  believed  and  cherished  in  England  hundreds  of 
years  before  New  England  was  discovered,  and  always  main- 
tained as  doctrines  taught  in  the  Bible.  The  New  England 
people  revived  a  few  old  Mosaic  laws  and  teachings,  but 
witches  and  witchcraft  were  none  of  them.  Two  eras  for  the 
mania  of  treating  these  matters  by  severe  penalties  of  law, 
passed  over  New  England,  but  suddenly  disappeared ;  the 
one  about  1650,  the  other  in  1692  ;  but  the  influence  of  a 
sentiment  or  legendary  stories  of  witches,  still  lives  through- 
out the  United  States  as  well  as  England,  Germany  and  other 
countries  on  the  globe.  Among  the  first  impressions  of  fear 
produced  upon  the  mind  of  the  author  of  this  book,  were 
those  resulting  from  seeing  "  witch  marks"  in  the  unfinished 
chambers  of  dwellings  in  the  western  part  of  Albany  county^ 
N.  Y. — his  native  place — which  region  was  settled  first  by 
the  Dutch,  and  afterwards  by  New  England  people,  in  the 
latter  part  of  the  seventeenth  century.  He  does  not  remem- 
ber having  ever  seen  a  dwelling  (and  he  saw  many")  built  by 

10  , 


146  History  of  Stratford. 

the  Dutch,  that  had  not  these  marks  on  the  inside  of  the  roof 
to  prevent  witches  from  troubling  the  family  ;  and  the  witch 
stories  of  his  boyhood  days,  represented  as  actual  transac- 
tions in  that  region,  were  almost  without  number.  This 
belief  as  developed  in  that  part  of  the  country  did  not  origi- 
nate in  New  England  but  came  with  the  Dutch  from  their 
native  land.  The  following  is  one  of  those  stories  related 
about  fifty  )^ears  ago,  as  stated  above,  and  is  given  as  illustra- 
tive of  the  beliefs  of  those  times,  and  also  as  showing  that 
witch  troubles  existed  elsewhere  besides  in  Connecticut  and 
Massachusetts. 

A  farmer's  wife  in  churning  cream  to  secure  butter,  spent 
several  hours  without  success,  and  gave  up  the  effort  as  use- 
less. Upon  her  husband  coming  into  the  house,  she  related 
her  fruitless  toil  of  the  morning,  when  he,  being  strongly 
impressed  with  the  thought  that  some  one  had  bewitched  the 
cream  out  of  envy  toward  his  family,  took  his  old  musket 
and  fired  a  full  charge  through  the  cream  and  the  bottom  of 
the  churn.  He  then  stopped  the  hole  made  through  the  bot- 
torh  of  the  churn  and  his  wife  with  a  few  minutes'  labor  fin- 
ished the  churning,  securing  the  proper  amount  of  butter;  but 
that  day,  at  the  time  of  the  shooting  an  old  woman  of  the 
place  was  taken  suddenly  with  a  fit  and  died  without  any 
apparent  cause,  and  the  matter  was  talked  of  as  though  the 
community  was  rid  of  one  witch.  Many  stories  were  told, 
particularly  to  the  effect,  that  children  and  young  people 
were  prostrated  by  sickness  for  weeks  and  years  by  the  envy 
and  spite  of  witches,  who  were  always  represented  as  being 
old  women. 

The  following  account  of  witch  troubles  in  Fairfield 
County  having  been  collected  with  great  carefulness  and 
expense  of  time  by  Major  W.  B.  Hinks  and  the  Rev.  B.  L. 
Swan  in  some  "  Historical  Sketches,"  printed  in  1871,  is  so 
complete  that  it  is  here  given  as  a  proper  historical  summary 
of  this  lamentable  delusion. 

"  It  will  doubtless  be  a  matter  of  surprise  to  many  to 
learn  that  any  trials  and  executions  for  this  imaginary  crime 
ever  took  place  outside  of  the  State  of  Massachusetts,  and 


Witches  and   Witchcraft.  147 

particularly  in  this  vicinity,  historians  generally  being  silent 
upon  the  subject.  Dr.  Trumbull  indeed,  in  the  preface  to  his 
history  of  Connecticut,  says  that  one  or  two  executions  at 
Stratford  were  reported  by  an  obscure  tradition,  and  that  this 
tradition  together  with  a  minute  in  Goff's  Journal  by  Gov- 
ernor Hutchinson,  respecting  the  execution  of  Ann  Coles,' 
'is  all  the  information  to  be  found  '  on  this  subject.  He  also 
adds  that  '  after  the  most  careful  research,  no  indictment  of 
any  person  for  that  crime  nor  any  process'  relative  thereto 
can  be  found. 

Omitting  all  mention  of  cases  in  other  parts  of  the  State, 
let  us  inquire  respecting  the  executions  stated  by  Dr.  Trum- 
bull, to  have  taken  place  in  Stratford. 

We  have  here  something  more  trustworthy  than  obscure 
tradition  to  guide  us,  for  in  the  month  of  May,  165 1,  the  fol- 
lowing order  was  passed  by  the  General  Court,  in  session  at 
Hartford : 

"  The  Governor,  Mr.  CuUick  and  Mr.  Clarke,  are  desired 
to  goe  down  to  Stratford  to  keep  Courte  upon  the  tryal  of 
Goody  Bassett  for  her  life,  and  if  the  Governor  cannott  goe, 
then  Mr.  Wells  is  to  go  in  his  room." 

That  the  Goody  Bassett  mentioned  in  this  entry  was  put 
to  death  as  a  witch,  cannot  perhaps  be  positively  demon- 
strated ;  but  there  is  strong  indirect  evidence  to  show  that 
such  was  the  case,  contained  in  the  minutes  of  a  trial  pre- 
served in  the  New  Haven  records.  In  this  trial,  which  took 
place  in  165 1,  one  of  the  witnesses  in  the  course  of  her  testi- 
mony referred  to  a  goodwife  Bassett  who  had  been  con- 
demned for  witchcraft  at  Stratford,  and  another  alluded  to 
the  confession  of  the  witch  at  that  place.' 

"The  place  of  her  execution  is  pointed  by  tradition  to 
this  day,  and  would  seem  to  be  determined  by  the  names 
"Gallows  Brook"  and  "Gallows  Swamp"  in  the  first  vol- 
ume of  Stratford  town  records.      The  former  was    a   small 


'Ann   Coles,   is  the  case  supposed   to  be  referred  to  in  Mather's  Magnalia, 
book  vi.  ch.  vii. 

'  Col.  Rec.  i.  220.  ^  New  Haven  Col.  Rec.  ii.  77-3S. 


148  History  of  Stratford. 

stream,  long  since  dried  up  or  diverted  into  another  channel, 
emptying  into  the  swamp,  a  portion  of  which  yet  remains,  a 
little  south  of  the  present  railroad  depot.  A  rude  bridge 
stoned  up  at  the  sides,  crossed  this  brook,  just  where  the  Old 
Mill  road  and  the  railway  intersect.  The  remains  of  the 
bridge  were  exhumed  by  the  workmen  about  thirty  years 
since,  when  the  railroad  was  graded  at  that  point.  At 
that  bridge,  uniform  tradition  states  the  execution  of  the 
witch  by  hanging  to  have  taken  place.  Near  by  where 
the  street  from  the  village  turns  off  toward  the  depot,  was, 
until  quite  recently,  a  small  quartz  boulder,  with  hornblende 
streaks  like  finger  marks  upon  it,  which  was  connected  with 
the  fate  of  Goody  Bassett,  by  an  ancient  and  superstitious 
tradition.  The  story  was,  that  on  her  way  to  the  place  of 
execution,  while  struggling  against  the  officers  of  the  law, 
the  witch  grasped  this  stone  and  left  these  finger  marks  upon 
it.  The  stone,  with  its  legend,  came  down  to  our  day,  but  a 
few  years  since  an  unromantic  individual  used  it  in  building 
a  cellar  wall,  not  far  from  the  place  where  it  had  been  lying. 

"  In  October,  1653,  about  two  and  a  half  years  after  the 
event  just  narrated,  the  General  Court  passed  another  resolu- 
tion in  the  following  words:  "  Mr.  Ludlow,  Mr.  Wells,  Mr. 
Westwood  and  Mr.  Hull,  are  desired  to  keep  a  perticulier 
Courte  at  Fairfield,  before  winter  to  execute  justice  there  as 
cause  shall  require." 

"The  unfortunate  person  on  whose  account  justice  was 
to  be  executed  was,  as  before,  a  woman,  charged  with  witch- 
craft. She  is  designated  simply  as  '  Knapp's  wife,'  or  *  good- 
wife  Knapp,'  in  the  only  account  we  have  of  the  proceedings  ; 
namely,  a  number  of  depositions  in  the  case  of  Thomas  Staples 
of  Fairfield,  who  in  the  spring  of  1654,  sued  Roger  Ludlow 
of  that  place,  for  calling  his  wife  a  witch.  It  is  not  impossi- 
ble that  goody  Knapp  may  have  been  the  wife  of  Roger 
Knapp  of  New  Haven,  who  removed  to  Fairfield,  although 
his  name  is  not  mentioned  among  the  residents  there  until 
1656,  His  son,  Nathaniel,  lived  in  Pequannock  in  1690,  and 
joined  the  church  afterwards  organized  there,  his  name  occur- 

*  Col.  Rec,  i.  249. 


Witches  and  Witchcraft.  149 

ring  frequently  upon  the  early  records  of  the  North  Church 
in  Bridgeport. 

"  The  trial  took  place  in  the  autumn  of  1653,  before  a 
jury  and  several  'godly  magistrates'  (the  same  probably  that 
are  named  in  the  order  of  the  General  Court),  and  doubtless 
lasted  several  days.  There  were  many  witnesses,  but  the 
indictment  and  the  substance  of  the  greater  part  of  their  tes- 
timony are  wanting.  We  learn,  however,  that  a  strong  and 
perhaps  decisive  point  against  the  accused,  was  the  evidence 
of  Mrs.  Lucy  Pell  and  Goody  Odell,  the  midwife,  who  by 
direction  of  the  Court  had  examined  the  person  of  the  pris- 
oner, and  testihed  to  finding  upon  it  certain  witch  marks, 
which  were  regarded  as  proof  positive  of  intimacies.  Mrs. 
Jones,  wife  of  the  Fairfield  minister,  was  also  present  at  this 
examination,  but  whether  as  a  spectator  or  as  one  of  the 
examiners,  is  not  clearly  stated. 

"The  jury  brought  in  a  verdict  of  guilty,  and  goodwife 
Knapp  was  sentenced  to  death.  After  her  condemnation  she 
was  visited  by  numbers  o'  the  towns-people,  who  constantly 
urged  her  to  confess  herself  a  witch  and  betray  her  accompli- 
ces, on  the  ground  that  it  would  be  for  the  benefit  of  her  soul  ; 
and  that  while  there  might  have  been  some  reason  for  her 
silence  before  the  trial,  since  a  confession  then  might  have 
prejudiced  her  case,  there  could  be  none  now,  for  the  reason 
that  she  was  sure  to  die  in  any  event.  "The  pains  of  perdition 
were  held  up  to  her  as  sure  to  be  her  portion,  in  case  of  a 
refusal. 

"  Upon  one  of  these  occasions,  the  minister  and  a  number 
ot  the  towns-people  being  present,  the  poor  woman  replied  to 
her  well-meaning  tormentors  that  she  '  must  not  say  an3^thing 
that  was  not  true,'  she  '  must  not  wrong  anybody,'  but  that 
if  she  had  anything  to  say  before  she  went  out  of  the  world 
she  would  reveal  it  to  Mr.  Ludlow,  at  the  gallows.  Elizabeth 
Brev/ster,  a  bystander,  answered  coarsely,  'if  you  keep  it  a 
little  longer  till  you  come  to  the  ladder,  the  devil  will  have 
you  quick,  if  you  reveal  it  not  till  then.'  '  Take  care,'  replied 
the  prisoner  indignantly,  '  that  the  devil  have  not  you  ;  for 
you  cannot  tell  how  soon  you  may  be  my  companion.'     '  The 


150  History  of  Stratford. 

truth  is,'  she  added,  'you  would  have  me  to  say  that  good- 
wife  Staples  is  a  witch,  but  I  have  sins  enough  to  answer  for 
already,  and  I  hope  that  I  shall  not  add  to  my  condemnation; 
I  know  nothing  against  goodwife  Staples,  and  I  hope  she  is 
an  honest  woman.'  She  was  sharply  rebuked  by  Richard 
Lyon,  one  of  her  keepers,  for  this  language,  as  tending  to 
create  discord  between  neighbors  after  she  should  be  dead, 
but  she  answered,  'goodman  Lyon,  hold  your  tongue,  you 
know  not  what  I  know;  I  have  been  fished  withall  in  private 
more  than  you  are  aware  of.  I  apprehend  that  goodwife 
Staples  hath  done  me  wrong  in  her  testimony,  but  1  must  not 
return  evil  for  evil.'  When  further  urged,  and  reminded  that 
she  was  now  to  die,  and  therefore  should  deal  truly,  she  burst 
into  tears,  and  desired  her  persecutors  to  cease,  saying,  in 
words  that  must  have  lingered  long  in  the  memory  of  those 
who  heard,  and  which  it  is  impossible  now  to  read  without 
emotion,—'  never,  never,  poor  creature  was  tempted  as  1  am 
tempted;  pray,  pray  for  me.' 

Yet  it  appears  that  her  fortitude  sometimes  gave  way, 
and  that  she  was  induced  to  make  a  frivolous  confession  to 
the  effect  that  Mrs.  Staples  once  told  her  that  an  Indian  had 
brought  to  her  several  little  objects  brighter  than  the  light  of 
day,  telling  her  that  they  were  Indian  gods,  and  would  cer- 
tainly render  their  possessor  rich  and  powerful  ;  but  that 
Mrs.  Staples  had  refused  to  receive  them.  This  story  she 
subsequently  retracted. 

"  The  procession  to  the  place  of  execution,  which  is 
stated  by  an  eye-witness  to  have  been  '  between  the  house  of 
Michael  Try  and  the  mill,'  or  a  little  west  ot  Stratfield  bound- 
ary, included  magistrates  and  ministers,  young  persons  and 
those  of  maturer  years,  doubtless  nearly  the  entire  popula- 
tion of  Fairfield.  On  the  way  to  the  fatal  spot  the  clergyman* 
again  exhorted  the  poor  woman  to  confess,  but  was  rebuked 
by  her  companion  Mrs.  Staples,  who  cried,  '  Why  bid  her  con- 
fess what  she  is  not  ?  I  make  no  doubt,  but  that  if  she  were  a 
witch  she  would  confess." 

"  Under  the  shadow  of  the  gallows  the  heart  of  Goody 
Knapp    must   again    have    failed    her,    for    being   allowed    a 

*  Rev.  John  Jones,  who  came  from  England  in  1635. 


Witches  and   WitcJicraft.  1 5 1 

moment's  grace  after  she  had  mounted  the  ladder,  she 
descended  and  repeated  her  former  trifling-  story  respecting 
Mrs.  Staples,  in  the  ear  of  Mr.  Ludlow,  her  magistrate.  If 
this  was  done  in  hope  of  obtaining  a  reprieve,  as  seems  likely, 
the  poor  creature  was  disappointed,  for  she  was  speedily 
turned  off  by  the  executioner,  and  hung  suspended  until  life 
was  extinct. 

"  When  the  body  had  been  cut  down  and  laid  upon  the 
green  turf  beside  the  grave,  a  number  of  women  crowded 
about  it  eager  to  examine  the  witch  signs.  In  the  foreground 
we  see  Mrs.  Staples  kneeling  beside  the  corpse,  and  in  the 
language  of  one  of  the  witnesses,  '  wringing  her  hands  and 
taking  ye  Lord's  name  in  her  mouth,'  as  she  asseverates  the 
innocence  of  the  murdered  woman.  Calling  upon  her  com- 
panions to  look  at  the  supposed  witch-marks,  she  declares  that 
they  were  naught  but  such  as  she  herself  or  any  woman  had. 
*  Aye,  and  be  hanged  for  them,  and  deserve  it  too,'  was  the 
reply  of  one  of  the  older  women  present.  Whereupon  a 
general  clamor  ensued,  and  seeing  that  there  was  now  noth- 
ing to  be  gained,  and  much  to  be  apprehended  if  she  persisted, 
Mrs.  Staples  yielded,  and  returned  home. 

Among  the  names  occurring  in  that  narrative  are  some 
like  Gould,  Buckly  and  Lyon,  that  are  common  in  Fairfield 
to  this  day.  The  Odells  and  Sherwoods  may  have  been  resi- 
dents of  Pequannock."  Mr.  Ludlow  saw  fit  to  repeat  the  story 
told  him  by  the  dying  woman,  and  to  further  assert  that  Mrs. 
Staples  had  not  only  laid  herself  under  the  suspicion  of  being 
a  witch,  but  "  made  a  trade  of  lying."  Hence  the  suit  already 
mentioned,  in  which  the  New  Haven  Court  had  the  good  sense 
to  give  a  decision  in  favor  of  the  plaintiff,  and  allow  him  fifteen 
pounds  damages. 

The  last  trial  in  the  State  of  Connecticut  for  the  crime  of 
witchcraft  took  place  in  Fairfield  in  1692,  the  same  year  in 
which  the  delusion  rose  to  such  a  fearful  height  in  Salem, 
Massachusetts.  Capt.  John  Burr,  one  of  the  magistrates  in 
this  trial,  was  the  father  of  the  principal  founder  of  St.  John's 
Church,  Bridgeport,  and  the  name  of  Isaac  Wheeler,  a  jury- 

*  There  were  no  settlers  at  Pequannock  as  early  as  1654. 


152  History  of  Stratford. 

man,  may  be  seen  upon  the  records  of  the  North  Congrega- 
tional Church  in  Bridgeport. 

Mercy  Disborough,  one  of  the  accused  persons  was 
from  Compo  or  Westport.  Three  others,  Elizabeth  Clawson, 
goody  Miller,  and  the  widow  Staples  were  indicted  at  the 
same  time.  The  last  named  may  have  been  the  same  person 
who,  as  we  have  seen,  was  suspected  of  being  a  witch  nearly 
forty  years  before.  The  following  extracts  show  the  compo- 
sition of  the  Court,  and  the  manner  of  conducting  the  trial. 

"  At  a  special  court  of  Oyer  and  Terminer,  held  at  Fayre- 
field,  September  19th,  1692.  Present,  Robert  Treat,  Esq., 
Govenour,  William  Jones,  Esq.,  Deputy  Govenour,  John 
Allyn,  Secretary,  Mr.  Andrew  Leete,  Capt.  John  Bur,  Mr. 
William  Pitkin,  Capt.  Moses  Mansfield,  (composing  the 
Court.) 

"  '  The  Grand  Jurors  impaneled  were  Mr.  Joseph  Bay- 
ard, Sam'l  Ward,  Edward  Hayward,  Peter  Ferris,  Jonas 
Waterbur)^  John  Bowers,  Samuel  Sherman,  Samuel  Galpin, 
Ebenezer  Booth,  John  Piatt,  Christopher  Comstock,  Wm. 
Reed;  who  presented  a  bill  of  indictment  against  Mercy  Dis- 
borough, in  the  words  following,  to  wit: 

"  '  A  bill  exhibited  against  Mercy  Disborough,  wife  of 
Thomas  Disborough,  of  Compo,  in  county  of  Fayrefield,  in 
colony  of  Connecticut. 

"  '  Mercy  Disborough,  wife  of  Thomas  Disborough,  of 
Compo  in  Favrefield,  thou  art  here  indicted  by  the  name  of 
Mercy  Disborough,  thal^  not  having  the  fear  of  God  before 
thine  eyes,  thou  hast  had  familiarity  with  Satan  the  grand 
enemy  of  God  and  man,  and  that  by  his  instigation  and  help, 
thou  hast  in  a  preternatural  way  afflicted  and  done  harm  to 
the  bodyes  and  estates  of  sundry  of  their  Majestie's  Subjects, 
or  to  some  of  them,  contrary  to  the  peace  of  our  sovereign 
Lord  and  Ladie,  the  King  and  Queen,  their  crown  and  digni- 
tie  ;  and  on  the  25th  of  April  of  their  majestie's  reigns,  and  at 
sundry  other  limes,  for  which  by  the  laws  of  God  and  this 
colony,  thou  deservest  to  die.'  John  Allyn,  Secretary. 

Fayrefield,  15th  September,  1662. 


Witches  and  Witchcraft.  153 

"  '  The  indictment  having-  been  read,  the  prisoner  pleaded 
not  guilty  ;  and  referred  herself  to  tryal  by  God  and  her 
countrie,  which  countrie  was  the  jury  after  written.' 

Names  of  the  petit  jury  : — James  Beers,  Isaac  Wheeler, 
John  Osborn,  John  Miles,  Ambrose  Thompson,  John  Hubby, 
John  Bowton,  Samuel  Hayes,  Eleazer  Slawson,  John  Belden, 
John  VVakeman,  Joseph  Rowland,' 

The  depositions  of  nearly  two  hundred  witnesses  were 
taken  in  this  case.  That  their  evidence  was  of  triflng  ch^irac- 
ter,  will  be  inferred  from  the  annexed  specimens,  and  these 
clearly  show  the  excited  state  of  public  feeling  at  the  time, 
that  such  accusations  were  the  means  of  putting  in  jeopardy 
the  lives  of  several  innocent  persons,  and  of  causing  the  sen- 
tence of  death  to  be  passed  upon  one.  Two  of  the  deposi- 
tions copied  here  relate  to  the  water  ordeal,  and  there  is  also 
evidence  to  show  that  the  persons  of  the  accused  were  exam- 
ined for  proofs  of  guilt." 

"  '  At  a  Court  held  at  Fayrefield  ye  15th  day  of  Septem- 
ber, 1692.  The  testimony  of  Hester  Groment,  aged  thirty- 
five  years  or  thereabouts,  testifieth  ;  that  when  she  lay  sick 
some  time  in  May  last  she  saw,  about  midnight  or  past,  the 
widow  Staples,  that  is,  the  shape  of  her  person,  and  the  shape 
of  Mercy  Disborough,  sitting  upon  the  floor  by  the  two  chests 
that  stand  by  the  side  of  the  house  in  the  iner  rume,  and  Mrs. 
Staples'  shape  dancing  upon  the  bed's  feet  with  a  white  cup 
in  her  hand,  and  performed  some  three  times.  Sworn  in 
Court,  September  15th,  1692. 

Attest :     John  Allyn,  Secretary. 

"'Edward  Jesop,  aged  about  twenty-nine  years,  testi- 
fieth ;  that  being  at  Thomas  Disburow's  house  at  Compoh, 
sometime  in  ye  beginning  of  last  winter  in  the  evening,  he 
asked  me  to  tarry  and  sup  with  him  ;  and  there  1  saw  a  pig 
roasted  that  looked  very  well,  but  when  it  came  to  ye  table 
(where  we  had  a  very  good  lite)  it  seemed  to  me  to  have  no 
skin  upon  it,  and  looked  very  strangely  ;  but  when  ye  sd.  Dis- 

'  Conn.  Col.  Rec,  iv.  76,  note.  Samuel  Sherman  and  Samuel  Galpin  of  Strat- 
ford were  on  the  Grand  Jury  which  found  a  true  bill  for  witchcraft  against  Mercy 
Disborough  in  September,  1692. 


154  History  of  Stratford. 

burrow  began  to  eat  it,  ye  skin  (to  my  apprehension)  came 
upon  it,  and  it  seemed  to  be  as  it  was  when  it  was  upon  the 
spit,  at  which  strange  alteration  of  ye  pigg  I  was  much  con- 
cerned.  However,  fearing  to  displease  his  wife  by  refus- 
ing to  eat,  I  did  eat  some  of  ye  pig  ;  and  the  same  time  Isaac 
Sherwood  being  there,  and  Disburrow's  wife  and  he  discours- 
ing concerning  a  certain  place  of  Scripture,  and  I  being  of 
ye  same  minde  that  Sherwood  was  concerning  ye  place  of 
Scripture,  and  Sherwood  telling  her  where  ye  place  of  Scrip- 
ture was,  she  brought  a  bible  (that  was  of  very  large  print,) 
but  though  I  had  a  good  light  and  looked  directly  upon  the 
book  I  could  not  see  one  letter;  but  looking  upon  it  while  in 
her  hands,  alter  she  had  turned  over  a  few  leaves,  I  could  see 
to  read  it  above  a  yard  off. 

"  Ye  same  night  going  home,  and  coming  to  Compoh 
creek,  it  seemed  to  be  high  water,  whereupon  I  went  to  a  can- 
nooe  that  was  about  ten  rods  off  (which  lay  upon  such  a  bank 
as  ordinarily  1  could  have  shoved  it  into  ye  creek  with  ease), 
though  1  lifted  with  all  my  might  and  lifted  one  end  from  the 
ground,  I  could  by  no  means  push  it  into  ye  creek  ;  and  then 
the  water  seemed  so  loe  y*  I  might  ride  over,  whereupon  I 
went  again  to  the  water  side,  but  then  it  appeared  as  at  first, 
very  high  ;  and  then  going  to  ye  canooe  again,  and  finding  I 
could  not  get  it  into  ye  creek  I  thought  to  ride  round  to 
where  I  had  often  been,  and  knew  ye  way  as  well  as  before 
my  own  dore,  and  had  my  old  cart  horse  ;  yet  I  could  not 
keep  him  in  ye  road,  do  what  I  could,  but  he  often  turned 
aside  into  ye  bushes,  and  then  went  backwards,  so  that  though 
I  kept  upon  my  horse  and  did  my  best  endeavour  to  get 
home,  1  was  ye  greater  part  of  ye  night  wandering  before  I 
got  home,  altho'  it  was  not  much  more  than  two  miles. 

Fayrefield,  September  15th,  1692.  Sworn  in  Court  Sep- 
tember 15,  1692. 

Attest :     John  Allyn,  Secretary. 

"  Mr.  John  Wakeman,  aged  thirty-two  years,  and  Samuel 
Squire,  made  oath  that  they  saw  Mercy  Disburrow  put  into 
the  water,  and  that  she  swam  upon  the  water.  This  done,  in 
Court,  September  15th,  1692. 

Test :     John  Allyn,  Secretary. 


Witches  and  Witchcraft.  155 

"  The  testimony  of  Abraham  Adams  and  Jonathan  Squire 
also  is,  that  when  Mercy  Disburrow  and  Elizabeth  Clawson 
were  bound  hand  and  foot  and  put  into  the  water,  they  swam 
like  cork;  and  one  labored  to  press  them  into  the  water,  and 
they  buoyed  up  like  cork.* 

Sworn  in  Court,  September  15th,  1692. 

Attest:  John  Allyn,  Secretary. 

"  Catharine  Beach,  aged  seventeen  years  or  thereabouts, 
testifieth  and  saith,  that  sometime  this  last  Somer  She  saw 
and  felt  goodwife  Clawson  and  Mercy  Disborough  afflict  her, 
not  together,  but  apart,  by  scratching  and  pinching  and 
wringing  her  body  ;  and  farther,  saith  that  goodwife  Clawson 
was  the  first  that  did  afflict  her,  and  afterward  Mercy  Dis- 
borough ;  and  after  that  sometimes  one  of  them,  and  some- 
times the  other  of  them  ;  and  in  her  afflictions  though  it  was 
night,  yet  it  appeared  as  light  as  noone  day. 

Sworn  in  Court,  September  19th,  1692. 

Attest:        John  Allyn,  Secretary. 

"  Having  taken  this  testimony  and  much  more  of  a  sim- 
ilar character,  the  court  adjourned  for  several  weeks.  On 
the  28th  of  October,  1692,  it  assembled  again  at  the  same 
place,  and  after  taking  further  evidence,  the  case  was  sub- 
mitted to  the  jury.  Elizabeth  Clawson,  goody  Miller,  and 
the  widow  Staples  were  acquitted,  but  a  verdict  was  returned 
against  Mercy  Disborough  of  '  guilty,'  according  to  the 
indictment,  of  familiarity  with  Satan.  Being  sent  forth  to 
consider  their  verdict,  the  jury  returned  saying  they  saw  no 
cause  to  alter  it,  but  found  her  guilty  as  before.  Their  ver- 
dict was  approved  by  the  court,  and  sentence  of  death  passed 
upon  the  prisoner  by  the  Governor.  It  seem.s  probable,  how- 
ever, that  she  escaped  this  fate,  and  was  pardoned,  with  the 
return  to  reason  which  followed  the  collapse  of  the  Salem 
delusion,  for  a  woman  named  Mercy  Disborough  was  living 


'The  water  test  was  the  process  of  binding  the  hands  and  feet  and  putting 
them  in  sufficient  water  upon  the  supposition  that  if  they  were  witches  they 
would  float  upon  the  water,  but  if  they  were  not  witches  they  would  sink,  and 
thus  prove  their  innocence. 


156  History  of  Stratford. 

in  Fairfield   in    1707,  and  is  named   as  one  of  the  executors 
upon  the  estate  of  her  husband  Thomas." 

Witchcraft  in  Co?inectictit. — Authentic  Records. 

1648-9.  Mary  Johnson  of  Windsor  was  executed  at  Hart- 
ford, which  was  the  first  case  in  New  England.'* 
165 1.  Goody  Bassett  executed  at  Stratford.'^ 
1653.  Goodwife  Knapp  executed  at  Fairfield.^ 
1653,  Elizabeth  Goodman  of  New  Haven  accused.*^ 

1657.  Thomas  Mullener  of  New  Haven  accused.® 

1658.  Goodwife  Garlick  of  East  Hampton,  L.  I.  was 
tried  at  that  place  and  sent  to  and  tried  at  Hartford  and 
acquitted.^ 

1659.  Mr.  Willis  and  Dept.  Governor  Mason  are  ordered 
by  the  Court  to  investigate  a  case  of  "witchery"  at  Say- 
brook.^ 

1662.  Greensmith  and  his  wife  executed  at  Hartford  and 
two  others  fly  from  the  country .'^ 

1663.  Elizabeth  Seager  was  indicted  in  Hartford  for 
witchcraft,  but  convicted  of  adultery  on  another  count  in  the 
indictment.  She  was  tried  again  in  June,  1665,  and  found 
guilty,  but  the  court  set  aside  the  verdict,  for  informality.^ 

1670.  Catharine  Harrison  of  Wethersfield  tried  and  con- 
victed of  witchcraft  at  Hartford,  but  allowed  to  pay  costs 
and  leave  the  town.'' 

"  Winthrop,  vol.  ii.  374.  Col.  Rec.  i.  143,  171,  and  Savage's  Genealogical 
Dictionary,  article  Johnson. 

''  Conn.  Col.  Rec,  i.  220.     New  Haven  Col.  Rec,  ii.  8i. 

"=  New  Haven  Col.  Rec,  ii.  77-84.  Conn.  Col.  Rec,  i.  249.  Kingsley's  Hist. 
Discourse. 

^  New  Haven  Col.  Rec,  ii.  29,  151. 

*  New  Haven  Col.  Rec,  ii.  224. 

"■Conn.  Col.  Rec,  i.  573.     Doc.  Hist,  of  New  York,  i.  683. 

g  Conn.  Col.  Rec,  i.  338. 

''  Mather's  Magnalia,  ii.  book  6,  p.  390  ;  Remark  Prov.  Chap.  5. 

'  Winthrop,  ii.  374. 

''Conn.  Col.  Rec,  ii.  132,  note. 


SonictJiing  besides    IVitcJies.  1 5  7 

1671.  False  accusations  made  by  Elizabeth  Knapp  of 
Groton.' 

1692.  Trial  of  Disborough,  Clason,  Miller  and  Staples  at 
Fairfield,  and  the  first  convicted  and  sentenced.'" 

1694.  "  VVinfield  Benham,  Sen.  and  his  son  VVinfield 
Benham,  Jr.  were  charged  with  witchcraft  at  VVallingford, 
but  the  Grand  Jury  refused  to  find  an  inditement."" 

Iniprovernents  for  the  Public. 

Public  improvements,  in  the  early  settlement  were  con- 
fined more  strictly  to  the  things  absolutely  needful  for  the 
general  success  and  advantage,  and  this  not  because  the 
settlers  could  not  appreciate  the  artistic  and  beautiful  but 
because  of  the  straitened  circumstances  in  which  they  were 
placed.  Of  their  ability  to  appreciate  elegance  and  culti- 
vated taste  there  is  sufficient  evidence  in  the  laying  out  the 
village  plot  and  its  subsequent  improvement.  The  first  loca- 
tion of  the  company  which  came  from  Wethersfield,  consist- 
ing according  to  tradition,  of  fourteen  or  fifteen  families,  was 
around  or  near  Sandy  Hollow  where  the  first  meeting-house 
was  erected;  then  with  much  deliberation,  apparently,  they 
arranged  and  laid  out  the  plan  of  the  village  by  opening  the 
highways,  very  much  as  they  are  to-day,  only  the  streets  at 
first  were  somewhat  wider;  especially  Front  street,  now  Elm. 

The  first  record  found  in  regard  to  public  convenience, 
is  concerning  a  ferry  :  "  The  motion  made  by  Mr.  Ludlow,, 
concerning  Moses  Wheeler  for  keeping  the  Ferry  at  Strat- 
ford, is  referred  to  such  as  shall  keep  the  next  court  at  Fayer- 
field,  both  in  the  behalf  of  the  Country  and  the  Town  of 
Stratford.""  The  Fairfield  Court  gave  a  favorable  order,  for 
the  ferry  was  established,  and  running  as  appears  by  the  fol- 

'  Mather's  Magnalia,  ii.  book  6,  p.  390. 

"  Conn.  Col.  Rec.  iv.  76  note,  and  79.     T.  Lord's  Scrap-book. 

°  The  authorit}'  for  this  reported  case  has  not  been  seen.  Mr.  C.  H.  Hoadly. 
in  preface  to  Col.  Rec,  vol.  vi.  says,  there  was  but  one  subsequent  indictment, 
nannely,  that  of  two  females  in  Wallingford  in  October,  1697,  upon  which  the 
Grand  Jury  returned,  "  ignoramus." 

°  Col.  Rec,  i.  163. 


158  Hist 01' y  of  Stratford, 

lowing  town  record  :  "April  14,  1653.  In  consideration  that 
the  passage  to  the  ferry  was  stopped  up  the  town  gave  order 
to  the  townsmen  to  pull  up  the  fence  and  make  way  for  pas- 
sengers where  they  had  laid  out  the  way  formerly  and  they 
promised  to  bear  them  out  in  that  act."  The  ferry  continued 
in  the  Wheeler  family  three  generations  at  least. 

A  mill  to  grind  grains  was  one  of  the  first  public  improve- 
ments, and  being  attended  to  before  the  year  1650,  the  present 
records  contain  no  account  of  the  time,  or  manner  of  building 
it,  but  a  record  of  Nov.  7,  1671,  informs  us  that  it  was  in 
existence,  for  a  division  of  the  land  between  the  mile-path 
and  the  fence  "  was  ordered.  The  mill  was  a  tidewater  mill 
and  stood  on  Nesumpavvs  creek,  southwest  of  the  village  of 
Stratford,  probably,  on  the  east  side  of  the  creek. 

In  1652,  the  town  by  vote  made  a  proposition  for  another 
mill,  and  John  Hurd  and  Thomas  Sherwood  entered  upon  the 
work,  and  two  years  later  the  enterprise  was  established  as 
follows:  "Jan.  5,  1654.  John  Hurd  and  Thomas  Sherwood  in 
consideration  of  the  expense  laid  out  for  the  making  and 
keeping  a  mill  to  grind  the  town's  corn,  do  require  the  town 
to  give  them  forty  acres  of  upland  lying  as  near  the  mill  as 
may  be,  bounded  as  foUoweth  ;  the  creek  eastward  of  it,  the 
common  highway  on  the  north,  the  commons  west  and  south- 
ward ;  and  three  spots  of  meadow  a  little  belo^vv  the  mill ;  all 
which  is  granted  by  the  said  townsmen. 

Philip  Groves,  ]  JOHN    HURD, 

Thomas  Fairchild,   I  ThOMAS   ShERWOOD." 

Richard   Butler,       ^  townsmen. 
John  Wells.  j 

These  items  were  all  according  to  the  proposition  made 
by  the  town,  in  1652,  and  the  mill  stood  at  what  is  now  the 
east  end  of  Old  Mill  Green.  The  town  required  that  the 
land  should  not  be  sold  from  the  mill ;  that  if  either  partner 
desired  to  sell  the  property,  he  should  give  the  town  the  first 
chance  to  buy  ;  and  that  the  millers  who  were  to  have  the 
sixteenth  part  of  the  corn  they  should  grind,  should  use  a 
measure  provided  by  the  town — "  an  even  and  just  measure," 
so  that  "  when  it  was  stricken  it  may  be  just  the  sixteenth 
part  of  a  bushel." 


Iinprovcments  fo?'  the  Public.  150 

JPublir  ScJiool  was  another  enterprise  entered  upon  b}"- 
town  vote  to  the  following  effect: 

"  1650.  It  was  agreed  by  the  town  that  they  would  give 
£^6  by  the  year  to  a  schoolmaster,  the  town  to  bear  one-half 
and  the  parents  of  the  children  the  other  half."  The  same 
vote  was  passed  the  next  year,  and  the  same  enterprise  has 
characterized  the  township  to  the  present  day. 

A  proposition  having  been  presented  to  the  Commission- 
ers of  the  United  Colonies  in  1644  to  take  collections  yearly 
for  the  "  poor  scholars  at  Cambridge,"  it  was  approved  by 
all,  and  committees  were  appointed  for  each  town  in  Con- 
necticut, and  that  for  Stratford  consisted  of  William  Judson 
and  John  Hurd.  Thus  early  and  benevolently  did  the  plan- 
tations unite  in  efforts  for  general  education  ;  and  the  higher, 
classical  schools  as  well,  for  where  these  latter  are  neglected 
the  others  are. 

The  first  select  school  of  the  place  was  inaugurated, 
probably,  in  obedience  to  a  town  vote,  March  17,  1670,  "that 
the  present  townsmen  shall  endeavor  b}^  inquiry  to  see  if 
there  be  children  sufficient  in  the  town  whose  parents  are 
free  to  place  them  to  school,  that  there  may  be  encourage- 
ment to  endeavor  the  obtaining  a  schoolmaster  and  endeavor 
to  procure  either  Mr.  Mitchell,  Mr.  Benj.  Blakeman,  John 
Minor,  or  an}-  other  suitable  person." 

Taxes  were  of  small  amount  compared  with  those  of  the 
present  day,  but  were  very  burdensome  at  the  time;  and 
were  paid  in  produce  and  not  in  money  ;  the  produce  was 
shipped  to  Boston,  New  York,  Barbados  and  the  West 
Indies.  Barbados  was  the  principal  market  for  grains  out- 
side of  the  coast,  and  Alexander  Bryan,  of  Milford,  was  the 
great  shipping  merchant  for  thirt}^  or  more  years  from  the 
settlement  of  Milford  in  1639.  There  was  no  leading  shipping 
merchant  at  Stratford  ;  the  man  who  approached  nearest  to 
it  was  Joseph  Hawley,  followed  more  prominently  by  his 
son,  Samuel  Hawley,  a  few  years  later. 

The  taxes  were  accepted  in  grains,  and  hence  the  gov- 
ernment fixed  the  price  of  each  yearly,  and  that  price  was 
the  standard  for  exchange  and  private  dealings. 


i6o  Htstojy  of  Stratford. 

Stratford  was  not  taxed,  probably,  for  the  general  gov- 
ernment until  1645,  and  for  several  years  afterwards  Stratford 
and  Fairfield  rates  were  collected  together,  or  as  of  one  plan- 
tation. The  General  Court  order  in  1646,  that  the  rates  of 
Stratford  and  Fairfield  should  be  divided,  but  they  were 
reported  together  after  that.' 

The  assessment  for  Taxes  by  the  Connecticut  Colon)',  May  9,  1647,  was  for 
;^I50,  and  Hartford,  Windsor,  Wethersfield.  Seabrook  and  Farmington,  only,  are 
mentioned  in  the  list. 

Grand  List  of  Connecticut,   fan.  2^,  1648. 

Hartford _ ;^35  :  10         Farmington, ;^  8  :  00 

Windsor 24:10        Long  Island,.. 5:00 

Wethersfield, 24:00         Fairfield  and  Stratford, 20:00 

Seabrook, . 8:00 

Grand  List  of  Contiecticut,  October,  i6^j. 

Hartford,  — -.;,^22404  :  19         Seabrooke, ^4150. 

Windsor, 15435  Fairfield, 8895:3 

Wethersfield, 12748  Stratford,.. 7118:8:6 

Farmington, 4741  

;^75492  :  10  : 6 

G7'and  List  of  Connecticut  for  the  year  16^2,   October. 

Hartford, ;if  19733  :  19         Seabrooke, ;;^3630  :  00 

Wyndsor, 14093:00         Stratford, 7040:19 

Wethersfield, 11499:00         Fairfield, 8850:15 

Farmington, 5164:00  

;^700ir  :  13 

Gratid  List  of  Connecticut  for  October,  i6_$j, 

Hartford, ;,fi9749         Norwake,   ;^I968 

Windsor, 15084         Matabezek, 1501 

Wethersfield, 12243         Pequet,. _ 3334 

Farmington, 5157         Fairfield, 8822 

Seabrook 4268         Stratford 7450:19 

Stratford  Marhor^  or,  according  to  the  more  recent 
name,  Mack's  Creek,  from  a  negro  of  that  name  who  made  it  his 
business  to  gather  and  sell  oyster  shells  to  make  lime — there 
being  no  stone  lime  in  that  place  at  that  time.  His  daily 
work  was  to  go  down  the  harbor  and  obtain  a  canoe  load  of 
shells  and  return,  and  in  this  way  keep  a  supply  for  sale  on 

'For  comparison,  the  Grand  Lists  of  Connecticut  for  a  few  years  are  here 
given. 


hiipro-vi'tnciits  for  the  /^iiblic.  i6i 

the  north  point  at  the  mouth  of  this  creek,-  and  hence  the 
name  Shellkeep  Point,  as  the  locality  is  still  called. 

At  first  there  was  deep  water  at  the  mouth  of  this  creek, 
but  the  building  of  the  wharf  into  the  channel  of  the  river,  a 
quarter  of  a  mile  north,  turned  the  current  so  that  it  became 
muddy  south  of  the  wharf  down  to  the  mouth  of  the  creek, 
and  hence  all  the  sedge  grass  land  at  that  place  has  been 
made  since  the  settlement  began.  This  creek  was  once  so 
deep  that  Capt.  Gorham  used  to  winter  his  schooner  of 
200  tons  burthen  in  it.  He  lived  on  the  corner  of  the 
high  ground  a  few  rods  north  of  the  creek,  the  point  now 
called  Prospect  Hill.  On  this  site  Mr.  Nathan  B,  McEwen,'" 
a  descendant  of  Capt.  Gorham,  was  born  April  23,  1806,  and 
from  whom  a  number  of  interesting  facts  and  historical 
narratives  have  been  obtained. 

Sometime  before  the  year  1800  a  dyke  was  made  across 
this  creek  so  that  the  water  could  not  pass,  but  so  much 
sickness  of  dysentery  and  typhus  fever  followed,  that  in  1805 
the  town  voted  to  remove  it,  and  leave  the  creek  open. 
After  it  was  opened  and  the  salt  water  let  in,  there  came  to 
the  surface  out  of  this  ground  great  quantities  of  worms,  and 
their  decay  caused  more  sickness  than  had  been  before,  but 
after  that  year  the  sickness  ceased.  In  i860  the  dyke  was 
again  built  and  afterwards  in  dry  summers  there  was  consid- 
erable sickness  as  before,  for  a  few  years,  along  the  line  of 
the  creek. 

This  harbor  was  a  place  of  great  importance  for  many 
years,  it  being  the  only  place  along  the  river  where  vessels 
could  find  a  safe  retreat  in  an  easterly  storm.  The  Housa- 
tonic  river  (Indian  name  was  Pootatuck)  was  a  broad  sheet 
of  water,  with  very  little  if  any  meadow  or  sedge  grass  along 
its  banks,  and  one  island  in  it,  which  was  granted  by  the  town 
to  Nicholas  Knell,  for  meadow,  in  about  1650,  and  which  still 
bears  his  name,  but  it  was  then  much  smaller  than  now, 
according  to  tradition.  It  has  been  stated  that  the  island 
was  not  there  when  the  whites  first  came,  but  that  is  suffi- 
ciently refuted  by  the  town  record  of  its  grant  to  Mr.  Knell. 

'•>  Manuscript  of  Mr.  Nathan  li.  McEwen. 
II 


1 62  History  of  Stratford. 

This  harbor  was  particularly  advantageous  in  consequence  of 
the  small  sized  boats  used  at  first  and  for  nearly  two  hundred 
years.  Boats  were  very  few  for  many  years,  but  canoes  were 
common,  being  made  of  one  pine  log,  the  inside  being  cut  out, 
sometimes  three  feet  wide  and  from  fifteen  to  thirty  feet  in 
length.  These  canoes  were  quite  convenient  as  oyster  boats 
and  for  fishing,  and  were  in  demand  until  fifty  years  ago.  As 
late  as  1825  many  were  made  in  the  northern  and  western 
part  of  the  State  of  New  York  and  floated  down  the  Erie 
canal  and  Hudson  river  and  brought  to  New  Haven  where 
they  brought  from  sixty  to  one  hundred  dollars  each,  some  of 
them  being  thirty  feet  in  length  and  without  a  knot  in  them. 
The  oysters  were  very  plenty  in  the  Housatonic  river  from 
where  the  old  Washington  bridge  stood  to  the  Sound,  in 
water  from  twelve  to  twenty  feet  deep,  the  longest  handles 
'to  the  rakes  being  twenty-two  feet,  and  the  number  of  bush- 
els taken  out  in  a  day  being  sometimes  fift}^  Mr.  Nathan  B. 
McEwen  remembers  that  one  man  made  a  bet  that  he  could 
take  out,  in  twelve  feet  of  water,  in  a  day,  one  hundred  bush- 
els, but  lost  his  bet  by  only  a  few  bushels.  The  oysters  then 
were  very  large  and  of  rare  quality.  The  shells  still  dug  up 
from  two  feet  under  ground,  where  the}^  were  deposited  by 
the  Indians,  show  their  very  large  size  and  the  gravelly 
bottom  on  which  they  grew,  for  some  of  them  are  very 
rough  or  full  of  indentures  made  by  growing  on  a  gravelly 
bed.  The  oysters  from  here  were  sold  in  Boston,  New  York 
and  other  cities  as  of  the  best  quality.  The  immense  quanti- 
ties of  shells  left  by  the  Indians  in  the  fields  a  little  back  from 
the  western  shore  near  the  mouth  of  the  river  indicate  the 
Indian's  appreciation  of  oysters  for  many  generations,  but  the 
oysters  now  opened  in  one  year  at  Stratford  leave  more 
shells,  probably,  than  all  left  in  all  past  time  by  the  Indians. 

Hatxdy  HoJloWf  near  Mack's  Creek,  was  quite  a  hollow 
extending  west  some  distance,  which  is  called  Sandy  Hollow 
because  the  sand  was  deep,  at  first,  and  the  tide  came  up  the 
hollow,  frequently,  some  distance.  This  has  been  filled  by 
taking  off  the  hill  east  during  the  many  years  that  have 
passed  since  the  first  settlement. 


Iiiiprovciiunts  for  the  Public.  i6 


GuiU'd  ItilU  directly  in  front  of  South  avenue,  on  llie  east 
side  oi  Front,  or  I^lm  street,  was  cjuite  a  hill,  higher  than  at 
present,  which  was  called  Guard  Hill  at  the  time  of  the  first 
settlement  because  it  was  the  parade  ground  or  rendezvous 
for  the  guards  or  soldiers  on  watch  against  any  attacks  by 
the  Indians.  The  hill  extended  north  some  distance  from  the 
creek,  forming  quite  a  plateau,  terminating  at  the  creek  in  a 
high  bluff  of  soft  sand,  which  was  a  noted  place  for  athletic 
sports,  specially  of  running  and  jumping,  and  for  children  to 
ride  down  on  sleds.  The  first  meeting  house  stood  at  the 
west  end  of  this  high  bank,  as  elsewhere  described. 

Liittle  Neck  lay  at  the  south  of  Mack's  Creek,  and  was 
formed  by  a  tide  creek  on  the  west  which  was  originally  of 
considerable  depth.  The  north  end  of  this  neck  was  owned, 
at  first,  so  far  as  the  records  now  show,  by  Thomas  Uffoot 
and  by  him  was  sold  in  1661  to  Nicholas  Gray,  from  Flush- 
ing, Long  Lsland,  who  had  a  tide-mill  where  the  lane  or 
highway  crosses  Little  Neck  creek,  and  to  him  the  town 
granted,  in  167 1,  another  piece  of  land  adjoining  on  the  south 
if  he  should  maintain  his  dam  wide  enough  for  a  passable 
highwa)^ 


CHAPTER  VIII. 


THE    CHURCH    OF   CHRIST    IN 


STRATFORD. 


HE  earliest  mention  of  this  Church  now  dis- 
fl,-  coverable  is  in  a  vote  by  the  Milford  Church 
to  invite  the  attendance  of  the  Stratford 
Church  and  its  aid  on  the  occasion  of  ordain- 
ing "  Bro.  Whitman "  as  a  ruling  elder. 
The  elders  of  the  Church  in  New 
Haven  were  also  invited  and  were  pres- 
ent at  the  ordination,  June  26,  1645,  at 
which  time  Stratford  Church  was  repre- 
sented by  its  "  pastor  and  another  messen- 
ger." It  is  most  probable  that  this  Church 
was  organized  in  the  summer  of  1639,  the 
year  when  Mr.  Blakeman  and  his  followers 
came  to  the  place,  and  if  not,  they  began 
their  work  that  year  as  a  company  of  believ- 
ers devoted  to  the  Christian  cause.  The 
Rev.  Adam  Blakeman,  who  had  labored  as  an  ordained  min- 
ister in  England,  was  their  pastor  and  served  them  about 
twenty-six  years.  Whatever  church  records  he  kept  must 
have  remained  among  his  private  papers,  and  are  lost,  and 
the  same  was  true  with  the  Rev.  Israel  Chauncey's  records 
until  1675,  with  which  year  the  existing  volume  commences. 
Nothing  of  Mr.  Blakeman's  writing  is  known  to  be  e:  tant 
except  a  paper  drawn  in  1665  by  the  Rev.  Israel  Chauncey  as 
his  assistant  minister,  which  he  subscribed. 

No  list  of  the  membership,  nor  of  the  officers  are   found 
but  the  following  names  as  the  Deacons  have  been  ascertained. 


First  CJiurcJL  in  Stratford.  165 

The  Ruling  Elder  and  Deacons'  of  the  Congregational  CJiurcJi 

of  Stratford. 

Philip   Groves  was  the   hrst  and   only    Ruling    Elder  in 
this  Church  from  1640  to  his  death  in  1675. 

Deacons  : 

John   Birdseye.  Ebenezer  Coe. 
John  Wilcoxson.  Nathan  McEwen. 
Thomas  Wells.  Samuel   Uffoot. 
Robert  Walker.  Agur  Curtis. 
John  Thompson.  Philo  Curtis. 
Ephraim  Judson.  Agur  Curtis  2d. 
Peat.  David   P.  Judson. 


Elnathan  Wheeler.  Agur  Treat  Curtis. 

Israhiah  Brown.  Lewis  Beers. 

The  first  sexton  and  bell-ringer  was  John  Peat,  the  first 
of  the  name  in  Stratford,  called  in  those  days  in  a  friendly 
way  Goodman  Peat.  He  held  this  office  until  1660,  when 
John  Pickett  was  elected  by  the  town  to  fill  the  place. 

The  First  Meeting  house  stood  on  the  east  side  of 
Front,  now  Elm  street,  at  Sandy  Hollow,  on  the  southeast 
corner.  This  house  must  have  been  very  plain,  and  of  small 
dimensions,  but  there  are  no  records  by  which  its  size  or 
height  can  be  ascertained.  It  was  built  without  a  gallery  at 
first,  for  the  following  vote  is  recorded :  "  Feb.  4,  1661.  It 
was  agreed  that  there  shall  be  a  gallery  builded  in  the  meet- 
ing house  in  the  convenient  place." 

The  first  burial  ground  was  adjoining  the  meeting  house 
and  burials  were  probably  made  there  until  the  new  ground, 
which  was  laid  by  the  town  in  1677,  was  opened  where  it  now 
is,  in  1678,  west  of  Main  street.  The  grave  stones  standing 
at  the  old  place  were  removed  to  the  new.  In  the  excava- 
tions made  at  the  old  ground  since  it  was  abandoned  several 
skeletons  have  been  exhumed.  Quite  manv  graves  were  made 
without  head  stones  and  no  traces  of  them  were  to  be  seen 
when  the  removals  were  made,  and  hence  after  more  than  a 
hundred  years  some  bones  were  found  in  digging  a  well  that 
is  still  in  existence  near  the  barn  standing  on  the  old  site. 

'  Manuscript  of  the  Rev.  B.  L.  Swan. 
12 


1 66  History  of  Stratford. 

The  almost  total  obliteration  of  this  burying  place  is 
symbolical  of  the  life  of  man,  and  our  reflections,  while  mel- 
ancholy, may  be  instructive.  In  the  graveyard  are  still  a  few 
plain  stones  which  were  removed  from  the  old  ground,  with 
rude  inscriptions,  consisting  simply  of  initials  of  a  name  with 
a  date  such  as,  "  E.  B.,  March  9,  1652."  Whom  did  men  bear 
to  his  lowly  rest  beneath  this  monument,  two  hundred  and 
fifty-two  years  ago?  Was  it  a  stranger,  or  did  he  or  she 
belong  to  one  of  the  families  of  Blakeman,  Burritt,  Booth, 
Bostwick,  Beardsley,  or  Beach?  x\nother  is  "J.  H.  1690, 
M.  TOO."  Who  was  this,  born  in  1590,  somewhere  amid  the 
troublous  times  of  the  Mother  Country,  when  the  fires  around 
the  martyrs'  stake  had  but  just  gone  out?  And  yet  another 
— "J.  H.,  June  25,  1691,"  without  the  age.  Others  have  no 
monumental  letters, — only  the  date,  as  :  "  March,  1684,"  and 
"  January,  1691  ;"  and  others  there  were,  barely  a  stone, 
weather-chafed,  shapeless,  and  yielding  to  most  curious  inqui- 
sition only  defaced  particles  of  an  inscription,  in  which  no 
letter  or  figure  can  be  determined."  How  much  is  it  to  be 
regretted  that  these  stones  do  not  tell  us  more  about  those 
who  fell  in  a  strange  land,  the  first  sacrifices  for  a  liberated 
conscience  and  an  enlarged  freedom.  How  pleasing  the 
thought  that  man  but  begins,  in  this  life  the  high  and  noble 
purpose  for  which  he  is  created,  and  looks  forward  to  a 
larger  sphere  of  activities  and  enjoyments,  as  set  forth  in  the 
beautiful  words  of  Everett  in  his  commemoration  of  the 
decease  of  the  great  Webster:  "  The  wakeful  eyes  are  closed, 
the  feverish  pulse  is  still,  the  tired  and  trembling  limbs  are 
relieved  from  their  labors,  and  the  aching  head  is  laid  to  rest 
upon  the  lap  of  its  Mother  Earth,  like  a  play-worn  child  at 
the  close  of  a  summer's  day;  but  all  that  we  honored  and 
loved  in  the  living  man  begins  to  live  again  in  a  new  and 
higher  being  of  influence  and  fame." 

What  Happened  in  the  first  Meeting  House. 

The  first  sexton,  so  far  as  known,  was  John  Peat,  called 
"  Goodman  Peake,"  and  "  Goodman  Pickett "  was  elected  by 

*  Manuscript  of  the  Rev.  B.  L.  Swan. 


First  ChurcJi  in  Stratford.  167 

the  town  in  1660,  to  fill  the  place  which  Mr.  Peat  had  resigned 
and  a  part  of  the  instructions  given  him,  besides  ringing  the 
bell,  were  these:  "And  also  to  watch  over  the  disorderly- 
persons  in  the  meeting  and  use  his  discretion  in  striking  any 
person  whom  he  finds  so  disorderly."  In  this  they  had  con- 
ferred two  offices  upon  him,  for  in  November  the  year  before 
the  town  appointed  Henry  Wakelee  to  "  watch  over  the 
youths  or  any  disorderly  carriages  in  the  time  of  public  exer- 
cises on  the  Lord's  day  or  other  times  and  see  that  they 
behave  themselves  comely,  and  note  any  disorderly  persons 
by  such   raps  or  blows  as  he  in  his  discretion  shall  see  meet." 

In  1666,  Hugh  Griffin  was  appointed  to  oversee  the 
youth  in  the  gallery  or  without  doors,"  and  if  any  did  con- 
duct disorderly  he  was  to  report  the  same  "  to  the  parents 
and  masters;"  and  the  next  year  Esbon  Wakeman  was 
appointed  to  this  difficult  office. 

In  December,  1678,  when  they  had  commenced  to  build 
a  new  meeting  house  Thomas  Jefery  was  chosen  to  keep 
order  in  the  time  of  public  service. 

The  bell  spoken  of  above  was  in  use  in  1660,  but  how 
much  earlier  is  not  known.  It  is  said  to  have  been  the  first 
church  bell  in  the  State,  and  must  have  been  brought  from 
England,  since  it  could  not  have  been  made  at  that  day  in  this 
country.  It  would  be  an  item  of  history  of  much  interest 
and  some  curiosity  to  know  how  it  was  secured  and  when 
brought  here. 

Progress  in  the  Settlement  of  the  Toiunship. 

After  the  settlement  of  the  right  to  the  soil  in  the  town 
in  1659,  and  some  satisfaction  made  to  the  Indians  the  next 
year,  the  settlers  of  Stratford  extended  their  work  of  division, 
laying  out  and  settlement  of  the  township  with,  apparently, 
new  energy  and  enterprise.  In  view  of  this  a  town  meeting 
was  called  and  the  following  was  a  part  of  its  doing  : 

"Jan.  3,  1661.  It  was  voted  that  all  the  inhabitants  shall 
have  liberty  to  take  up  a  whole  division  of  land  in  the  woods 
for  planting  land  anywhere  within  the  bounds  of  Stratford 
where  he  can  find  fit  land,  provided  it  be  not  within  two  miles 


i68  History  of  Stratford. 

of  the  town,  and  also  all  such  who  do  take  up  land  in  this 
way  are  prohibited  from  making  it  their  dwelling  place,  but 
by  the  consent  of  the  town  ;  and  they  have  chosen  by  a  vote 
Philip  Groves,  William  Curtis  and  Joseph  Judson  to  lay  it 
out  unto  particular  men  according  as  they  desire  it." 

It  is  probable  that  at  this  time  there  were  no  families 
residing  two  miles  from  the  village  of  Stratford,  in  the  town, 
unless  it  was  at  Farmill  river,  and  it  is  quite  uncertain  if  any 
were  there.  The  hop  garden  had  been  cultivated  in  that 
vicinity  but  probably  by  persons  residing  in  the  village. 

Neither  were  there  any  residents  at  Pequannock,  or 
Stratford  land  on  the  west  side  of  the  Pequannock  river.  A 
family  or  two  were  residing  probably  at  the  mill  at  what  is 
now  the  east  end  of  Old  Mill  Green,  and  also  at  the  tide  mill 
at  the  Eagle's  Nest,  or  as  it  was  frequently  called  in  those 
days,  Old  Squaws.  There  may  have  been,  also,  a  few  families 
residing  out  of  the  village  a  short  distance  north  or  upon 
Clapboard  Oak  Hill,  but  it  is  quite  doubtful ;  yet  within 
eight  or  nine  years  after  1661,  the  residences  beyond  two 
miles  from  the  village  had  become  quite  numerous. 

In  January,  1664,  the  town  voted  that  the  "  land  between 
Pequannock  river  and,  the  bounds  between  Fairfield  and 
Stratford  shall  be  laid  out  by  division  to  the  inhabitants  of 
the  town,  fronting  on  the  country  highway."  This  highway 
was  on  the  line,  now  Park  avenue  and  the  road  up  Toilsome 
Hill;  and  it  is  said  "the  lots  to  run  three  or  four  miles  ;" 
that  is,  extend  along  the  road  northward  that  distance. 
Previous  to  this  there  had  been  many  pieces  of  land  laid  out 
to  different  men  in  the  Pequannock  field  which  lay  south  of 
Golden  Hill,  there  having  been  a  fence  made  along  the 
boundary  line,  and  hence  the  above  division  was  largely  if 
not  wholly  northward  of  what  is  now  Fairfield  avenue. 
Parcels  of  land  had  been  laid  to  a  number  of  individuals 
before  1661,  at  Oronoke  and  at  Farmill  river,  but  very  few  if 
any  residences  had  been  erected  upon  them. 

The  town  having  had  considerable  prosperity,  and  hav- 
ing made  good  progress  as  to  the  laying  out  and  clearing  up 
land,  and  establishing  additional  settlers,  turned  its  attention 
to  the  needs  of  the  Church,  in  the  winter  of  1665-6. 


First  Church  in  Stratford.  169 

"  March  5,  1665-5.  The  town  being  together  at  a  lawful  meeting,  propounded 
whether  or  no  the  town  will  lay  out  a  house  lot  out  of  the  sequestered  land,  and 
fence  it  and  build  a  comfortable  house  jipon  it  and  lay  a  considerable  quantity  of 
meadow  and  upland  to  it,  as  need  shall  require,  for  the  use  of  the  ministry  to 
continue  for  ever  for  that  end  and  use  ;  and  this  was  the  vote  of  the  town  that  it 
should  be  so  performed." 

An  entry,  afterwards  erased,  adds  "there  was  a  clear 
vote,  for  there  was  not  one  blink,  yet  a  considerable  part  of 
the  town  would  not  vote,  not  that  they  were  against  the  min- 
istry but  the  ambiguousness  of  the  vote." 

Since  Mr.  Blakeman  had  his  house  and  land,  which  he 
had  possessed  more  than  twenty  years,  this  vote  could  have 
no  purpose  but  that  of  obtaining  another  minister,  although 
as  yet  they  had  not  voted  to  secure  one. 

This  parsonage  lot  was  taken  out  of  the  highway  or 
public  green  at  the  southeast  corner  of  Watchhouse  Hill, 
near  the  site  afterwards  of  the  second  meeting  house. 

The  Rev.  Adam  Blakeman  had  served  this  church  from 
its  settlement  here  in  1639,  until  the  end  of  the  year  1665 — a 
pastorate  of  26  years — without  intermission  or  failure  of 
health,  apparently,  unless  just  at  the  last,  and  without  diffi- 
culty or  trouble  in  his  office.  At  this  time  the  town  saw  fit 
to  move  in  the  direction  of  relief  to  their  aged  minister  and 
a  more  ample  supply  of  their  needs  as  a  parish  or  society. 
It  was  the  movement  of  the  town  and  not  the  Church,  and 
hence  the  following  vote  : 

"  April  20,  1665.  At  a  lawful  meeting  the  town  did  consider  the  giving  Mr. 
Chauncey  a  call  to  help  Mr.  Blackman  in  the  ministry  for  a  year  ;  and  they 
agreed  by  vote.  The  word  given  was  to  draw  to  the  west  side  of  the  meeting 
house,  and  it  was  clearly  manifest  to  be  the  major  part  to  give  him  a  call  for  a 
year." 

There  is  no  evidence  that  he  had  been  in  the  place  betore 
this  vote,  or  that  anything  had  been  done  previously  to 
secure  any  other  man  as  a  supply.  Mr.  Chauncey  was 
obtained  and  after  about  two  months  we  find  another  record  : 

"June  I,  1666.  At  a  lawful  town  meeting,  the  inhabitants  being  generally 
present,  a  paper  was  offered  containing  divers  propositions  to  Mr.  Israel  Chauncy 
in  order  to  a  mutual  agreement  for  his  settling  amongst  us  in  Stratford  ;  the  paper 
being  dated  with  this  present  meeting.  June  i,  1666.  It  was  voted  and  agreed 
that  the  said  paper  should  by  the  townsmen  of  Stratford  be  subscribed  in  the 
name  of  the  town  and  presented  to  Mr.  Chauncy." 


I/O  History  of  Stratford. 

This  proceeding  was  in  perfect  harmony  with  the  prac- 
tice of  other  towns  at  that  time,  for  the  town  employed  and 
paid  the  ministers.  If  the  records  of  this  Church  were  pre- 
served, we  should  find  a  vote  by  it,  on  the  question  of  settling 
a  pastor  but  not  as  to  hiring  him  as  a  supply. 

The  paper  addressed  to  Mr,  Chauncey  by  the  town, 
signed  by  the  selectmen,  is  as  follows;' 

"Mr.  Chancy:  We,  a  Christian  people,  by  the  providence  of  God  settled 
together  in  this  plantation  of  Stratford,  judging  it  our  duty,  as  from  the  command 
of  God,  so  from  our  own  necessary  spiritual  and  eternal  good,  to  endeavor  after, 
maintain  and  uphold  a  minister  orthodox  in  doctrine  and  practice  that  the  word 
of  life  and  salvation  may  be  held  forth  unto  us,  and  all  the  ordinance  of  God  dis- 
pensed among  us  :  and  whereas  you  have  been  some  time  amongst  us,  we 
accounting  it  reasonable,  very  necessary,  and  equal  that  some  mutual  agreement 
be  made  in  a  Christian  way  between  you  and  us,  we  hereupon  think  to  propound 
to  you  for  your  settling  and  continuing  with  us  as  foUoweth.  We  desire  that  you 
would  perform  the  work  of  a  minister  of  the  gospel  unto  us  in  the  preaching  of 
the  word  and  administering  of  the  sacraments.  More  particularly  we  desire  if  all 
they  that  profess  faith  and  obedience  to  the  rules  of  Christ,  not  scandalous  in  life, 
and  do  present  themselves  in  owning  the  Covenant,  when  they  have  given  them- 
selves unto  the  Lord  in  baptism,  may  be  admitted  and  accounted  members  of  the 
church,  and  under  the  care  and  discipline  thereof  as  other  members,  and  have 
their  children  baptized.  Notwithstanding  we  desire  not  that  any  thus  admitted 
may  approach  unto  the  Lord's  Table  till  on  and  by  examination  and  due  trial 
they  make  testimony  unto  the  judgment  of  Charity  of  their  fitness  thereunto. 
Moreover  as  God  owneth  the  infant  children  of  believers  of  the  Covenant  of 
Grace,  neither  doth  exclude  the  same  children  when  grown  up  from  having  their 
standing  in  the  Covenant  while  they  do  so  walk  as  thej'  do  not  reject  it.  God 
owneth  them  and  would  not  have  the  grace  of  His  Covenant  shortened  or  straight- 
ened nor  put  them  from  under  the  dispensation  of  His  grace,  giving  His  ministers 
a  solemn  charge  to  take  care  of  and  train  up  such  as  a  part  of  their  fiock :  We 
desiring  also  that  the  children  of  Church  members  may  be  accounted  Church 
members  as  well  as  their  parents,  and  that  they  do  not  cease  to  be  members  by 
being  grown  up,  but  that  they  do  still  continue  in  the  Church  successively  until, 
according  to  the  rules  of  Christ, -they  be  cast  out  ;  and   that  they  are  the  subjects 

'In  the  Woodbury  History,  i.  iig,  the  date  of  this  paper  is  given  as  i66g, 
whereas  on  the  town  record  it  is  plainly  written  as  here  rendered,  1666.  But 
what  is  still  more  surprising  is  that  this  paper  is  used  in  that  work  to  prove  that 
the  Stratford  Church  did  not  practice  the  Halfway  Covenant,  yet  that  was  the  very 
one paiticiilar  thing  it  bound  Mr.  Chauncey  to  do.  The  labored  effort  made  in  that 
book  to  show  that  Stratford  Church  had  a  very  wicked  feud  between  1666  and 
1670,  would  have  been  commendable,  if  the  author  had  possessed  genius  enough 
to  have  known  or  comprehended  what  the  real  questions  of  division  were,  but  as 
it  was,  nothing  is  left  to  us  but  simple  astonishment. 


First  ChurcJi  in  Stratford.  lyi 

of  Church  discipline  even  as  other  members,  and  they  should  have  their  children 

baptized,  notwithstanding    their   present    unfitness    for    partaking    of   the    Lord's 

Supper. 

And  further  we  assure  3'ou  that  without  the  least  suspicion  you  may  credit  us 

that  upon  your  accepting  said  propositions  and  granting  them  unto  us  we  shall, 

according  to  our  abilities,  contribute  to  your  comfortable  subsistence  amongst  us. 

Expecting  an  answer  from  you  in  time  convenient  (we)  "  Subscribe  "  in  the  name 

of  the  town. 

Thomas  Fayrechilde, 
Joseph  Judson, 
.   Henry  Wakelyn, 
Thomas  Uffoot." 

"This  is  a  true  copy  taken  out  of  the  original  and  compared  this  25th  June, 
1666,  by  me.  John  Minor,  Reconiery 

It  may  be  observed  that  this  proposition  to  Mr.  Chauncey 
was  made  after  he  had  been  hired  two  months  and  five  days  ; 
that,  by  town  vote — apparently  without  dissent — it  was 
ordered  to  be  signed  by  the  selecttnen  and  presented  to  him  ; 
and  that  it  stated  plainly  the  methods  of  church  work  and 
discipline  which  would  be  expected  of  him;  and  upon  this 
Mr.  Chauncey  was  settled  in  the  town  and  church  as  pastor. 

The  letter  shows  definitely  that  the  church  practiced  the 
Half-way  Covenant  and  intended  so  to  practice.  This 
method  of  discipline  arose  thus:  The  Puritans  in  England 
had  adopted  the  principle  not  to  baptize  children  unless  one 
or  both  of  the  parents  were  members  of  the  church.  Soon 
after  settlement  at  Windsor,  Conn.,  parents  were  found  there 
who  were  not  members  of  that  church,  but  were  members  of 
the  Episcopal  Church  in  England,  who  desired  to  have  their 
children  baptized  here  since  they  could  not  go  to  England 
for  it.  This  question  came  before  the  court  at  Hartford,  and 
finally  the  practice  was  adopted  to  allow  persons  who  were 
not  members  of  these  churches  or  any  others,  to  have  their 
children  baptized  upon  certain  conditions.  These  were,  as 
stated  in  this  paper  to  Mr.  Chauncey,  "  not  scandalous  in  life," 
and  who  believed  the  doctrines  of  these  churches — "  professed 
faith  and  obedience  to  the  rules  of  Christ."  Such  parents 
and  their  children  were  taken  under  the  "  watch  and  care  of  the 
church,"  and  the  children  were  baptized  ;  but  the  parents 
were  not  to    partake  of  the    Coinmunion.     Two  sacraments 


172  History  of  Stratford. 

were  acknowledged — Baptism  and  the  Lord's  Supper,  and  as 
in  this  covenant  one  only  was  included,  the  church  relation 
was  expressed  by  the  words  "  Half-way  Covenant."  In  this 
relation  all  that  was  prohibited  from  such  persons  was  the 
Lord's  Supper,  as  is  evident  from  the  following,  in  this  paper 
from  the  parish  to  Mr.  Chauncey,  viz:  "  Notwithstanding  we 
desire  not  that  any  thus  admitted  may  approach  unto  the 
Lord's  Table  till  on  and  by  examination  and  due  trial  they 
make  testimony  unto  the  judgment  of  Charity  of  their  fitness 
thereto."  That  is,  until  by  examination  and  a  knowledge  of 
their  lives  it  should  be  evident  that  they  were  proper  persons 
to  come  to  the  Lord's  Table. 

This  Half-way  Covenant  method  ot  membership,  then, 
was  in  practice  and  had  been  for  years  in  the  Stratford 
church  when  Mr.  Chauncey  came  here,  and  the  whole  expres- 
sion of  the  church  and  the  town  so  far  as  appears  in  any 
record  or  intimation,  was  to  have  it  continued. 

Soon  after  Mr.  Chauncey  was  settled  as  pastor  a  question 
of  difference  arose  in  his  parish  which  eventuated  in  the  for- 
mation of  a  second  church  in  the  town  and  that  church, 
largely,  removed  afterwards  and  settled  at  Woodbury.  The 
inquiry  is,  w^hat  were  the  questions  which  caused  the  division 
and  trouble?  Evidently  these,  and  only  these,  that  the  Half- 
way Covenant  members  should  be  allowed  to  come  to  the 
Lord's  Table,  and  that  the  minister  alone  should  examine  the 
candidates,  and  receive  them  into  the  church.  The  church 
hitherto  refused  these.  A  small  minority  now  demanded 
them.  The  minority  were  all  members  in  Half-way  Cove- 
nant, and  hence  were  denied  but  one  privilege,  and  therefore 
could  complain  of  nothing  else,  for  in  their  letter  to  Mr. 
Chauncey  and  the  Church  they  say,  speaking  of  what  God 
had  done  for  them,^  "and  hath  given  us  an  interest  in  himself 
to  be  our  God,  and  taken  us  to  be  his  own,  giving  us  his  own 
discipline  and  ordinances  for  our  spiritual  and  eternal  good, 
and  owning  us  hath  given  us  equal  right  with  yourselves  in 
all  his  ordinances." 

^  See  Woodbury  History,  vol.  i,  115-118. 


First  CIntrcJi  in  Stratford.  173 

This  letter  not  being  answered  as  the  parties  desired, 
they  wrote  another  in  which  they  say  :* 

"  Whereas  we  have  formerly  made  known  our  minds 
unto  you  in  writing,  as  concerning  our  desire  of  communion 
in  all  God's  ordinances  with  you,  holding  forth  unto  you  by 
•way  of  preface,  our  right  unto  them,  from  the  free  grace  of 
God  owning  us  externally  sealing  the  privileges  of  the  Cove- 

*  The  Minority's  First  Letter. 
"To  Mr.  Chancy  and  the  rest  of  the  Church  at  Stratford. 

"  Loving  brethren  and  friends,  God  hy  his  good  providence  having  brought  us 
hither,  who  are  of  his  church  and  people,  and  separated  us  from  the  world,  and  of 
his  free  and  abundant  grace  hath  taken  us  and  our  seed  into  covenant  with  him- 
self and  with  his  church  and  people,  and  hath  given  us  an  interest  in  himself  to  be 
our  God,  and  taken  us  to  be  bis  own,  giving  us  his  own  discipline  and  ordinances 
for  our  spiritual  and  eternal  good,  and  owning  us  hath  given  us  equal  right  with 
yourselves  in  all  his  ordinances,  his  providence  also  having  setled  us  together  in 
this  plantation  that  we  might  jointly  together  worshipp  him  in  all  his  ordinances, 
and  that  we  should  be  mutuall  helpers  of  one  another  in  our  Christian  race. 
These  few  lines  are  to  informe  you  that  wee  whose  names  are  underwritten  doo 
declare  to  you  our  earnest  desire  to  enjoy  communion  in  all  God's  ordinances 
with  you,  that  we  may  together  worshipp  him  according  to  his  holy  will  ;  desiring 
also  that  wee  and  our  posterity  may  be  owned  as  immediate  members  of  the 
Church  of  Christ  by  you  ;  as  Christ  owneth  us  and  ours  by  his  own  institution, 
taking  us  into  covenant,  and  solemnly  setting  his  own  seal  upon  us.  We  further 
declare,  that  owning  it  to  be  our  duty,  and  hoping  it  to  be  our  desire  to  account 
you  our  best  friends,  who  shall  use  means  to  convince  us  wherein  we  have  sinned, 
and  bring  us  to  the  sight  of  our  evils  ;  we  desire  that  if  any  man  being  converted 
according  to  God's  rules,  and  do  not  hold  forth  repentance,  then  no  such  person 
so  remaining  may  be  admitted  to  communion,  till  he  hold  forth  repentance.  And 
whereas  there  hath  beene  difference  about  the  calling  of  Mr.  Chancy,  and  several! 
of  us  have  declared  our  objections  against  his  setling  amongst  us  till  those  objec- 
tions were  answered,  and  we  judge  they  never  were  unto  satisfaction  ;  yet  if  you 
shall  see  cause  to  answer  our  earnest  and  reall  desires  in  the  premises,  as  we 
hope  you  will,  wee  shall  pass  by  what  hath  been,  and  endeavor  lovingly  to  close 
together  and  walke  together  according  to  the  rules  of  God's  holy  word,  hoping 
and  desiring  you  will  so  farr  respect  us  as  to  give  us  an  answer  hereunto  in  writ- 
ing as  soon  as  you  conveniently  can. 

Yours  in  all  due  respects  and  desireous  of  unity  according  to  the  rules  ot 
Christ. 

January  16,  1665-6. 

Joseph  Judson,        John  Minor, 
Richard  Butler,     James  Blackman, 
David  Mitchell,     Samuel  Sherman, 
Henry  Wakelyn,    Daniel  Titterton." 
Woodbury  History,  i.  115. 


174  History  of  Stratford. 

nant  unto  us."  Thus,  clearly,  they  state  the  question  to  be 
"  communion  in  all  God's  ordinances  with  you."  In  the  second 
letter  they  state  another  point,  not  introduced  in  the  first, 
thus  : 

"And  if  anything  did  on  our  part  lie  in  the  way,  have 
seriously  appointed  us  a  time  for  examining  of  us  in  respect 
of  our  faith  and  knowledge :  accounting  it  requisite  that  the 
Minister  may  take  particular  knowledge  of  all  those  that  are 
to  have  Communion  in  the  whole  worship  of  God:  And 
herein  (^to  deal  plainly)  that  nothing  may  hereafter  be  laid  as 
a  block  in  our  way,  we  desire  that  in  this  examination  by  the 
Minister  or  Ministers  and  Elder  we  may  issue  in  their  ques- 
tioning and  examining  only."* 

^  The  Minority'' s  Second  Letter. 
"Whereas  we  have  formerly  made  known  our  mindes  unto  j'ou  in  writing,  as 
concerning  our  desire  of  communion  in  all  God's  ordinances  with  you;  holding 
forth  unto  you  by  way  of  preface,  our  right  unto  them,  from  the  free  grace  of  God 
owning  us  and  externally  sealing  the  privileges  of  y'*  Covenant  unto  us  ;  have  also 
declared  our  mindes  concerning  such  letts  as  may  hinder  us  from  proceeding 
unto  such  attaynments  mentioned  in  some  clauses  thereof;  and  comeing  together 
to  know  how  you  stood  affected  to  our  desires,  hoped  you  might  have  seen  good 
soe  farr  to  have  betrusted  those  y'  were  to  declare  your  rcinde  unto  us  as  in  con- 
feering  with  us  to  take  farther  knowledge  of  our  desire  propounded  ;  and  to  putt 
us  in  a  way  of  farther  proceeding  ;  should  have  bin  glad  soe  farr  to  have  bin  ten- 
der by  you  that  they  might  have  took  it  into  consideration.  And  if  anything  did 
on  our  part  lye  in  y^  way,  have  seriously  appointed  us  a  time  for  examining  of  us 
in  respect  of  our  fayth  and  knowledge:  Accounting  it  requisite  y'  y®  Minister 
may  take  particular  knowledge  of  all  those  y'  are  to  have  communion  in  the 
whole  worshipp  of  God  ;  And  herein  (to  ^&?i\  plainly)  y*  nothing  may  hereafter  bee 
laid  as  a  block  in  our  way;  we  desire  that  in  this  examination  by  y"  Minister  or 
Ministers  and  Elder  wee  may  issue  in  their  questioning  and  examining  only. 
And  whereas  we  have  openly,  solemnly,  wholly  and  only  ingaged  ourselves  to  be 
the  Lord's,  who  hath  graciously  taken  us  into  Covenant  with  himself  and  his 
faithful  people  ;  we  desire,  y'  in  the  owning  hereof,  wee  may  not  be  further 
trouble  with  any  imposition  of  that  nature.  The  exercise  of  your  tenderness  unto 
us  wee  cannot  but  hope  for,  according  as  you  are  allowed.     Ro.  14:1. 

February  gth, 1665-6. 

Joseph  Judson,  John  Minor, 

Richard  Butler,  James  Blackman, 

David  Mitchell,  Samuel  Sherman, 

Henry  Wakelyn,  Daniel  Titterton." 
Woodbury  History,  i.  116. 


First  CluircJi  in  Stratford.  175 

Here  they  make  a  condition  or  demand,  that  in  owning 
the  Covenant  the  minister  or  ministers  and  elder  shall  be  the 
only  parties  admitted  to  the  examination.  They  go  further 
and  with  scorn  stigmatize  the  examination  before  the  Church, 
which  was  the  custom  then,  an  "imposition,"  thus: 

"And  whereas  we  have  openly,  solemnly,  wholly  and 
only  engaged  ourselves  to  be  the  Lord's,  who  hath  graciously 
taken  us  into  Covenant  with  himself  and  Jiis  faithful  people; 
we  desire  that  in  the  owning  hereof,  we  may  not  be  further 
troubled  with  anv  imposition  of  that  nature."^ 

These  letters  were  written  in  January,  1665-6,  a  short 
time  after  Mr.  Chauncey's  settlement,  and  to  them  a  reply 
was  sent  the  next  April  which  shows  that  the  particular 
questions  at  issue  were  the  communion  and  examination  of 
candidates  by  the  minister  alone: 

"  Whereas  we  received  from  3'ou  two  writings,  the  sum 
of  both  which  was  to  hold  forth  your  earnest  desire  as  to 
communion  in  all  the  ordinances  of  Christ  with  us.  These  are 
to  give  you  to  understand  that  our  apprehension  concerning 
the  order  of  discipline  is  the  same  that  we  have  formerly 
manifested  it  to  be,  both  by  our  practice  and  answer  to  your 
proposals.  And  whereas  you  apprehend  you  have  equal 
right  with  ourselves  in  all  the  ordinances  of  Christ  in  this 
place,  these  may  certify  you  at  present  that  we  are  of  a 
different  apprehension  from  you  in  that  matter."" 

*  The  italics  are  in  tlie  original. 

"  "  Church  Ansiver  to  the  Men." 

"  Neighbors,  whereas  wee  received  from  you  two  writings  the  sum  of  both 
which  was  to  hold  forth  your  earnest  desire  as  to  communion  in  all  the  ordinances 
of  Christ  with  us.  These  are  to  give  you  to  understand  that  our  apprehension 
concerning  the  order  of  discipline  is  ilie  same  that  we  have  formerly  manifested 
it  to  bee,  both  by  our  practice,  and  answer  to  your  proposalls.  And  whereas  you 
apprehend  you  have  equal!  right  wiih  ourselves  in  all  the  ordinances  of  Clirist  in 
this  place,  these  may  certifie  you  at  present  that  we  are  of  a  different  apprehension 
from  you  in  that  matter.  And  whereas  you  desire  that  your  posterity  may:  etc 
wee  would  put  you  in  mind  that  as  yet  the  matter  is  in  controversie  among  the 
learned  and  godly.  Likewise  whereas  you  seem  to  intimate  in  the  close  of  your 
first  page  that  you  have  taken  offence  at  our  late  proceedings,  but  as  you  say  upon 
the  granting  of  ihe  premises  are  willing  to  pass  it  by  ;  we  return  no  more  at  pres- 


176  History  of  Stratford. 

The  minority  mention  only  one  condition  as  ground  of 
reception,  viz:  that  of  repentance,  in  their  first  letter,  but 
claim  membership  by  virtue  of  birth-right:  "desiring  also 
that  wee  and  our  posterity  may  be  owned  as  immediate 
members  of  the  Church  of  Christ  by  you." 

Hence  their  views  of  membership  were  those,  very 
nearly,  of  the  Episcopal  Church,  except  as  to  confirmation, 
and  this  they  doubtless  would  have  accepted  very  readily  at 
the  hands  of  a  Bishop. 

The  Rev.  Adam  Blakeman  died  somewhere  between 
April,  1665,  and  the  next  January,  and  hence  Mr.  Israel 
Chauncey  was  installed  that  year  as  pastor,  and  on  Dec.  18, 
1666,  by  town  vote,  his  salary  was  fixed  at  sixty  pounds  per 
annum. 

At  the  same  time  the  town  voted  to  divide  the  parsonage 
lot  which  had  been  appropriated  according  to  a  previous  vote 

ent  but  this,  viz:  wee  hope  if  you  had  sufficient  ground  so  to  doo,  the  godl)'  and 
learned  would  have  spied  it  out,  and  have  endeavored  to  convince  us  of  our  evills 
herein.  -Lastly,  whereas  in  your  latter  page  you  prescribe  the  way  wherein  3'ou 
desired  to  be  attended  :  viz:  you  account  it  requisite:  etc:  To  which  we  answer 
in  the  words  of  Paul  in  another  case,  wee  have  no  such  custom  nor  the  churches 
of  Christ  with  whom  we  hold  communion,  and  moreover  it  is  practised  you  know 
by  those  whose  principles  in  discipline  are  farr  different  from  ours.  And  truly 
neighbours,  as  it  relates  to  your  case,  (notwithstanding  wee  gladly  and  heartily 
desire  ye  increase  and  enlargement  of  y*"  Church  when  it  may  be  attained  in  a 
rulable  and  satisfactor}'  way  yet)  we  must  plainly  tell  you  that  we  cannot  at  pres- 
ent see  how  it  will  stand  with  the  glory  of  God,  the  peace  of  y^  Church  and  our 
and  your  mutuall  edification  (which  ought  to  bee  deare  unto  us,  and  earnestly 
sought  by  us)  for  you  t;  embody  with  us  in  this  society:  The  Apostle  Paule 
exhorts  the  Corinthians,  and  so  all  that  walk  together  in  church  fellowship:  i 
Romans  10,  to  avoid  divisions  and  to  be  perfectly  joined  together  in  the  same 
mind  and  in  the  same  judgment,  otherwise  it  is  not  likely  we  should  keepe  the 
unity  of  the  spirit  in  the  bond  of  peace,  to  which  we  are  exhorted,  Eph.  4:3.  And 
notwithstanding  wee  give  this  answer  in  generall  to  you  all  that  were  concerned 
in  the  pages  presented  to  us  ;  yet  you  may  easily  imagine  that  we  have  particular 
exertions  as  it  relates  to  particular  persons  whereof  we  find  that  we  are  thereunto 
called,  wee  shall  manage  and  desire  satisfaction  in  before  they  are  admitted  to 
communion  in  all  the  ordinances. 

April  16,  1666. 

This  is  a  true  Coppe  of  )'*  answer 

given  unto  us  as  it  was  tryed  by  both  papers. 

Church  Answer  to  the  men." 

Woodbury  History,  i.  117. 


First  CJiurch  in  Stratford.  lyy 

and  to  give  "one  quarter  part  of  it  to  Mr.  Chauncey  and  a 
quarter  part  of  it  to  Mr.  Peter  Bulkley  or  any  other  man  by 
that  party  obtained  that  now  endeavors  for  Mr.  Bulkley." 

This  is  the  first"  record  that  indicates  a  division  of  effort, 
in  the  form  of  another  or  second  church  ;  but  the  further 
statement  of  the  vote  at  this  time  shows  that  the  matter  had 
matured  to  a  large  degree,  for  it  says: 

"  And  that  which  shall  be  laid  out  to  Mr.  Chauncy,  shall 
by  him  be  improved  as  his  during  his  life  or  continuance  in 
Stratford,  and  in  case  of  removal  the  said  land  is  to  return  to 

the  town  again It  is  also  agreed  in  case  Mr.  Bulkley 

or  any  other  minister  be  obtained,  he  shall  have,  hold  and 
enjoy  his  part  in  every  respect  as  Mr.  Chauncy  doth. 

"  It  is  further  agreed  respecting  a  house  lot,  the  reserved 
land  for  that  purpose  shall  be  equally  divided  into  two  lots 
and  Mr.  Chauncy  is  to  have  his  choice  which  of  the  two  he 
will  please  to  have." 

Upon  this  agreement  of  the  two  parties  application  was 
made  to  the  General  Court  to  sanction  the  division,  if  there 
was  nothing  in  the  law  against  it  ;  and  the  Court  granted  the 
request,  and  directed  that  "  from  henceforth  they  shall  all 
jointly  make  payment  of  their  proportions  towards  the  main- 
tenance of  Mr.  Chauncy  till  there  be  another  minister  at 
Stratford  there  cohabiting." 

During  the  year  1667  the  division  made  further  progress, 
but  as  far  as  any  records  show  took  no  new  form,  no  violent 
conflict,  other  than  that  given  above  ;  and  the  representations 
other  than  here  given  seem  wholly  gratuitous.  There  was  a 
division  of  sentiment  as  to  church  relations  and  privileges, 
brought  out  upon  the  settlement  of  Mr.  Chauncey  and  at  the 
decease  of  their  former  minister,  and  it  took  the  form  of  a 
separate  church  within  one  year,  but  no  legal  organization 
was  secured.  Had  there  been  any  way  for  the  dissenting 
party  to  have  connected  themselves  with  the  Episcopal 
Church  there  can  be  no  doubt  but  they  would  have  done  so, 
for  their  views  were  in  accord  with  that  Church,  and  it  is 
probable  that  something  of  these  views,  after  this  discussion. 


178  History  of  Stratford. 

remained   in  the  community  until   1706,  when  they  began  to 
secure  services  by  the  Episcopal  Church. 

The  matter  of  dissention  having  been  brought  before 
the  General  Court,  the  advice  of  that  body  was  rendered, 
probably, -in  the  latter  part  of  the  year  1667,  and  on  March  27, 
1668,  at  a  lawful  town  meeting  the  advice  was  "  in  every 
particular  voted  and  accepted,"  and  ordered  recorded.  It 
had  reference  not  onl}'  to  Church  matters  but  also  to  civil 
rights  and  liberties  ;  and  occurring  as  it  did  directly  after  the 
union  of  the  New  Haven  and  Connecticut  Colonies,  it  was  of 
importance  to  the  whole  united  Colony. 

Early  in  the  year  1668,  the  minority  engaged  Mr.  Zecha- 
riah  Walker  of  Jamaica,  L.  I.,  to  preach  to  them  ;  and  as  Mr. 
Israel  Chauncey  had  signed  a  paper  accepting  the  land  prof- 
fered by  the  town  upon  the  conditions  stipulated;  Mr.  Walker 
also  signed  a  like  agreement  and  acceptance. 

These  facts  placed  the  two  ministers  and  their  parties  on 
equal  rights  and  privileges  in  law  and  worship ;  but  the}" 
were  very  differently  situated  as  to  advantages,  for  the 
minority  had  no  organization  and  no  meeting  house. 

The  next  trouble  arose  from  the  application  of  Mr. 
Walker  and  his  adherents,  for  the  use  of  the  meeting  house 
during  some  portion  of  each  Sabbath  day,  as  a  place  of  wor- 
ship, under  the  proposition  that  the  two  congregations  should 
use  the  same  house,  but  meet  at  different  hours  on  the  same 
day.  This  created  more  division  and  excited  feeling,  appar- 
ently, than  had  been  experienced  before,  for  the  old  congre- 
gation declined  to  grant  the  request,  and  that  apparently  by 
a  large  majority. 

In  accordance  with  the  recommendation  of  the  Court,  a 
complete  list  of  the  proprietors  of  the  town  was  made,  on  the 
27th  of  March,  1668,  just  in  the  midst  of  these  difficulties,  and 
by  it  and  Mr.  Walker's  report  of  the  organization  of  his 
church  the  relative  strength  of  the  parties  may  be  seen. 

TJic  Inhabitants  of  Stratford  in  1668. 

"A  list  of  the  Inhabitants  of  Stratford,  drawn  up  by  the  townsmen  and 
recorded  by  order  from  the  Govenor  and  Mr.  Jones  and  Mr.  Stowe  27th  March, 
1668,  as  foUoweth  and  diligently  recorded  by  order  from  the  present  townsmen 
this  28th  March,  1668: 


Proprietors  of  Stratford. 


1 79 


I.  Mr.  [Samuel]  Sherman. 
■2.  Mr.  [Thomas]  Fairchild. 

3.  Mr.  [Israel]  Chauncey. 

4.  Mr.  [Zcch.]  Walker. 

5.  Lieut.  Wm.  Curtis. 

6.  Elder  [Philip]  Graves. 

7.  Ensign  Jos.  Judson. 

8.  John  Birdseye,  Sen'. 
Q.  John  Minor. 

10.  Nath'  Porter. 

11.  John  Birdseye.  Jun^ 

12.  Henry  Wakeiyn. 

13.  Jehiel  Preston. 

14.  Mr.  Nicholas  Knell. 

15.  John  Brinsmayd,  Sen"'. 

16.  Richard  Butler. 

17.  Benjamin  Peak. 

18.  John  Curtis. 

19.  John  Peck,  Jr. 

20.  Timothy  Wilcockson. 

21.  Joseph  Bearsiye 

22.  Israel  Curtis. 

23.  Arthur  Bostick. 

24.  Caleb  Nichols. 

25.  John  Beach. 

26.  John  Wells. 

27.  James  Blackman. 

28.  John  Pickett,  Jr. 

29.  Robert  Lane. 

30.  John  Hull. 

31.  Jabez  Harger. 

32.  Daniel  Titterton. 

33.  Robert  Rose. 

34.  Robert  Clark. 

35.  John  Wilcockson. 

36.  Hugh  Griffin. 

37.  Richard  Hurd. 

38.  Edward  Hinman. 

39.  John  Thompson,  Sen''. 

40.  John  Thompson,  Jr. 

41.  Moses  Wheeler. 

42.  Francis  Hall. 

43.  Esbon  Wakeman. 

44.  Samuel  Sherman. 

45.  Joseph  Hawley. 

46.  Adam  Hurd. 

47.  Henry  Tomlinson. 

48.  Richard  Boothe. 


49. 
50. 
51- 
52. 
53- 
54- 
55- 
56. 
57- 
58. 
59- 
60. 
61. 
.62. 
63. 
64. 

65. 
66. 
67. 
68. 
69. 
70. 

71- 
72. 

73. 
74. 
75- 
76. 

77- 


78. 

79- 
80. 

81. 
82. 
83. 
84. 

85- 
86. 
87. 
88. 


Outlivers^ 
i.  e.  out 
of  the 
village. 


John  Hurd,  Jr. 
Isaac  Nichols. 
Serg*.  Jeremie  Judson. 
Samuel  Bearslye. 
John  Pickett,  Sen'. 
Thomas  Uffoot. 
James  Clark. 
John  Peacock. 
John  Hurd,  Sen'. 
Mr.  David  Mitchell. 
Stephen  Burritt. 
Samuel  Blackman. 
John  Bearslye. 
Samuel  Stiles. 
Ephraim  Stiles. 
Tho^  Sherwood's  children. 
Thomas  Wells. 
John  Wheeler, 
Obadiah  Wheeler, 
Hope  Washburn, 
Theophilus  Sherman, 
Matt.  Sherman, 
Admitted  freeholders  Jan.  i,  1668. 
Thomas  Kimberly. 
Samuel  Fairchild. 
Tho^  Fairchild,  Jr. 
John  Brinsmade,  Jr. 
Daniel  Bearslye. 
Jonathan  Curtis. 
John  Judson. 

Were  by  the  townsmen  ordered 
to  be  recorded  Outlivers, 
March  3,  i6f|. 
Samuel  Gregory. 
James  Pickett. 
Benjamin  Beach. 
John  Bostick. 
Henry  Summers. 
Jonas  Tomlinson. 
Dan'.  Brinsmade. 
John  Burritt. 

Widow  Bearsley  wife  of  Thomas  B. 
Mrs.  [Adam]  Blackman. 
Widow  Titterton. 

Widow  Bearslye,  wife  of  William, 
half  proprietor  of  house  lot 
and  accommodations." 


i8o  History  of  Stratford. 

This  list  gives  85  men,  and  if  all  were  allowed  to  vote  in 
a  Society  meeting,  then  the  list  includes  both  parties  as  to 
legal  votes. 

In  the  Woodbury  History  is  an  account  given  by  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Walker  of  the  organization  of  his  Church  at  Strat- 
ford, May  I,  1670,  and  according  to  it  the  Covenant  was  taken 
that  day  by  20  persons,  to  whom  7  were  added  in  a  few  days, 
making  27  in  all,  and  omitting  Mr,  Walker  himself,  26.  Of 
the  whole  number  7  were  not  inhabitants,  and  could  not  vote 
in  town  meeting.  Hence  the  number  of  Mr.  Walker's  voters 
to  those  opposed  was  19  to  65. 

Two  years  Mr.  Walker  and  his  people  continued  their 
work  in  Stratford  under  great  difficulties,  when  the  project 
of  colonization  to  Woodbury  arose  and  was  soon  after  effected 
in  .a  very  commendable  and  successful  manner.  When  set- 
tled in  Woodbury  they  adopted  the  Halfway  Covenant  sys- 
tem ot  church  relations  and  government,  the  same  as  the 
Stratford  Church  had  pursued,  probably,  all  the  years  of  its 
existence  before  1670,  and  which  it  followed,  probably,  about 
one  hundred  years  later. 


CHAPTER  IX. 


PROGRESS   AMIDST   DIFFICULTIES. 


URING  the  years  from  1650  to  1670,  great 
1-^  changes  took  place  in  the  town  of  Stratford. 
f  The  purchasing  of  the  lands  from  the  Indians 
and  the  consequent  proposition  for  extend- 
ing the  settlement;  the  decease  of  several 
prominent  men  and  the  incoming  of  new 
settlers;  the  differences  which  arose  as  to 
the  privileges  of  the  halfway  covenant 
church  members,  resulting  in  the  organiza. 
tion  of  a  second  society  for  public  wor- 
ship; the  union  of  Connecticut  and  New 
Haven  Colonies,  and  the  taking  of  New 
York  from  the  Dutch  ; — all  these  had  placed 
the  community  upon  a  new  stage  of  social, 
religious  and  civil  life. 
The  territory  opened  for  settlement  by  paying  the  In- 
dians for  various  tracts  of  land  extended  north  into  what  is 
now  Huntington  and  Trumbull,  and  west  to  Fairfield  bounds. 
Different  parties  had  become  interested  in  these  purchases 
by  paying  the  Indians,  in  behalf  of  the  town,  and  they  desired 
to  secure  the  return  of  their  money  by  the  division  and  sale 
of  the  land  to  old  and  new  settlers,  and  this  awakened  a  spirit 
of  enterprise  and  progress  to  the  extent  that  new  settlers 
were  not  only  made  welcome  but  invited  to  come  in,  and  the 
territory  seemed  so  large  that  a  proposition  was  made  in  1670, 
and  a  petition  presented  to  the  General  Court,  to  organize  a 
separate  plantation  at  Farmill  river  within  the  bounds  of 
Stratford.' 


'  "October,  1670.    Whereas,  Mr.  Sherman  hath  motioned  to  this  Court  in  the 
behalf  of  some  of  the  inhabitants  of  Stratford,  that   they  might  have  liberty  and 
13 


1 82  History  of  Stratford. 

The  Stratford  company  was  organized  at  Wethersfield 
and  Hartford  in  the  beginning  of  the  year  1639,  and  tradition 
says  it  contained  fifteen  or  seventeen  families.  They  began 
the  settlement  that  Spring  at  what  was  afterwards  called  the 
harbor,  in  Stratford  village,  and  in  the  Autumn  of  that  year 
military  drill  was  established  under  the  command  of  Francis 
Nichols,  acting  as  captain. 

The  land  records  as  they  now  exist  were  commenced, 
probably,  in  1652,  and  all  dates  prior  to  that  were  entered  at 
that  time  or  later.  It  is  quite  doubtful  as  to  there  having 
been  any  records  in  this  town  previous  to  that  date,  but  if 
there  were  they  have  been  lost  or  destroyed. 

The  law  providing  for  such  records  and  a  town  clerk  to 
keep  them  was  enacted  in  1639,  and  provided  such  penalties 
as  to  make  it  hazardous  for  any  town  to  neglect  the  matter 
twelve  years,  as  must  have  been  the  case  if  Stratford  made 
none  but  those  now  possessed. 

The  record  of  each  proprietor's  surveyed  land,  being 
entered  in  1652,  there  are  two  forms  of  expression  used  which 
designate  the  first  proprietors  from  those  who  came  after.  Of 
the  first  of  these  it  is  said  he  "  hath  a  home  lot,"  but  of  the 
second  it  is  said,  "  hath  purchased  a  home  lot."  Hence  when 
the  town  clerk  recorded  his  own  lot,  probably  in  1652,  he 
said  :  "Joseph  Hawley  hath  purchased  of  Richard  Mills,  a 
home  lot,  2  acres,  bounded  with  the  street  on  the  east,  John 
Blakeman  west,  Adam  Hurd  on  the  south,  and  a  highway 
north."  In  this  case  Mr.  Hawley  appears  to  have  purchased 
the  whole  Right  of  Mr.  Mills  as  well  as  the  home  lot. 

This  was  the  only  form  of  land  records  in  the  early 
settlement  of  the  place. 

Besides  the  above  evidence  as  to  the  first  families,  nearly 


encouragement  to  erect  a  plantation  at  or  near  a  river  called  the  Farmill  river, 
and  the  lands  adjacent,  this  Court  refers  the  consideration  of  thi«  motion  to  Capt. 
Nathan  Gold,  Mr.  James  Bishop,  Mr.  Thomas  Fitch,  and  Mr.  John  Hollv,  and 
they  are  desired  and  appointed  to  view  the  said  lands,  and  to  meet  sometime  in 
November  next,  to  consider  of  the  aforesaid  motion,  and  to  labor  to  work  a  com- 
pliance between  those  two  parties  in  Stratford  ;  and  if  their  endeavors  prove 
unsuccessful  then  they  are  desired  and  ordered  to  make  return  to  the  Court  in 
May  next  what  they  judge  expedient  to  be  attended  in  the  case."   Col.  Rec,  ii.  141. 


Emigration  to  Stratford.  183 

all  other  early  settlers  in  this  town  are  found  residing-  else- 
where in  the  year  1639.  In  a  previous  part  of  this  book,  all 
settlers  before  165 1  are  spoken  of  as  first  settlers,  but  those 
included  more  than  the  first  company  formed  at  Wethersfield. 

Most  of  these  seventeen  families  had  been  in  America 
four  or  five  years,  looking  for  a  final  location  as  a  home  for 
life,  and  it  must  have  afforded  a  sense  of  rest  and  satis- 
faction when  they  planted  themselves  on  the  western  shore  of 
the  great  river,  then  known  only  as  the  Pootatuck,  as  their 
final  earthly  home.  And  yet  it  was  not  like  home  to  them, 
but  as  unlike  as  was  possible  to  be. 

Apparently  they  had  all  left  many  friends  and  kindred 
whose  faces  they  would  have  been  glad  to  have  seen  after  these 
several  years  of  wandering  in  the  new  world  instead  of  stop- 
ping among  the  Indians.  Some  of  them,  if  not  all  had  relin- 
quished comfortable  homes  and  possessions,  but  when  landed 
at  Stratford  they  had  not  a  shelter  nor  a  covering  for  the 
night,  probably,  unless  they  accepted  hospitality  in  the 
Indian  wigwams,  of  which  there  is  no  tradition.  They  ma}^ 
have  sent  on  a  part  of  their  company  early  in  the  Spring  to 
prepare  some  houses  or  places  for  temporary  dwelling,  but 
the  compan)'^  was  organized  so  late  in  the  winter  that  there 
was  but  little  time  before  the  important  work  of  planting  de- 
manded all  their  labor  and  skill,  and  therefore  but  small 
preparations  could  have  been  made,  however  diligent  and 
energetic  their  efforts. 

And  all  this,  for  what?  To  escape  religious  oppression. 
Much  has  been  written  with  a  purpose  to  indicfite  that  that 
oppression  was  of  little  consequence — largely  imaginary,  and 
soon  forgotten,  but  no  unprejudiced  mind  can  read  a  tenth 
part  of  the  historical  proof  of  the  trerribleness  of  that  op- 
pression without  a  shudder  of  horror  and  wonder. 

But  in  their  minds  at  least  there  must  have  been  a  great 
pressure,  to  drive  them  3000  miles  across  a  mighty  ocean, 
with  families  of  children,  into  a  wilderness  country  such  as 
they  knew  this  was.  If  the  emigrating  companies  had  con- 
sisted only  of  men,  as  in  the  recent  exodus  to  California  in 
1849,  the  case  would  have  been  very  different  and  might  havr^ 
been  stimulated  solely  for  gain. 


1 84 


History  of  Stratford. 


Fortunately,  however,  for  the  world,  whatever  the  sad  or 
hopeful  experiences  through  which  they  had  previously 
passed,  they  came,  and  through  them  the  nations  have  been 
and  are  honored. 


The  First  Families  of  Stratford,  Connecticut. 


1  Rev.  Adam  Blahetnau. 

2  Williafu  JSeardsley, 

3  William  Willcoxson, 

4  Michard  Harvey. 

5  JEli^ahetJi  Cnrtiss, 

6  Thomas  Fairchild, 

7  PJiilip  Groves. 

8  John  Murd. 

9  Michard  Mills. 


1 0  William  Judson, 

11  Francis  Nichols. 

12  John  Feat. 

13  Fobert  Seahrook. 

14  Thomas  Sherivood. 

15  William  Croolzer. 

16  William  Quemhy. 

17  Arthur  Bostivick. 


It  is  possible  that  this  list  should  be  varied  a  little,  but 
from  the  best  light  after  very  close  study,  it  seems  to  be 
correct. 

There  were  no  settlers  here  in  1638,  as  supposed  by 
Dr.  Trumbull. 

These  seventeen  families  consisted  of  the  following 
persons : 

1  Rev.  Adam  Blakeman,  his  wife  and  six  children, 

2  William  Beardsley,  his  wife  and  four  young  children, 

3  Wiliam  Willcoxson,  his  wife  and  three  young  children, 

4  Richard  Harvey  and  his  wife, 

5  Widow  Elizabeth  Curtiss  and  two  sons,  young  men, 

6  Thomas  Fairchild  and  his  young  wife, 

7  Philip  Groves  and  wife, 

8  John  Hurd,  probably  his  wife  and  son  Adam, 

9  Richard  Mills,  his  wife,  sister  of  Caleb  Nichols,  and  son  Samuel, 

10  William  Judson,  his  wife  and  three  sons. 

11  Francis  Nichols  and  his  three  sons, 

12  John  Peat,  his  wife  and  two  children, 

13  Robert  Seabrook,  probably  no  wife, 

14  Thomas  Sherwood,  his  wife  and  six  children, 

15  William  Crooker  and  wife,  perhaps  children, 

16  William  Quemby,  his  wife,  two  children,  perhaps  others, 

17  Arthur  Bostwick,  probably  his  wife  and  one  son. 


0  persons. 
6  persons. 
5  persons. 

2  persons. 

3  persons. 
2  persons. 

2  persons. 

3  persons. 

3  persons. 
5  persons. 

4  persons. 
4  persons. 

1  person. 
8  persons. 

2  persons. 
4  persons. 

3  persons. 


Richard  Mills. 


c 

p 

3 

a 

.2 
i     2 


Thomas  Sherwood  /      /       STRATFOED  VILLAGE  IN  1639, 
Containing   only    Seventeen   Families. 


1 86  History  of  Stratford. 

This  was  the  company  that  came  from  VVethersfield 
through  the  wilderness  to  Stratford  on  foot  and  horseback, 
and  tradition  says,  forded  the  Housatonic  river  somewhere 
above  Stratford  village.  What  few  articles  of  household 
goods,  if  any,  which  were  too  heavy  to  bring  on  horseback 
were  doubtless  sent  around  by  water. 

Their  encampment  on  the  plain — then  an  Indian  field — 
near  the  harbor  must  have  been  picturesque  as  compared 
with  the  present.  Possibly  the}^  had  some  tents  for  tempo- 
rary shelter  and  then  built  themselves  wigwams  or  log  houses. 
What  they  suffered  in  the  chilly  Spring  winds  and  rains  has 
not  been  recorded  although,  no  doubt,  it  was  often  repeated 
to  their  successors  for  many  years  following. 

Probably  new  planters  came  the  next  year;  and  there- 
after, nearly  every  year,  until  1675.  In  1650  there  were  about 
fifty  families  in  the  town,  several  others  having  come  and 
removed. 

These  families  were  all,  probably  communicants  in  the 
English  or  Episcopal  Church  when  they  left  their  native 
land,  and  brought  their  certificates  as  such,  with  them  to 
America.  In  the  list  of  the  ship  that  brought  three  families 
that  settled  in  Stratford — William  Beardsley,  William  Will- 
coxson  and  Richard  Harvie,  it  is  said  :  "the  parties  have  cer- 
tificates from  the  minister  of  St.  Albans  in  Hertfordshire,  and 
attestations  from  the  justice  of  the  peace  according  to  the 
Lord's  order.''  ^  These  certificates  as  communicants,  and  at- 
testations of  loyalty — they  having  taken  the  oath  of  loyalty — 
by  the  justice,  were  a  prerequisite  to  the  privilege  of  emigra- 
tion. The  Rev.  Adam  Blakeman  himself  was  not  only  a  com- 
municant, but  a  regularly  ordained  minister  of  the  English 
Church  in  good  standing,  having  been  suspended  from  officiat- 
ing as  a  clergyman,  for  nonconforutity  to  a  few  particular 
forms  of  service,  then  not  in  the  prayer-book.  One  of  these 
was  the  requirement  that  persons  while  partaking  of  the  sac- 
rament should  be  in  a  kneeling  position.  This  kneeling  was 
the  form  of  the  Roman  Catholic  Church  in  which  they  taught 


"  Page  122  of  this  book. 


Ma  fly  Changes.  187 

the  "  Worshiping  of  the  Host."  This  form,  the  Puritans 
thousj^-ht,  was  idolatry,  and  therefore  refused  to  observe  it. 

There  were  no  Presbyterians  in  Stratford,  not  even  in 
1708,  when  the  Saybrook  Platform  was  adopted,  so  far  as  any 
indications  set  forth. 

When,  therefore,  these  first  families  reached  Stratford 
they  organized  themselves  into  a  Church  with  the  recogni- 
tion of  neighboring  Churches,  and  called  themselves,  as  did 
their  neighbors  also,  "a  Church  of  Christ,"  and  these  bodies 
worshiping  together  as  congregations  separate  from  each 
other,  were  after  about  thirty  years,  in  1669,  styled  "  Congre- 
gational Churches."  * 

Richard  Booth  is  not  included  as  one  of  the  first  com- 
pany, because  the  indications  are  that  he  came  with  his 
brother-in-law,  Joseph  Hawley,  who  came  and  purchased 
his  first  land  here  about  1650. 

William  Burritt  seems  not  to  have  been  among  the  first 
settlers,  in  1639. 

Richard  Butler,  the  brother  of  William,  of  Hartford,  as 
given  on  page  108,  in  this  book,  lived  and  died  at  Hartford, 
and  the  Richard  Butler  of  Stratford,  was  here  probably 
several  years  before  165 1,  and  was  another  person  than 
Richard  of  Hartford. 

John  Birdse3'e,  in  all  probability,  did  not  come  to  Strat- 
ford until  1649,  as  stated  in  Barber's  Historical  Collections, 
since  he  did  not  become  a  land  holder  here  until  1654. 

The  list  of  deaths  and  removals  between  1650  and  1670, 
is  as  follows,  nearly,  there  having  been  some  deaths,  doubt- 
less, before  1650,  of  which  there  are  no  records. 

Francis  Nichols,  William  Burritt,  John  Alsop  and  Wil- 
liam Willcoxson  died  in  1650  and  165 1.  Henry  Gregory  died 
in  1655,  Thomas  Sherwood,  Sen.,  in  1655,  Robert  Coe,  Jr.,  in 
1659,  William  Beardsley  in  1660,  John  Wells,  Sen.,  in  1660  or 
1661,  Joshua  Judson,  in  1661.  Thomas  Uffoot  removed  to 
Milford  and  died  in  1660;  William  Judson  removed  to  New 
Haven  and  died  in  1662.  The  Rev.  Adam  Blakeman  died  in 
1665;  Samuel   Blakeman    died    in    1668;    Thomas    Fairchild, 

^  Col.  Rec,  ii,  ioq. 


1 88  History  of  Stratford. 

Sen.,  and  John  Peacock,  Hugh  Griffin  and  his  wife  Dorothy- 
Griffin,  died  in  1670. 

Edmund  Harvey  from  Milford,  resided  a  short  time  in 
Stratford  and  removed  to  Fairfield,  where  he  died  in  1648. 
John  Pettit,  probably  from  Roxbur}-,  Mass.,  was  here  about 
165 1,  removed  to  Fairfield,  and  he  and  his  wife  were  deceased 
in  1684,  leaving  children,  Sarah,  John  and  three  younger. 
Edward  Higby  was  a  resident  here  a  short  time  about  1654, 
and  soon  removed.  John  Reader,  John  Ferguson,  William 
Read,  and  John  Blakeman,  were  here  but  soon  removed. 

Some  sketches  of  new  settlers  will  be  found  in  the  next 
chapter  of  this  book,   the  number  being  about  30  before  1680. 

The  difficulties  which  arose  in  the  first  church  in  Strat- 
ford, in  1666,  in  regard  to  the  privileges  of  the  halfway  cove- 
nant members,  resulted  in  the  organization  of  a  second  eccle- 
siastical society  in  1668,  and  a  second  Church  in  March,  1670. 

The  question  as  to  a  second  ecclesiastical  society  and 
church  was  settled  in  a  most  generous  and  Christian  manner 
by  the  old  society,  which  was  a  large  majority  of  the  voters 
of  the  town,  notwithstanding  all  that  has  been  published  to 
the  contrar3\ 

The  law  of  the  Colony  did  not  allow  an  ecclesiastical 
society  to  be  organized  in  any  plantation,  except  b}'  permis- 
sion of  the  General  Court.  When  the  difference  of  opinion 
had  continued  in  Stratford  a  little  more  than  a  year,  the 
voters  of  the  town,  being  most  of  them  members  of  or  in 
covenant  with  the  old  church,  made  a  proposition  for  settle- 
ment with  the  minority,  or  those  who  proposed  a  second 
society,  which  was  accepted,  and  was  to  take  effect  at  once  if 
the  General  Court  should  approve  it,  and  this  they  did 
promptly."'     It  gave  one  fourth  of  the  sequestered  ministry 


'"  *'  Dec.  18,  1666,  Voted  and  agreed  that  there  shall  be  (in  case  it  be  found  no 
w.iys  contradictory  to  a  Court  order  to  have  another  minister  here  in  Stratford)  a 
laying  out  of  the  sequestered  land  reserved  for  the  ministry — viz  :  one-quarter  part 
of  it  to  Mr.  Chaunc}-  and  a  quarter  part  of  it  to  Mr.  Peter  Bulkley  or  any  other 
man  by  that  party  obtained  that  now  endeavors  for  Mr.  Bulkley  ;  and  th.Tt  which 
shall  be  laid  out  to  Mr.  Chauncej'  shall  by  him  be  improved  as  his  during  his  life 
or  continuance  in  Stratford  ;  and  in  case  of  removal  the  said  land  is  to  return  to 
the  town  again  ;  provided  ahv.ays  that  the  town  pay  him  for  what  it  is  bettered  by 


Reasons  for  a  neiv  Plantation.  189 

land  to  Mr.  Chauncey  and  the  other  fourth  to  the  minister, 
whoever  he  might  be, —  for  one  had  not  then  been  secured, — 
of  the  second  society,  and  that,  too,  when  the  voters  of  that 
society  numbered  19,  and  those  of  the  old  society  65. 

All  this  was  done  by  the  parties  interested,  without  any 
governmental  authority  whatever. 

The  Woodbury  History  opens  one  of  its  chapters  thus: 

"The  settlement  of  Woodbur}^  was  the  result  of  dilTer- 
ence  in  religious  opinions,  among  the  inhabitants  of  Stratford. 
It  was  ushered  in  by  'thunderings  and  lightnings,  and  earth- 
quakes ecclesiastical.'  " 

There  were  no  "  thunderings  and  lightnings  "  nor 
"  earthquakes  ecclesiastical,"  in  the  matter,  except  such  as 
may  have  occurred  in  Woodbury  years  after. 

There  were  no  ecclesiastical  or  General  Court  threaten- 
ings  or  fulminations  heard  of  in  those  days,  for  the  whole 
arrangement  was  completed  by  amicable  vote  in  the  town 
meeting  without  any  outside  force  or  urgency  whatever;  and 
was  fully  settled  before  Mr.  Zecharia  Walker  preached  a  ser- 
mon in  Stratford. 

The  Woodbury  History  says  Mr.  Chauncey  "  was  or- 
dained in  the  independent  mode,"  which  means,  if  anything, 
chat  he  rejected  the  advice  and  aid  of  the  Association  of  Min- 
isters, which  was  then  the  only  ecclesiastical  body  known  in 
the  Colony  except  the  local  churches.  This  statement  is 
wholly  without  foundation,  as  is  shown  by  his  own  letter  to 
the  minority,  April  16,  1666,  in  these  words:  "  We  have  no 
such  custom  nor  the  churches  of  Christ  zvitJi  zvhoni  ive  hold 
cojiununioii,"  thus  showing  that  he  held  in  highest  estimation 
his  relation  to  the  Association,  which  was  the  onl}-  formal 
communion  of  the  "  Churches  of  Christ"  at  that  day. 


his  improvement,  according  as  ye  town  and  Mr.  Chauncc)-  shall  agree,  .  .  .  and 
in  case  of  decease  the  town  is  to  pay  Mr.  Chauncy,  his  heirs,  what  the  whole  ac- 
commodation, together  with  the  improvement  shall  be  judged,  at  his  decease. 

It  is  further  agreed  on,  in  case  Mr.  Buckley  or  any  other  minister  be  obtained 
he  shall  have,  hold  and  enjoy  his  part  in  every  respect  the  same  as  Mr.  Chauncj-. 

It  is  further  agreed  on  that  as  respecting  a  houselot,  the  reserved  land  for  that 
purpose  shall  be  equally  divided  into  two  lots,  and  Mr.  Chauncy  is  to  have  his 
choice  which  of  the  two  he  will  please  to  have." 


I  go  History  of  Stratford. 

It  is  quite  evident  that  after  this  arrangement  had  been 
made  and  the  minority  had  secured  half  of  the  ministerial 
lands  and  the  sanction  of  the  Court  to  be  a  separate  society, 
that  their  demand  to  occupy  the  meeting  house  as  well  as  the 
old  society  some  portion  of  Sunday,  increased  very  decidedly 
the  difficulties  and  controversies  in  the  town. 

In  the  next  March,  1668,  the  town  "Voted  and  unani- 
mously agreed  on  the  advice  presented  to  us  by  our  Honored 
Governor,  the  Worshipful  Mr.  Jones  [an  Assistant],  and  Mr. 
Stone,  and  our  respected  friends,  Mr.  Jehu  Burr  and  Mr. 
John  Burr,  bearing  date  the  26th  of  March,  1668,  for  our 
present  and  future  direction,  as  to  inhabitants  and  their  privi- 
leges (as  also  their  explication  of  the  first  particular,  sub- 
scribed by  the  honored  Governor  and  Mr.  Jones),  every 
particular  being  particularly  voted  and  agreed  on,  every  par- 
ticular was  accepted  and  should  be  recorded. 

John  Minor,  Recorder^ 

This  advice,  given'  the  day  before  this   town  meeting  was 
held,  consisted   of  four  items  and  an  after  explanation,  the 


^  Advice  of  the  Governor  and  his  Associates. 

"  I.  That  the  present  freeholders,  dwelling  upon  or  possessing  allowed  home 
lots  in  propriety  be  allowed  as  free  planters,  and  have  the  privilege  of  vote  in  all 
town  affairs  ;  and  the  present  outlivers  on  propriety,  have  the  like  libert}'  of  vote 
so  far  as  may  properly  concern  them  in  point  of  interest  in  town  affairs,  as  choice 
of  constable  and  townsmen,  &c.,  but  not  in  granting  of  home  lots  and  receiving 
inhabitants,  or  the  like  where  they  are  not  concerned. 

"2.  That  for  the  future  none  be  admitted  to  privilege  of  vote  as  free  planters 
but  such  as  shall  be  orderly  admitted  by  the  town's  consent  upon  certificate  and 
testimony  according  to  law. 

'"  3.  That  the  sons  of  settled  and  approved  planters  be  not  capable  of  vote  in 
town  affairs  until  of  lawful  age  and  distinct  proprietors  and  planters  themselves. 

"4.  That  no  transient  person  or  persons,  admitted  for  habitation  only  or  mere 
tenantship  be  allowed  the  privilege  of  vote  in  the  plantation  until  orderly  approved 
to  be  free  planters  by  the  town's  consent. 

"  And  whereas  persons  have  built  upon  division  land  contrary  to  the  town's 
order,  it  is  not  our  intent  in  any  thing  by  us  propounded  to  justify  their  so  doing, 
but  leave  the  case  to  the  town's  consideration,  to  provide  for  their  own  good  and 
to  add  such  penalty  for  the  future  to  their  above  said  confirmation  thereof  as  they 
shall  see  cause. 

'■26ih  March,  1668.     The  contents  of  this  writing  we  present  as  our  advice  to 


Regulations  for  Inhabitants. 


191 


whole  established  certain  rules  to  settle  the  question  of  Ic^al 
voters  in  town  matters,  and  as  proprietors  in  the  townshij). 
One  of  these  had  become  an  important  question  in  view  of 
the  voting  in  ecclesiastical  or  society  matters,  and  the  other 
from  the  fact  that  some  persons  had  settled  on  lands  which 
were  not  yet  divided  or  if  divided  were  not  their  own. 

By  these  rules  some  persons  were  allowed,  apparently, 
to  vote  in  ecclesiastical  matters  who  could  not  vote  in  receiv- 
ing inhabitants  or  disposing  of  land. 

The  practical  illustration  of  these  rules  may  be  seen  in 
the  following  town  acts  : 

"  Nov.  22,  1667.  Voted  and  agreed  that  Thomas  Kimberly, 
sen.,  may  come  and  dwell  in  said  town  after  the  manner  of  a 
sojourner." 

"  Feb.  5,  1671,  William  Roberts,  by  a  certificate  under 
the  townsmen's  hands  is  ordered  to  be  enrolled  as  an  inhab- 
itant." 

"  Whereas,  John  Wheeler  hath  let  his  accommodations  in 
Stratford,  unto  John  Levens,  and  presenting  his  desire  to  ye 
town  this  1st  January,  1674,  that  the  said  Levens  be  accepted, 
presenting  also  a  certificate  of  his  blameless  conversation 
according  to  law  ;  The  town  voted  and  consented  the  same 
day  to  his  admittance  as  a  tenant." 

Soon  after  or  about  the  time  this  advice  of  the  Governor 
and  his  associates  was  accepted,  the  second  society  secured 


the   inhabitants    for  their    future    settlement    and    peace,  and    to  that  end    to    be 

confirmed  by  vote  at  their  next  town  meeting. 

John  Wintlirop. 
Wm.  Jones, 
Benjamin  Stone, 
Jeliu  Burr, 
John  Burr. 

'^  An  explication  added  to  the  paper  of  advice,  e^c. 

"It  is  declared  that  the  inhabitants  of  the  Mill  lots  are  to  be  accounted  and 

enrolled  in  the  number  of  the  freeholders  and  not  to  be  looked  upon  as  those  who 

are  named  outlivers,  in  the  paper  presented  to  the  town  ;  and  those  that  are  of  the 

outlivers  who  have  al/o  other  town  proprietors  are  to  be  also  looked  upon  and 

esteemed  freeholders. 

John  Winthrop. 

March  27,  1668.  William  Jones. 


IQ2  History  of  Stratford. 

the  services  of  Mr.  Zecharia  Walker  as  their  preacher  and 
established  regular  services;  and  having  no  meeting  house, 
they  applied  to  the  first  society  for  the  use  of  their  house 
some  part  of  each  Sunday.  This  was  the  first  house  of  wor- 
ship which  stood  at  the  Harbor. 

The  request  was  rejected  at  first,  and  the  division  in  the 
community  became  greater  than  ever;  but  afterward  it  was 
granted,  and  in  1669,  still  further  granted.' 

In  May,  1669,  one  year  later,  the  matter  went  to  the 
General  Court  by  petition,  and  the  Court  requested  that 
"  till  October  Court  there  may  be  liberty  for  Mr.  Walker  to 
preach  once  in  the  day,  as  they  have  hitherto  done  by  their 
agreement,  the  Church  allowing  him  full  three  hours  between 
the  Church  two  meetings  for  the  same ;'"  and  at  the  October 
meeting  of  the  Court  the  same  recommendation  was  contin- 
ued, but  liberty  given  for  Mr.  Walker's  people  to  provide 
another  place  for  meeting  if  it  should  be  found  necessary. 

Connecticut  and  JVeif?  Haven  Colonies  were  united 
in  one  by  a  new  charter  granted  by  King  Charles  II.  dated 
April  23,  1662  ;  under  which  the  freemen  of  the  jurisdiction, 
the  "one  body  corporate  and  politic  in  fact  and  in  name,"  by 
their  representatives,  were  "  annually  to  hold  two  general 
assemblies — one  on  the  second  Thursday  in  May,  and  the 
other  on  the  second  Thursday  in  October — to  consist  of  the 
governor,  deputy  governor  and  twelve  assistants,  with  the 
more  popular  element  of  two  deputies  from  every  town  or 
city."" 

■'  "May,  1669,  Genl  Court.  Upon  the  petition  of  the  church  at  Stratford,  this 
court  doth  declare  that  whereas  ye  church  have  settled  Mr.  Chauncey  their  officer 
and  doe  desire  that  they  may  peaceably  injoy  the  full  improvement  of  their 
minister  and  administrations  without  hindrance  or  disturbance,  the  Court  grants 
their  petition  therein,  only  the  Court  seriously  adviseth  both  parties  to  choose 
some  indifferent  persons  of  piety  and  learning  to  compose  their  differences  and 
settle  an  agreement  among  them,  and  that  till  October  Court  there  may  be  liberty 
for  Mr.  Walker  to  preach  once  in  the  day,  as  they  have  hitherto  done  by  their 
agreement,  the  church  allowing  him  full  three  hours  between  the  church  two  meet- 
ings for  the  same." 

*  Conn.  Col.    Rec,  i.  iii. 

*  Hollister's  Conn.  History,  i.  209. 


Colonial  Siirrotindings.  103 

This  established  the  General  Assembly  in  place  of  the  old 
General  Court,  and  constituted  a  popular  government  of 
great  constructive  force  and  executive  ability  ;  and  was  the 
second  "  key  note  "  to  the  government  afterwards  established 
for  the  United  States;  Ludlow's  first  constitution  of  Con- 
necticut being  the  first.  This  union  affected  Stratford  but 
little,  since  it  had  been  under  the  Connecticut  Colony  from 
the  first,  but  it  created  some  considerable  excitement  and 
trouble  in  New  Haven  and  the  plantations  in  union  with  it. 

Neiv  Afnsterdani— now  New  York— had  been  a  trou- 
blesome neighbor  to  the  Connecticut  and  New  Haven  people, 
and  whoever  w^as  most  in  fault,  it  is  certain  that  the  needless 
Dutch  and  Indian  war  in  1643,  was  the  cause  of  great  excite- 
ment, some  loss  of  life  and  much  expense  to  these  two  Col- 
onies. This  old  calamity  had  not  been  forgotten  in  1653, 
when  by  the  irritating  conduct  of  the  Dutch  Governor,  the 
Commissioners  of  the  United  Colonies  determined  on  an 
expedition  with  500  soldiers  against  that  government,  and  of 
this  number  of  men  Stratford  was  to  furnish  six  and  Fairfield 
eight.  After  the  Commissioners  had  voted  for  the  war  and 
ordered  and  proportioned  the  men  and  war  provisions  among 
the  Colonies,  the  Massachusetts  General  Court  refused  to 
cooperate  in  prosecuting  the  war,  and  the  expedition  was 
delayed  and  finally  failed.  This  was  the  occasion  of  some 
irruption  between  Stamford  and  New  Haven,  because  of  this 
delay  and  failure,  and  because  only  church  members  were 
allowed  to  vote  in  those  plantations;  and  also  when  Mr. 
Ludlow — by  far  the  most  capable  statesman  then  within  the 
two  Colonies,  determined  to  leave  the  jurisdictions. 

When  King  Charles  IL  was  restored,  he  gave  to  his 
brother,  the  Duke  of  York,  large  possessions  in  America,  and 
the  Duke  proceeded  to  secure  possession  of  his  territory  by 
sending  in  the  summer  of  1664,  Col.  Richard  NicoUs  to  take 
possession  of  them,  and  his  appearance  at  Boston  created 
great  excitement,  the  colonists  fearing  there  might  be  some 
new  trouble,  but  the  only  demand  that  was  made  wns  for 
soldiers  to  go  against  New  Amsterdam.  Col.  Nicolls,  how- 
ever, proceeded  to  his  place  of  destination,  and  in  August  of 


1^4  History  of  Stratford. 

that  year  the  city  surrendered,  without  bloodshed,  and  it  was 
named  New  York  in  honor  of  the  Duke  of  York." 

Woodbury  Plantation  was  settled  by  a  company 
organized  for  the  purpose  at  Stratford  in  the  year  1672.  The 
Woodbury  History  says  this  settlement  "  was  the  result  of 
difference  in  religious  opinions  among  the  inhabitants  of 
Stratford,"  but  it  seems  to  have  been  the  result  rather  of  a 
spirit  of  enterprise,  progress  and  ambition  to  secure  comfort- 
able homes  and  inheritances  for  their  descendants. 

The  plantation  at  Derby  had  been  commenced  in  1654  by 
Milford  people,  and  several  men  in  Stratford,  namely  :  Joseph 
Hawley,  Henry  Tomlinson,  Ebenezer  Johnson,  Doct.  John 
Hull  and  Jabez  Harger,  had  become  interested  in  the  settle- 
ment of  that  place,  by  purchases  of  land  from  the  Indians  of 
the  Paugasset  tribe. 

In  1666,  a  company  had  been  organized,  principally  from 
Milford  and  Branford,  for  a  settlement  at  Newark,  N.  J.,  and 
with  this  movement  some  of  the  inhabitants  of  Stratford  had 
joined. 

Individual  families  had  removed  at  various  times  from 
Stratford  to  Fairfield,  Long  Island,  Westchester,  N.  Y.,  New 
London,  Durham  and  Stonington. 

In  1667,  Mr.  Samuel  Sherman,  Mr.  Thomas  Fairchild, 
Lieut.  William  Curtis,  Ens.  Joseph  Judson,  Mr.  Joseph 
Hawley,  John  Minor  and  others  had  received  liberty  to 
establish  a  plantation  at  Potatuck,  afterwards  Newtown,  but 
the  enterprise  was  soon  abandoned,  for  in  1670,  the  same 
parties  nearly,  led  by  the  then  comparatively  wealthy  Mr. 
Samuel  Sherman,  petitioned  the  General  Court  for  liberty  to 
make  a  plantation  at  Farmill  river,  then  within  the  territory 
of  Stratford,  which  failed,  apparently,  for  want  of  room. 

In  1671,  Mr.  Henry  Tomlinson  and  others  of  Stratford, 
purchased,  under  a  grant  from  the  General  Court,  territory 
of  nearly  30,000  acres  of  land  for  a  plantation,  at  what  after- 
wards became  the  town  of  New  Milford. 

The  next  plantation  proposition  was  a  grant  by  the  Gen- 
eral Court,  in  May,  1672,  to  "  Mr.  Samuel  Sherman,  Lt.  Wm. 

'"  See  Hollistcr's  History,  i.  22S. 


Woodbury  Planters. 


195 


Curtice,  Ens.  Joseph  Judson  and  John  Minor,  themselves  and 
associates,  liberty  to  erect  a  plantation  at  Poinperoage," 
which  was  made  a  grand  success  in  a  very  short  time. 

"  Early  the  next  spring,"  fifteen  of  Mr.  Walker's  congre- 
gation started  with  their  families  for  the  wilderness  of 
Pomperaug."  Seventeen  had  signed  the  "  Fundamental 
Articles"  for  the  settlement,  but  two,  Mr.  Samuel  Sherman 
and  Thomas  Fairchild,  did  not  remove  thither. 

The  signers  were : 


Samuel  Sherman,  Sen., 
Joseph  Judson,  Sen., 
John  Minor, 
Israel  Curtiss, 
John  Wheeler, 
John  Wyatt, 
John  Sherman, 
John  Judson, 
Joshua  Curtiss, 


Samuel  Styles, 
Titus  Hinman, 
David  Jenkins, 
Moses  Johnson, 
Samuel  Munn, 
Roger  Terrill, 
Eleazer  Knowles, 
Thomas  Fairchild. 


By  this  list  it  may  be  seen  that  only  two  of  the  original 
minority  of  eight'"  who  inaugurated  the  division  of  the 
church  at  Stratford — Joseph  Judson  and  John  Minor — re- 
moved to  Woodbury,  and  hence  that  the  removal  was  more  a 
question  of  personal  interest  and  civil  advantage  than  of 
church  division. 

Other  families  soon  removed  from  Stratford  to  Wood- 
bury, and  the  emigration  continued  many  years.  In  King 
Philip's  and  the  Narragansett  war,  several  of  the  families 
returned  to  Stratford  for  temporary  protection  until  the  close 
of  the  war,  when  they  again  took  possession  of  their  home- 
steads in  Woodbury. 

This  temporary  return  is  proved  by  a'town  vote  of  Strat- 
ford in  the  autumn  of  1675,  when  several  of  the  leading 
Woodbury  men  were  appointed  on  the  committee  to  attend 


"  Woodbury  History,  i.  35. 
'-  See  page  173  of  this  book. 


1^6  History  of  Stratford. 

to  the  fortification  of  the  village  of  Stratford.''  These  men — 
Lt.  Joseph  Judson  and  Sergt.  John  Minor,  who  was  reelected 
town  clerk  and  served  two  years,  were  among  the  most 
prominent  of  the  Woodbury  company,  and  they  with  others 
of  their  number  were  here  in  Stratford  in  the  autumn  of  1675, 
and  doubtless  remained  all  winter  and  the  next  summer,  for 
in  October,  1676,  Rev.  Zechariah  Walker  himself  being  then 
at  Stratford,  with  several  other  of  his  parishioners  addressed 
a  letter  to  the  General  Court  seeking  special  protection  if 
they  should  at  that  time  return  to  Woodbur}'  ;  but  they  did 
not  all  return  that  year,  for  some  of  them  remained  until  into 
the  year  1678.'' 

Kiii(f  JPJiilip^s  War,  which  became  largely  a  war 
with  the  Narragansett  Indians,  then  much  the  most  numerous 
tribe  in  Connecticut  and  Rhode  Island,  if  not  in  all  New 
England,  broke  out  in  July,  1675,  and  continued  one  year  or 
a  little  more. 

It  was  fortunate  that  the  military  forces  of  the  Colony 
had  been  well  organized  during  the  previous  nine  years,  for 
otherwise  there  probably  would  have  been  great  slaughter  of 
the  whites  in  New  England. 

In  May,  1666,  the  General  Court  organized  the  tour 
counties  of  Hartford,  New  London,  New  Haven  and  Fair- 
field, they  being  the  first  in  the  Colony.'^ 

13  "  Nov.  I,  1675.  At  a  lawful  town  meeting  at  Stratford,  It  was  voted  and 
agreed  to,  and  Capt.  [VVm.]  Curtiss,  Left.  Joseph  Judson,  Sergt.  Jere.  Judson, 
Sergt.  John  Minor,  Sergt.  Jehiel  Preston,  Robert  Clark,  John  Pickett,  Sen.,  were 
chosen  a  Committee  to  act  according  to  ye  order  of  ye  General  Court  respecting 
fortification.  John  Minor,  Recorder." 

i->  "  Nov.  18,  1678.  It  was  voted  that  that  societ)^  formerl}^  contributing  to  ye 
maintaining  of  Mr.  Chauncey  should  as  formerly  allow  him  sevent}'  pounds,  the 
other  inhabitants  that  have  neglected  to  contribute  to  the  maintenance  of  the  min- 
istry should  pay  to  Mr.  Chauncey  in  proportion  with  the  rest  of  that  society,  to  be 
aded  to  the  seventy  pounds,  the  others  that  have  yearly  payed  to  Mr.  Walker  have 
their  liberty  to  pay  to  Mr.  Chauncey  as  much  as  they  please  for  the  year  past." 

15  "  May,  1666.  This  Court  orders  that  from  the  east  bounds  of  Stratford  to 
the  west  bounds  of  R^^e  shall  be  for  future  one  (bounty  which  shall  be  called  the 
County  of  Fairfield.  And  it  is  ordered  that  the  County  Court  shall  be  held  at 
Fairfield  on  the  Second  Tuesday  in  March,  and  the  first  Tuesday  in  November 
yearly."     Col.  Rec,  ii.  35. 


The  Narragansett  War.  107 

In  May,  1673,  the  militia  companies  of  the  towns  were 
placed  into  county  organizations,  and  a  Major  appointed  for 
each  county,  and  these  were  the  highest  officers  in  the  mili- 
tary ranks  at  the  time,  except  the  Governor.  Capt.  Robert 
Treat  of  Milford,  was  chosen  Major  of  New  Haven  county 
and  Capt.  Nathan  Gold,  of  Fairfield,  Major  for  Fairfield 
county. 

The  train  band  of  Stratford  had  officers  appointed  June, 
1672,  as  follows:  William  Curtiss,  Captain;  Joseph  Judson' 
Lieutenant,  and  Stephen  Burritt,  Ensign  ;  and  at  the  same 
Court  William  Curtiss  was  appointed  one  of  the  "  Committee 
for  the  well  ordering  of  the  militia  in  case  of  any  sudden  exi- 
gency," for  the  Colony. 

At  the  same  Court  it  was  "hereby  declared  that  till 
farther  order  be  taken.  Captain  Nathan  Gold  shall  be  deemed 
chief  military  officer  of  the  county  of  Fairfield,  and  Capt. 
William  Curtice  his  second." 

Also,  at  the  same  time,  the  Court  "  ordered  that  500 
dragoons  should  be  forthwith  raised;  the  proportion  for 
Fairfield  county  was  fixed  at  120,  thus:  Fairfield,  38;  Strat- 
ford, 33;  Stamford,  24;  Greenwich,  8;  Norwalk,  7;  Rye 
being  near"  is  excused  ;  the  officers  being  Thomas  Fitch, 
Captain  ;  Jehu  Burr,  Lieutenant ;  Matthew  Sherwood,  Ensign. 
Each  dragoon  was  provided  with  a  sword  and  belt,  a  "ser- 
viceable musket  with  a  shott  powch  and  powder  and  buUitts." 

All  these  military  organizations  were  preparatory  in 
view  of  self-defence  against  any  emergency.  During  the 
last  few  days  of  July,  1675,  the  disturbances  by  King  Philip's 
men  which  had  commenced  in  Massachusetts  in  the  early  part 
of  the  month,  rapidly  increased,  and  on  the  6th  of  August  the 
first  draft  of  soldiers  was  made — one  hundred  dragoons  from 
Hartford,  sixty  from  New  Haven,  and  seventy  from  Fairfield 
counties,  to  be  ready  "  at  an  hour's  warning."  Drafting  men 
for  the  militia  and  collecting  provisions,  ammunition  and  arms 
was  continued  from  this  time  forward  for  several  weeks. 
Confusing  reports  of  the  hostile  movements  and  the  depreda- 
tions of  the  Indians  near  Norwich,  Connecticut,  and  up  the 

"^  This  is  obscure. 
14 


1^8  History  of  Stratford. 

Connecticut  river,  reached  the  war  council,  and  small  parties 
of  soldiers  were  sent  in  different  directions.  Major  Treat, 
with  an  army  of  about  two  hundred  men  was  sent  into  Massa- 
chusetts to  aid  the  forces  in  that  Colony,  when  an  alarming 
report  was  circulated  that  the  Paugasset  Indians  at  Derby 
"  were  with  their  arms  prepared  in  a  hostile  manner,"  and  Mr. 
Alexander  Bryan,  of  Milford,  sent  to  Hartford  for  protection, 
in  consequence  of  which  Major  Treat  was  recalled  from 
Massachusetts. 

At  this  time  the  greatest  alarm  prevailed  throughout  the 
Colonies,  and  great  military  exertions  were  made. 

The  war  Council,  Sept.  3,  1675,  ordered,  "that  in  the 
several  plantations  of  this  Colony  there  be  kept  a  sufficient 
watch  in  the  night,  which  watch  is  to  be  continued  from  the 
shutting  in  of  the  evening  till  the  sun  rise ;  and  that  one- 
fourth  part  of  each  town  be  in  arms  every  day  by  turns,  to 
be  a  guard  in  their  respective  plantations  ;  to  be  ordered  and 
disposed  as  the  chief  military  officers  shall  appoint;  and  all 
soldiers  from  sixteen  to  seventy  years  of  age  (magistrates, 
commissioners,  ministers,  commission  officers,  school  masters, 
physicians  and  millers  excepted)  are  to  attend  their  course  of 
watch  and  ward  as  they  shall  be  appointed.  It  is  also  order- 
ed that,  during  these  present  commotions  with  the  Indians, 
such  persons  as  have  occasion  to  work  in  the  fields  shall  work 
in  companies  ;  if  they  be  half  a  mile  from  the  town,  not  less 
than  six  in  a  company,  with  their  armes  and  ammunition  well 
fixed  and  fitted  for  service."  " 

This  put  all  the  capable  men  of  the  Colony  into  the  ranks 
and  into  the  service,  and  the  excitement  and  calamity  were 
great.  One  event  of  war  followed  another  in  quick  succes- 
sion. On  the  igth  of  September,  the  Fairfield  dragoons, 
under  Ens.  Stephen  Burritt  of  Stratford  reported  at  Hartford 
and  were  sent  north,  the  regular  army  having  preceded  them  ; 
and  about  fifteen  days  later  while  Major  Treat  and  his  army 
were  at  Westfield,  Mass.,  Springfield  was  attacked  by  the 
Indians,  but  the  Major  and  his  forces  arrived  in  time  to  save 
the  lives  of  the  people  and  about  half  of  the  buildings  of  the 
town  ;  the  rest  were  burned. 

^^  Conn.  Col.  Record,  ii.  361. 


The  Narragansett   War.  loo 

Thus  continued  the  war,  the  troops  marching  to  New 
London  and  Norwich  and  back,  and  into  Massachusetts  and 
back,  great  fear  and  startling  reports  prevailing.  Simsbury 
was  burned,  private  houses  were  burned  and  the  families 
killed,  and  companies  of  white  people  while  traveling  were 
massacred  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  Colony  and  in  Massa- 
chusetts, 

Frequent  drafts  were  made  for  wheat  in  quantities  of  one 
and  two  hundred  bushels  from  a  county  ;  and  for  January 
and  February,  1676,  the  amount  for  Fairfield  county  was  120 
bushels  each  month. 

In  October,  1675,  upon  the  reports  of  the  Indians  being 
ready  at  Narragansett  to  attack  Connecticut,  Major  Treat  was 
sent  in  haste  to  Norwich  to  take  charge  of  the  forces  raised 
in  that  vicinity  and  act  in  defence  of  the  people  until  other 
troops  should  arrive  ;  and  each  county  was  required  to  "  raise 
sixty  soldiers,  well  fitted  with  horses,  arms  and  ammunition, 
as  dragoons  who  shall  be  imbodied  for  motion  in  their  several 
counties  for  the  defence  of  the  Colony;"  and  Capt.  \Vm. 
Curtiss  was  to  command  those  raised  in  Fairfield,  and  appoint 
his  inferior  officers. 

At  this  time  the  war  cloud  thickened  fast  over  the  Nar- 
ragansett Indians,  they  having,  after  some  hesitancy  con- 
cluded to  join  King  Philip,  and  venture  their  all  on  the  field 
of  war. 

On  the  23d  of  November  the  draft  from  Fairfield  county 
was  100  bushels  of  wheat,  and  72  soldiers,  to  be  at  New  Lon- 
don before  the  loth  of  December,  the  plan  being  to  make  an 
attack  on  the  Narragansett  fort  in  the  winter,  and  thereby 
make  a  more  complete  destruction  of  the  enemy  than  could 
be  effected  at  any  other  season. 

The  Narragansett  "swamp  fight"  or  "fort  fight,"  oc- 
curred on  the  19th  day  of  December,  1675,  when  there  had 
just  been  a  great  snow  fall  and  the  weather  was  severely  cold. 
The  Indian  fort  was  situated  in  the  midst  of  a  dense  swamp, 
but  it  was  finally  reached  and  ente-red,  captured  and  burned, 
and  looo  Indians  and  200  English  were  killed  and  wounded. 
The  Connecticut  troops  suffered  more  than  the  Massachusetts 
because  they  entered  the  fort  at  the  place  of  the  greatest  re- 


200  History  of  Stratford. 

sistance.  Of  these  forces  three  of  their  five  captains,  Seeley, 
Marshall  and  Gallop  were  killed  and  one  other,  Mason,  mor- 
tally wounded ;  and  40  men  were  killed  or  died  of  their 
wounds. 

The  next  month  a  new  army  was  raised  and  Fairfield 
county  was  called  upon  for  37  men,  which  were  sent  forward; 
and  the  next  May,  of  an  army  of  300  soldiers,  Fairfield  was 
required  to  furnish  82,  and  of  wheat  400  bushels. 

The  draft  for  meats  was  in  proportion  ;  and  the  taxes 
were  raised  from  a  penny  and  a  half  to  twelve  pence  on  the 
pound  throughout  the  Colony. 

Fortunately  the  war  terminated  in  June  and  July  of  that 
year,  king  Philip  and  his  brave,  terrible  warriors  having 
been  exterminated." 

Of  those  who  distinguished  themselves  as  officers  from 
Stratford,  in  this  Indian  War,  were  Capt.  William  Curtiss,  a 
faithful,  reliable  officer;  Lieut.  Joseph  Joudson,  mentioned 
specially  as  a  capable  field  officer;  and  Ensign,  afterwards 
Lieutenant  Stephen  Burritt,  who  became  a  distinguished 
Indian  fighter,  and  was  kept  much  of  the  time  in  the  saddle 
with  small  squads  of  men  hunting  roving  parties  of  Indians 
intent  on  depredations,  along  the  Connecticut  river. 

The  calamity  of  such  a  war  falling  upon  new  settlements 
in  a  wilderness  country  may  be  estimated  somewhat  from  the 
number  of  freemen  in  the  Colony.  This,  in  1669,  was  only 
790.'*     Besides  these  the  number  of  men  from  16  years  of  age 


'*  For  a  carefully  prepared,  although  abbreviated  and  beautifully  written  ac- 
count of  King  Philip's  War,  see  Hollister's  History  of  Connecticut,  vol.  i.  253. 

'^  The  number  of  Freemen  in  each  of  the  towns  of  Connecticut,  then  incor- 
porated, reported  in  October,  1669,  except  Middletown,  Lyme  and  Rye,  from 
which  no  report  is  recorded.     Col.  Rec,  ii.  518. 


Branford, 

8 

Killingworth, 

19 

Stamford, 

8 

Fairfield, 

45 

Milford, 

46 

Stonington, 

17 

Farmington, 

43 

New  London, 

21 

Stratford, 

64 

Guilford, 

36 

New  Haven, 

91 

Wethersfield, 

58 

Haddam, 

9 

Norwalk, 

33 

Windsor, 

126 

Hartford, 

lis 

Norwich, 
Say  brook. 

25 
23 

790 

A   Netv  Meetino-Jioiise. 


201 


to  70,  subject  to  military  duty  who  were  not  yet  made  free- 
men, may  have  been  equal  to  this,  but  then  a  draft  of  300 
would  be  a  very  serious  matter  from  1600  men,  but  there 
were  more  than  double  that  number  called  out  within  the 
year  the  war  continued  ;  probably  more  than  1000  different 
men  went  out  in  the  service. 

But  this  was  six  years  before  the  war.  The  list  for  Oct., 
1676,  gives  2303,  which  was  a  prosperous  increase,  notwith- 
standing the  war,'"  and  by  the  grand  list  for  that  year  it  may 
be  seen  how  burdensome  a  tax  of  12  pence  on  the  pound 
must  have  been. 

Such  were  some  of  the  interests  and  calamities  which 
occupied  the  attention  of  the  people  of  Stratford  for  twenty 
years  previous  to  1680,  during  which,  notwithstanding  all  the 
depletions  from  various  causes,  the  numbers  increased,  and 
general  prosperity  attended  their  labors. 

A  New  Meeting -house  was  resolved  upon  only  two 
years  after  the  close  of  the  Narragansett  war,  by  a  town 
vote,  Nov.  18,  1678,  "as  soon  as  may  be,  for  the  use  of  the 
town."     Several  sites  were  proposed,"  and  at  a  meeting  one 


-'^  The  list  of  persons  and   estates  for  purposes  of  taxation  in  each  town,  in 
October,  1676,  was  as  follows  : 


Persons. 

Estates. 

Persons. 

Estates. 

Hartford, 

241 

M559 

New  Haven, 

237 

12993 

Farmington, 

102 

6128 

Milford, 

151 

8524 

Wethersfield, 

141 

100S2 

Branford, 

48 

2579 

Windsor, 

204 

13053 

Guilford, 

98 

6215 

Middletown, 

94 

4811 

Wallingford, 

43 

1660 

Haddam, 

29 

i6go 

Fayrefield, 

152 

9428 

New  London, 

153 

go6i 

Stratford, 

78 

5522 

Norwich, 

71 

4593 

Norwalke, 

65 

4073 

Stonington, 

79 

6016 

Stanford, 

81 

4673 

Lyme, 

45 

2846 

Greenwich, 

36 

1719 

Saybrook, 

85 

5041 

Rye, 

32 

1591 

Kenilworth, 

38 

2342 

Col. 

Rec,  ii.  518. 

■-'1  "Nov.  iS,  167S.  Voted  that  there  should  be  a  new  meeting-house  built  as 
soon  as  maybe,  for  ye  use  of  ye  town."  Five  places  were  mentioned  "  for  ye  set- 
ting of  the  meeting-house  upon."  First,  in  the  street  by  the  pond  ;  2dly,  in  the 
street  by  the  north-west  corner  of  widow  Peat's  lot  ;  3dly,  in  the  street  between 
"Mr.  Hawley  and  John  Beach,  their  home  lots;  4ly,  in  ye  street  between  Caleb 
Nichols  and  Daniel  Beardsley  ;  5th,  upon  the  hill  called  Watch-house  hill." 

The  same  day  it  was  voted  that  these  places  should  be  decided  by  lot. 


202  History  of  Stratford. 

year  later,  Nov.  25,  1679,  they  settled  the  question  to  build  it 
on  Watch-house  hill,  facing-  South  down  Front  street,  as  then 
called.  This  site  was,  as  it  is  still,  on  the  public  commons. 
The^dimensions  of  the  house  were  voted  to  be  "48  feet  in 
length,  42  feet  in  breadth  and  16  feet  between  joints;"  and 
the  building  committee  were  "  Capt.  [Wm.]  Curtiss,  Sergt. 
Jerem.  Judson,  John  Curtiss,  Sergt.  Jehiel  Preston  and  John 
Birdsey,  Jr." 

On  the  loth  of  December,  1678,  they  voted  to  raise  a  tax 
of  one  hundred  pounds  "  to  pay  charges  about  the  building  of 
a  new  meeting-house." 

This  meeting-house  was  built  in  the  summer  of  1680,  for 
the  site  was  not  established  until  November,  1679,'^  and  in 
September,  1680,  it  was  approaching  completion  so  far  that 
they  proceeded  to  fix  the  rules  by  which  it  should  be  seated 
as  follows : 

First,  that  "  every  inhabitant  in  Stratford,  both  men  and 
women,  shall  be  seated  and  placed  in  the  proper  seats  in  the 
new  meeting-house,"  and  Mr.  Samuel  Sherman,  Sen.,  Capt. 
Wm.  Curtiss  and  Mr.  Joseph  Hawley,  were  appointed  to  seat 
the  inhabitants.     The  rules  of  dignity  were  established  : 

"  First,  Magistrates  and  Commission  officers  according 
to  their  place  of  dignity. 

"  2ly,  that  all  persons  past  the  age  of  sixty  years  should 
be  accounted  honorable,  notwithstanding  their  payments  and 
be  seated  accordingly. 

3ly,  that  all  other  persons  under  the  age  of  sixty  years 
should  be  seated  according  to  their  disbursements  and  pay- 
ments to  the  new  meeting-house  which  has  been  according  to 
law." 

It  was,  however,  nearly  three  months  before  the  place  of 


^-  "Nov.  25,  167S.  It  was  voted  that  the  new  meeting-house  should  be  built 
and  settled  upon  the  hill  commonly  called  the  Watch-house  hill. 

"At  the  same  time  Mr.  Israel  Chauncey's  proposal  to  the  town  was  that  if 
they  setl  the  meeting-house  upon  the  hill  hee  would  consent  thereto  with  this  pro- 
visal  that  they  would  allow  him  one  hundred  pounds  within  the  compass  of  two 
years  after  the  first  meeting  in  the  new  meeting-house,  and  there  was  good  encour- 
agement given  him  by  the  town  in  answer  to  his  proposal."  Since  Mr.  Chauncey's 
yearly  salary  was  ^^So  or  more,  he  contributed  so  much  to  the  building  of  the 
meeting-house. 


Btirying-places.  203 

worship  could  be  seated,  there  being  some  delay  in  finishing 
the  work. 

As  to  the  expenses  of  the  house  of  worship,  there  is  a  bill 
of  items  entered  upon  the  town  records  which  includes  only 
a  part  of  its  cost,  the  full  sum  not  being  found.  The  items 
consist  mostly  of  an  account  of  days'  work  rendered  and 
wheat  received  on  account.  One  entry  is  made  that  was  one 
of  the  heavy  items  at  the  time :  "  Due  to  Mr.  Richard  Bryan 
for  glass  and  box  ^19-14-8." 

Wheat  was  received  at  the  time  at  five  shillings  a  bushel, 
and  the  work  of  a  man  was  credited  two  shillings  and  six 
pence  and  three  shillings  a  day. 

This  meeting-house  was  afterwards  prepared  for  other 
purposes  than  those  of  worship,  as  indicated  by  the  following 
town  meeting  record  : 

"  Feb.  19,  1689.  Voted  that  the  present  meeting-house 
shall  be  fortified  for  use  as  a  place  of  security  for  women  and 
children  in  all  times  of  danger  by  any  enemy."  This  was  in 
obedience  to  the  direction  of  the  General  Court  the  previous 
year. 

Burying-places.  —  Before  the  second  meeting-house 
was  built  or  any  action  taken  to  secure  that  end,  it  became 
apparent  to  the  people  of  the  town  that  the  first  burjing- 
ground  was  in  the  wrong  place, — could  not  be  extended  to 
meet  the  wants  of  the  community  and  that  another  must  be 
secured.  Hence  in  1676,  the  town  appointed  a  committee  to 
select  and  lay  out  such  a  place,  but  the  work  was  delayed 
until  February,  1677-8,  when  it  was  completed. 

Of  those  who  died  before  the  new  ground  began  to  be 
occupied,  the  town  records  furnish  only  the  following  list  : 

John  Knell,  son  of  Nicholas,  died  Jan.  16,  1651. 

[Thomas  Sherwood  died  in  i656.]-' 

John  Young  departed  this  life  Apr.  7,  1661. 

Samuel  Blakeman  (an  infant)  died  January,   1661. 

Samuel  Blackeman  died  Nov.  27,  1668. 

Abram  Tomlinson,  son  of  Henry,  died  May  30,  1662. 

^^  This  has  been  placed  on  record  not  by  the  town  clerk  of  that  time. 


204  History  of  Stratford. 

Samuel  Blackeman's  infant  buried  January,  1664. 

Hannah  Griffin,  dau.  of  Hugh,  Sen.,  was  buried  Apr.  30, 
1670. 

Dorothy  Griffin,  wife  of  Hugh,  Sen.,  was  buried  Apr.  30, 
1670. 

Robert  Lane,  son  of  Robert  and  Sarah  Lane,  died  17th, 
I  St,  1673-4. 

Mary  Harger,  dau.  of  Jabez,  died  Apr.  17,  1673. 

Mr.  Nicholas  Knell  died  April  2,  1675. 

Mr.  Thomas  Fairchild  died  Dec.  14,  1670. 

Mr.  Philip  Groves  died  loth  Feb.,  1675. 

Joseph  Judson,  son  of  Joseph,  died  Feb.  i,  1677. 

James  Levens,  son  of  John,  died  Apr.  23,  1678. 

John  Peat,  Jr.,  died  January  28,  1677-8. 

Esther  Gelpin,  wife  of  Samuel,  died  Aug.  27,  1678. 

Sarah  Birdsey,  dau.  of  John,  Jr.,  died  Jan.  21,  1678. 

Sergt.  Nathaniel  Porter  died  Jan.  14,  1679. 

Henry  Tomlinson  died  March  16,  1680-1. 

Elizabeth  Curtiss,  wife  of  John,  Jr.,  died  March  9,  1681-2. 

John  Hurd,  Sen.,  died  Feb.  4,  1681-2. 

Elizabeth  Porter  died  Feb.  6,  1683. 

"Feb.  13,  1677-8.  The  townsmen  according  to  town  act 
Feb.  12,  1676,  and  by  town  order  have  laid  out  one  acre  of 
land  on  the  west  end  of  John  Beers  his  home  lot  for  the  use 
of  a  burying  place,  bounded  east  with  John  Beers,  his  home 
lot  and  common  land,  South,  West,  and  North  with  common 
land." 

This  was  the  place  which  is  now,  and  for  more  than  a 
hundred  years,  has  been  commonly  called  the  Congrega- 
tional bur3nng  ground.  When  laid  out  it  was,  doubtless, 
intended  for  all  the  people  of  the  town,  but  man}^  years  after- 
ward, when  the  Episcopal  Church  was  established,  another 
place  was  laid  out  which  has  always  been  called  the  Episco- 
pal Burying  Ground.  Both  of  these  grounds  are  well  filled, 
and  but  seldom  in  these  days  is  a  new  grave  made  in  them. 
To  walk  through  them  and  read  the  inscriptions  is  something 
like  a  visit  to  the  hearthstones  of  long  remembered  kindred, 
where  the  house  is  left  vacant.     There  is  a  melancholy  sad- 


Burying-places.  205 

ness,  and  yet  a  pathetic  loveliness  about  the  places  where 
kindred  dust  sleeps  its  long  and  peaceful  sleep  ;  and  it  is  not 
the  purpose  in  transcribing  these  records,  to  keep  any  from 
these  sacred  inclosures  where  lessons  of  wisdom  may  be 
learned,  but  to  place  them  where  they  may  be  the  more  fre- 
quently consulted,  and  where  the  rain  drops  will  not  oblit- 
erate forever  the  record.  Already  some  of  them  cannot  be 
wholly  read,  while  others  have  been  deciphered  by  the  assist- 
ance of  various  methods,  at  the  expense  of  half  an  hour's  time 
on  a  single  stone. 

What  a  pity  there  is  not  a  grave-stone  for  every  person 
that  ever  died  in  the  town.  What  a  pity,  and  a  shame  that 
such  matters  are,  and  have  been  neglected,  as  demonstration 
now  proclaims. 

Much  ridicule  has  been  made  of  eulogistic  epitaphs,  but 
how  much  more  to  be  commended  such  pathetic  praise, 
as  if  the  memory  of  the  departed  was  not  at  once  forgotten, 
than  not  even  to  mark  the  place  where  kindred  bodies  have 
been  laid. 

"  Honor  thy  father  and  mother,"  being  a  precept  suffi- 
ciently ancient  and  authoritative,  wh}'  should  children  consign 
to  oblivion  the  names  of  once  fond  and  idolizing  parents? 

In  the  following  record  very  great  care  has  been  exer- 
cised in  going  over  the  whole  ground  three  times,  with  the 
intention  and  diligent  effort  to  present  the  lettering  of  every 
inscription  \w%X.  as  it  is  on  the  stone.  The  record  may  not  be 
perfect  but  is  very  nearly  so. 


2o6 


History  of  Stratford. 


Inscriptions  in  the  Congregational  Burying-place  in  Stratford. 


Alice  Amhler  died  185 1. 

JEliZur  Andretvs  died  May  30, 1753, 
JE.  83. 

Sarah  3Iorton,  Wife  of  Elezer  An- 
drews, Died  Oct.  24,  186S,  JE.  95  yrs. 

Hortensia  E.  Armstrong,  died 
Sept.  5,  1854,  JE.  45. 

In  Memory  of 

Mrs.  Elizabeth  Baldtvin,  Relict 
of  Nathaniel  Baldwin,  who  died  July 
30,  1821,  aged  52. 

In  calm  repose  her  body  lies. 

When  Christ  appears  her  dust  shall  rise. 

Laura  3Iaria,  Wife  of  Charles  Bar- 
ker and  daughter  of  Thomas  M.  and 
Harriet  M.  Rogers.  Born  at  Strat- 
ford, Ct.,  Sept.  20,  1822.  Died  at 
West  Farms,  N.  Y.,  Dec.  18,  1853, 
Aged  31  years  2  months  and  26  days. 

The  memory  of  other  days 
^yhen  thy  loved  form  was  by. 
Will  guide  thy  dear  ones  to  thee, 
In  thy  house  beyond  the  sky. 

In  Memory  of 
Capt.  John  Barlow,  who  died  May 
the  4,  1786,  in  the  37th  year  of  his  Age. 

Tho'  Borea's  Blasts  and  Neptune's  Waves 

Have  tossed  me  to  and  fro 

In  spite  of  Death  by  God's  Decree 

I  harbor  here  below^. 

Where  I  do  now  at  anchor  ride. 
With  many  of  our  fleet. 
Yet  once  again  I  must  make  sail 
Our  admiral  Christ  to  meet. 

In  Memory  of 
Capt.   David  Barloiv,   who   died 

Oct.  6,  1820,  aged  59  years. 
Helen  T.,  wife  of  Edward  Batterson, 

died   Feb.  5,    1848,  JE.  21  yrs.  and  6 

mo.     Also  their 

Infant  daughter,  died  Jan.  31,  1848, 
JE.  2  ds. 

Hiram,  son  of  Sillick  &  Emma  Bat- 
terson, died,  Sept.  6,  1814,  JE.  i  yr.  i 
mo.  &  2  ds. 

Isabella,  and  Helen  J.,  daughters 

of   Edward  &  Mary  H.  Batterson.  JE. 

sYz  mos.     Died  Feb.  ^,  1848. 
Here  Lyes  Buried  the  Body  of 
Ephraim    Beach,    Who    Deceas'^ 

March    the    isti",    i7i'6-i7   in    y'=    30"! 

year  of  his  age. 


Here  lies  Buried  ye  Body  of 
Mr.  Isaac  Beach,  Who  Died  April 
30"^.    Anno    Dom"',    1741,   Aged    71 
years  &  10  mos. 

Here  lies  Buried  the  Body  of 
Lieut.  James  Beach,  he  died  Sep- 
tember ye  16,  1752,  aged  44  years. 

Here  lyes  ye  Body  of 
Jerusha    Beach,     Daug.    of    Mr. 
Jeames  Beach  &  Mrs.  Sarah  his  wife, 
who  died  Jany,  y'^  20,   1760,  in  y*^  19 
year  of  her  age. 

Here  Lyes  ye  Body  of 
Jerusha  Beach,  Dau""  of  Mr.  James 
and  Mrs.  Sarah  Beach,  who  died  Aug^* 
27"*,  1738,  Aged   5  years,   10  months 
«&  II  Days. 

Here  lyes  ye  Body  of 
Nehemiah    Beach,    Son    of    Mr. 

James  and  Mrs.  Sarah  Beach,  Who 
Died  Aug^*  7*'",  1738,  Aged  5  years  10 
mos.  &  II  Days. 

Here  lyes  y"  Body  of 
Lieut.  Joseph   Beach,   Who    De- 
parted    this    life    December  ye   17"=, 
Anno  Dom°'   1737  in  y'^  66"*  Year  of 
His  Age. 

Here  Lyes  Buried  y'^  Body  of 
Mr.  Nathaniel  Beach,  Who  Died 
Aug.  20*"^,  Ann.  Dom.  1734  in  ye  38th 
Year  of  his  age. 

Here  lyes  Buried  the  Body  of 
3Ir.  Nathaniel  Beach,  Who  De- 
parted this  life  July  24"^,  Anno  Dom°' 
1747.     Aged  84  years  &  3  mos. 

Here  lyes  Buried  ye  Body  of 
3Irs.   Sarah  Beach,  Wife    to  M"^ 
Nathaniel    Beach,  Who  Died    March 
ye  25tii^  A.D.  1738,  Aged  70  years. 

Here  lyes  Buried  the  Body  of 
Mr.  Neheniiah  Beach,  Who  de- 
parted this  life  March  ye  ^^'^,  1770,  in 
ye  jQth  year  of  His  Age. 

In  Memory  of 
Eunica  Beach,  Wife  of  Mr.  Nehe- 
miah  Beach,  who  departed  this  Life 
November  nth,  A.  D.  17 — ,  in  the  4- 
year  of  her  Age.  [This  stone  is  bro- 
ken and  two  dates  destroyed.] 


Inscriptions  in  the  Congregational  Bnrying-place.  207 


In  Memory  of 

Eunica   Beach,    Daughter   of   Mr. 

Nehemiah   and    Mrs.  Eunica   Beach, 

who    departed    this    Life     Aug.   24"", 

A.  D.  1775  in  the  6^''  year  of  Her  Age. 

In  Memory  of 
SfiraJi,  Dauf^  of  Mr.  Nehemiah  Beach 

Who  died   May  2,   1770  in  y*'  3"*  year 

of  Her  Age. 
Hansom  Beacfi,  Died  Oct.  4,  1859, 

Aged  75. 
Slisatl  Beach,   Daughter  of  Ransom 

&    Lucy    F.   Beach,      Died    July  28, 

1882,  Aged  74. 
Lucy  Frost,  Wife  of  Ransom  Beach, 

died  Aug.  17,  1849.  J£.  63. 

Elijah   IF.,  Son  of  Ransom  &  Lucy 

F.  Beach,   died  July  25,   1S32,   JE.  22. 

Here  lyes  y"^  Body  of 

JRiith  Beardslee,  Relict  of   Daniel 

Beardslee,  Died   May  ye  4^'',    1732  in 

y'  71  year  of  her  age. 

Here  lyes  ye  Body  of 
3Ir.  Daniel  Beardslee,  died  Oct"^ 
ye  7,  1730,  in  ye  86  year  of  his  age. 
Here  lyes  y"  Body  of 
Mr.  John  Beardsley,  Died    No- 
vember  17"',   1739,  in  ye  52  Year  of 
his  age. 

Here  lyes  y"  Body  of 
Mr.  John  Beardslee,  Died  Novem- 
ber y'^  7,  1702  in  ye  52"^  year  of  his  age. 

John  Beardsley,    Died    Nov.    20, 

1833,  aged  30  years, 
Sidney  J.  Beardsley,  Died   May 

19,  1852,  JE.  54. 
Mary  Ann    Thompson,    Wife  of 

Sidney  J.  Beardsley,  Died  Aug.    16, 

1844,  JE.  45. 

In  Memory  of 
Helen  Judson,  who   died  May  26, 

1S25,  aged  26  years. 
Also  of 
Edwin  Judson,   son   of  Sidney   J. 

&   Mary    Ann    Beardsley,    who    died 

Sept.  25,  1825,  aged  5  months. 

Charles  _P.  Beers,  Died  Oct.  7, 
1S50,  JE.  27  yrs. 

Josiah,  son  of  Nathan  and  Hannah 
Beers,  died  June  22'^  1752  aged  13 
mos.  &  4  ds. 

Josiah  Beers,  son  of  Ensn.  Josiah 
and  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Beers,  died  Janry, 
ye  ^tb^  j^gQ_gj^  aged  27  years. 

Lewis  Beers,  Died  April  12,  1851, 
^.  52  Yrs. 


Susan,  Wife  of  Lewis  Beers,  Died 
Dec.  23,  1881,  JE.  80. 

3Jffr</rtre^  daughter  of  Lewis  &  Susan 
Beers,  died  June  30,  i83i,aged  i  year 
and  II  months. 

The  Remains  of 
Samtiel  Beers,  who  departed   this 
life  October  17,  1798,  aged  70  years 
&  4  months. 

In  Memory  of 
John  Bell,  from  London,  late  mer- 
chant of  the  City  of  New  York  ;  who 
died  Sepf  21st,  1798  in  the  44  year  of 
his  age.  He  was  son-in-law  to  John 
Brooks,  Esquire,  of  Stratford. 

(Our  Father  &  Mother) 
Wni.  H,  Benjamin,  Died  Feb.  10, 

i860,  JE.  f,2.     Also 
Cynthia  A.,    His  Wife,  Died  Sept. 

28,  1S66,  JE.  60. 

George  F.,  Son  of  William  H.  & 
Cynthia  A.  Benjamin,  died  Oct.  13, 
1848,  JE.  3  yrs.  &  6  mo. 

George,  son  of  William  H.  &  Cynthia 
A.  Benjamin,  died  Feb.  14,  183S,  aged 
5  yrs.  &  2  mo's. 

In  Memory  of 

Mrs.  HannaJi,  Betts,  the  Wife  of 
Mr.  Moses  Betts,  who  died  December 
24^^  A.D.  17S2,  in  y"  22  year  of  her 
Age. 

Sacred  to  the  memorj-  of 

Benjamin  Bigelow,  who  died, 
Sept.  25,  1815,  aged  70  years. 

Sacred  to  the  memory  of 
Catharine  Bigelow,  who  died  Aug. 
I,  1821,  aged  73. 

Here  lyes  Buried  the  Body  of 
Lieut.  Abel  Birdsey,  who  depart- 
ed this  life  May  14th,  Anno   Domni, 
1747,  in  ye  6S"^  year  of  His  Age. 

In  Memory  of 

Nathan  Birdsey,w\\o  died  Aug.  5, 

1832,  aged  83  years,  &  3  mo. 

In  memory  of 

Abigail  Birdscye,  who  died    May 

4,  1827,  aged  72  years. 

Sacred  to  the  memory  of  the 
Ber.    Kathan    Birdsey e,  A.M. 

He  was  born  Aug.  19,  1714  ;  Gradu- 
ated at  Yale  College,  1736.  Ordained 
at  West  Haven,  1742  ;  Dismissed  & 
recommended  by  the  Consociation, 
1758,  and  departed  this  life  Jan.  28, 
1818,  aged  103  years  5  months  &  9 
days. 

The  memory  of  the  just  is  blessed. 


208 


History  of  Stratford. 


Sacred  to  the  memory  of 
Mrs.    Dorothy    Jiirdseye,    Con- 
sort of  the  Rev.  Nathaniel    Birdseye, 
who  died  Sept.  2ist,  1807,    In  the  SS"' 
year  of  her  age. 

In  memorj'  of 
JM'isfi  Lticjf,    daughter   of    the    Rev. 
Nathan   Birdsey,   who  died  much  la- 
mented, Dec.  24,  1823  ;  aged  64  years. 

In  memory  of 
3Ir.    Philo    Birdseye,    who   died 
Jan.  6,  1814,  in  the  30  year  of  his  age. 
He  was  intered  in  Masonic  Order. 

3Irs.  lietsey  Birdsey,  His  Relict 

Died  Feb.  i,  1814  ;    in  the  27  year  of 

her  age. 
This  stone  was  erected  by  Mrs.  Helen 

Birdseye  in  memory  of  hef  husband, 
3Ir.  Thadeus  Birdseye,  who  died 

Feb.  23,   1800  in  the  47*''  year  of  his 

Age. 
Helen,  Widow  of  Thaddeus  Birdseye, 

Died  April  26,  1856,  J£.  94  yrs.  1 1  mo. 

&  13  Days. 

Here  Lyes  the  Body  of 
Bichard  BlackleacJi,  Esq.,  Deed. 

Sept.  the  4*'^  1731,  in  the   78"'  year  of 

his  Age. 

Here  Lyes  Body  of 
3Irs.  AhiyaU  Blackleacli,   Wife 

to  Richard    Blachleach,  Esq.      Aged 

60  years.     Died  March  y^  10,  1712-13. 

Frederich,  son  of  James  &  Fanny 
Blackman.  was  drowned  Aug.  10, 
1826,  aged  19. 

In  Memory  of 

Capt.  Ahijah  Blukeman,  Who 
was  lost  at  Sea  on  his  passage  from 
Bermuda  to  Newprovidence,  In  Au- 
gust 1807,  aged  29  years. 

Here  lyes  the  Body  of 
Anna,  Wife  of  Zachariah   Blakeman, 
who  departed  this  life  March  23''  1789, 
in  the  32''  3'ear  of  her  age. 

Here  lyes  y"  Body  of 
3Irs.  Elizabeth  Blehmau,   Wife 
to  Mr.  Zechariah  Blekman,  Who  Died 
March  23'',  1732.  in  y**  52'^  year  of  her 
age. 

Miss  Anne  Blakeman,  Daughter 
of  Mr.  James  &  Mrs.  Anne  Blake- 
man. died  March  3,  1809,  in  the  22 
year  of  her  age. 

In  Memory  of 
Mr.  James  Blakeman,  who  died 
Novem''"  12"',  1791,  In  the  79"'  year 
of  his  age.    Also, 


Mrs.  Sarah,  his  Wife,  died  Decem'"' 
15*.  1793.  In  the  73"^  year  of  her  age. 
In  memory  of 
Sarah,  the  wife  of  Mr.  James  Blake- 
man, Jun^  Who   Died   December  the 
12  A.  D.  1775,  in  the  26  year  of  her  age. 
In  Mem  or}'  of 
Miller  Blakeman,   son   of  James 
Blakeman,   Jun'',    who  departed    this 
Life,  May  27,  17S1,  in   the  Sth  year  of 
his  age. 

In  Memory  of 
Capt.  Agur  Booth,  who  died  Oct. 

29,  181S,  aged  70  years. 
3Irs.  Anna,  his  relict,  died  Nov.  26, 
1 8 18,  aged  66. 

In  Memory  of 
Daniel    Booth,   who   departed   this 
Life  May  8,    1801    In   the  77   year  of 
his  Age. 

Here  lieth  the  Body  of 
3Irs.  Elizabeth  Booth,  Who  died 
in  the  21^'  year  of  her  age,  Jul}-  29, 
1702. 

[Monument.] 

Elizabeth  Pratt,  wife  of  Charles 
H.  Booth,  Died  in  New  York,  Dec. 
29,  1844,  JE.  33  yrs. 

"For  if  we  believe  that  Jesus  died  and  rose 
again,  even  so  theni  also  which  sleep  in  Jesus 
will  God  bring  with  him." 

Charles  E.,  son  of  Charles  H.  &  Eliz- 
abeth P.  Booth,  Born  March  27,  1843, 
Died  Sept.  18,  1870. 

"We  know  that  when   he  shall  appear  we 

shall    be  like  him;    for  we   shall  see   Him  as 

he  is." 

In  Memor}'  of 

Edward   Waimvriyht,  infant  son 
of  Charles  H.  &  Elizabeth   P.  Booth, 
who  died  July  17,  1835,  aged  6  months. 
In  Memory  of 

Eli  Booth,  son  of  Abijah  L.  &  Abby 
B.  Booth,  who  was  killed  by  fall  of  a 
tree  April  15,  1S23,  aged  14  j^ears. 

Eli  Booth,  Died  Feb.  i,  1S64,  M.  76 

yrs.  &  10  mos. 

Blessed  are  the  dead  which  die  in  the  Lord. 
3Iary,  Wife  of  Eli  Booth,  Died  Sept. 

12,  1865,  JE.  78. 

For  they  rest  from  their  labors  and  their 
works  do  follow   them. 

Frederick  Leavenworth,  son  of 

John   C.  &  Margaret  J.  Booth,  died 
Dec.  29,  1852,  JE.  7  months. 
In  Memory  of 
Capt.    James    Booth,    who    died 
March  19,  1809,  In  the  75"'  year  of  his 
age. 


Inscriptions  in  the  Congregational  Biirying-place.  209 


Here  lyes  Buried  the  Body  of 
Mr,  Janies  Booth,  Who  departed 
this  life,  August  the  20,  1766,  Aged 
78  years. 

In  Memory  of 
Mrs.    Abir/ail,  wife   of    Mr.   James 
Booth,  who  died  Aug.  10,  1S17,  yE.  79. 

In  Memory  of  the  Children  of 

Capt.  James  &  Mrs.  Abigail  Booth. 

Abel  Hoothf  who  died  April  15,  1777, 

in  the  20"^  year  of  his  Age. 
flames  Hoofli,  who  died  March  so**!, 
1766,  in  the  2''  year  of  his  Age. 
Here  lyes  Buried  the  Body  of 
Mrs.  3I(vrtha  Booth,    2'^   wife    to 
Mr.  James  Booth,  Who  Departed  this 
Life  Decern,  y^,  1747,  in  52'^  Year  of 
Her  Age. 

In  Memory  of 
3Ir.  fjohn  Booth,  who  died  Dec.  2, 
1822,  aged  86  years. 

In  Memory  of 
3Irs.  Lncy  Booth,  wife  of  Mr.  John 
Booth,  who  died  Sept.  17.  A.  D.  1817, 
in  the  77  year  of  her  age. 
In  Memory  of 
Mary  Booth,   who    died    Nov.    24, 
1772,  in  y"  3''  year  of  her  age. 
In  memory  of 
Josiah  Booth,  who  died   Dec.  30"', 

1772,  in  y®  5  year  of  his  age. 

The   Children   of  John  and  Mrs.   Lucy 

Booth. 

In  Memory  of 

John  Booth,  who  died  Aug.  10,  1825, 

aged  61  years. 

In  Memory  of 
Mrs.  Sarah  Booth,  the  wife  of  John 
Booth,  who  died  March  24, 1826,  aged 
60  years. 

In  memory  of 
Mrs.  Jeriisha  Booth    &   her    two 
babies,  Wife  of  Mr.  John  Booth,  Jur. 
&  Daughter  of  Mr.   Eli   Lewis,   who 
died  Nov''  10,  1796,  Aged  31  years. 

[A  Monument.     West  Side.] 

Erected  over  the  graves  of 

Jose})h  Booth,  Son  of  Richard  Booth, 

who  died  Sept.  i,  1703,  ^E.  46.     And 
Hannah,    Wife   of  Joseph   Booth    & 
daughter  of  John  &  Elizabeth   Will- 
co.\son,who  died^july  10,1701,^.38. 
Their  Children  zvere  : 
(Tames,  Born  16S8,  Died  1766. 
JTosepJi,  Born  1687,  Died  1763. 

Bohert,  Born ,  Died . 

Nathan,  Born ,  Died . 

Zechariah,  Born ,  Died  1762. 


David,  Born  1679,  Died  1753. 
Hannah,  Bom ,  Died . 

[North  Side.] 

James  Booth,  son  of  Joseph  Booth, 
died  Aug.  20,  1766,  yE.  78. 

3IartJia  ClarJi,  wife  of  James  Booth, 
died  Dec.  3,  1747,  .lE.  52. 

Their  Children    were  : 

Sarah,  Born  1732,  Died  1786. 

James,  Born  1735,  Died  1809. 

John,  Born  1736,   Died  1822. 

Hezehiah,  Born  1739.  Died  1761. 

JosiaJt,  Born  1742,  Died  1767. 

James  Booth,  son  of  James  Booth, 
died  March  19,  1809,  JE.  75. 

Abigail  Ann,  wife  of  James  Booth, 
died  August  11,  1817,  JE.  78. 
Their  Children  were  : 

Abel,  Born  1757,  Died  1777. 

Sarah,  Born  1759,  Died  1841. 

Hezekiah,  Born  1762,  Died  18 14. 

Silas,  Born  1763.  Died  1819. 

James,  Born  1765,  Died  1766. 

Abigail  Ann,  Born  1766,  Died  . 

Betsey,  Born,  1768,  Died  1825. 

Charity,  Born  1771,  Died  1810. 

Amy,  Born  1773,  Died  1844. 

James,  Born  1776,  Died . 

Abel,  Born  1780,  Died . 

[South  Side.] 

John  Booth,    son   of  James   Booth, 
Born  Aug.  3,  1736,  Died  Dec.  2,  1822. 

Lucy,  Wife  of  John  Booth,   &  Daugh- 
ter of    Henry  &  Ann  Curtiss,    Born 
March  1,  1741,  Died  Sept.  17,  1S17. 
Their  Children  -Mere  : 

John,  Born  1764,  Died  1S25. 

William,  Bom  1765,   Drowned  iSio. 

Josiah,  Born  1768,  Died  1772. 

Mary,  Born  1770,  Died  1772. 

Da  rid,  Born  1771,  Died  1792. 

Josiah,  Born  1773,  Died  1852. 

Elijah,  Born  1776. 

Isaac,  Bom  1783,  Drowned  iSio. 
[East  Side.] 

Bichard  Booth,  From  England,  one 
of  the   first  settlers    in    this    town   in 
1639,   Born    1606,  Aged    82  years    in 
16SS.     Date  of  death  unknown. 
Their  Children  7aere  : 

Elizabeth,  Born  1641. 

Ann,  Born  1643. 

Ephraim,    Born  1648. 

Ebenezer,   Born  165 1. 

John,  Born  1653. 

Joseph,         Born  1656. 

Bethya,        Bom  1658. 

Johanna,    Born  i66r. 

Sarah    A.,    The    Wife    of   John  C. 
Booth,  died  March  8,  1849,  J£.  39  yrs. 


2IO 


History  of  Stratford. 


John  Henry,  the  son  of  John  C.  & 
Sarah  A.  Booth,  died  Dec.  6,  1848,  JE. 
2  yrs.  &  7  mo. 

[A  Monument]. 

Capt.  William  Booth,  was  drown- 
ed off  Cape  Cod,  Oct.  18,  iSio,  aged 
45  yrs. 

Mary  A^nn,  Wife  of  Capt.  Wm. 
Boo'th,  Died  July  22,  185 1,  aged  83 
yrs. 

David,    son    of   Wm.    &    Mary    Ann 
Booth,    was  drowned    off  Cape  Cod, 
Oct.  18,  1810,  aged  18  yrs. 
In  Memory  of 

Capt.  William  Booth,  aged  45 
years,  and  his  son 

David  BootJi,  Aged  17  years;  and  of 

Isaac  Booth,   Aged  27  years,  Who 
were  all  drowned   in  Boston-Bay  on 
the  i8th  day  of  Oct.  A.D.  1810. 
Also  in  memory  of 

David  Booth,  who  died  at  New 
York,  Dec.  23*^,  1792,  Aged  21  years. 

3Ir.  Zechariah  Booth,  1762.  [This 
is  the  foot-stone,  of  fine  slate.  The 
head-stone  has  been  broken  off  at  the 
ground,  and  is  not  to  be  found. 

Here  lyes  ye  Body  of 
Mrs.  Ann  Booth,  Wife  to  Mr.  Zech- 
ariah   Booth,   Who  died    May    i8th, 
1733,  in  y*^  37  Year  of  her  Age. 

In  Memory  of 

Zechariah  Brhismade,  died  No- 
vember y**  22*^  1741  in  y"*  56  year  of 
his  age. 

Here  lyes  y'=  Body  of 

SaraJi  Brinsmade,  Wife  to  Mr. 
Zechariah  Brinsmade,  Aged  48  Years 
6  months.     Died  June  ye  9,  1736. 

Hannah  Brinsmade,  Dau.to  Mr. 
Zechariah  &  Hannah  Brinsmade, 
Aged  3  years  &  4  mo.     Died  Sept.  ye 

2^   1736. 

Here  lyes  Buried  ye  Body  of 
3rr.  Benjamin  Brooks  ;  Who  De- 
parted this  life  Dec.  30,  Anno  Domini, 
1745,  in  y*  6ist  Year  of  His  age. 

Here  lyes  Buried  y'^  Body  of 
Mrs.  Mary  Brooks,  Wife  to   Mr. 
Benjamin   Brooks,   Who    died   Nov*"^ 
2°'^,  A.D.  1740,  in  }'«  49*''  Year  of  Her 
Age. 

Here  lyes  y"  Body  of 
Ilnldah  Brooks,  Daut'  of  Mr.  Ben- 
jamin &  M"  Mary  Brooks,  Who  Died 
January  2"'^    1737    in  y"-   12"^   Year  of 
her  Age. 


Sacred  to  the  memorj'  of 
Capt.   JV.   Bird  sen  Brooks,  who 

with  his  Crew  was  lost  at  Sea,   Sept. 
1789  ;  In  the  22'^  year  of  his  Age. 

Stern  Neptune  nods,  tfie  billows  rise. 
In  vain  the  Seamen  raise  their  cries  ; 
Each  in  a  moment  know  their  dom. 
And  share  alike  a  watery  tomb. 

David  Brooks,  died  Mar.  16,  1S62, 
aged  65  years. 

Anna,  Daughter   of    David  &    .^nna 

Brooks,    died    February  ye  13,  1755, 
Aged  16™". 

In  memory  of 
David  Brooks,  who   died  Apr.   26, 
i860,  JE.  87  yrs.  &  II  mo's. 

In  memor)"^  of 
Ahigail    Brooks,    wife    of    David 
Brooks,  Esq.,  who  died  Feb.  13,  1839, 
aged  66  years. 

Sacred  to  the  memory  of 
Edtrard  Brooks,  son  of   David  & 
Abigail    Brooks,     who    died    Apr.   I, 
1822,  aged  7  years  and  7  days. 

Here  lies  inter'd  the  Remains  of 
Eli    Brooks,    Esq.,    son    of    John 
Brooks  &  Anna  his  Wife  who  Depart- 
ed this  Life  Oct'^''  25*'^,  1775,  ^tat  19. 

A  youth  of  a  promising  genius  &  an  obliging 
disposition,  desirous  of  making  all  around  him 
happy.  Just  as  he  had  entered  upon  his  Colle- 
giate studies,  and  given  his  Friends  and  Ac- 
quaintance rais'd  Expectations  of  his  future 
usefulness,  Death  marked  him  for  his  Prey,  & 
in  the  morning  of  Life  called  him  to  the  grave. 

Here  lies  entered  the  Body  of 
Eli,  son  of  Cap*.  Benjamin  &  Rebekah 
Brooks,  who  died   March  4"'.  1777  in 
the  2''  Year  of  his  age. 

Here  lies  Buried  the  Body  of 
Isaac  Brooks,  son  of  M^   Isaac  & 
Mrs.  Temperance  Brooks  who  depart- 
ed this  life,  July    23'^  1777,    Aged   i 
year  &  7  months. 

Sleep  lovely  Babe  and  take  thy  peaceful  Rest, 
God  called  the  hence   Because  he  thought  it 
best. 

In  memory  of 
3Iaria  Brooks,  daughter  of  David 
&  Abigail   Brooks,  who  died  Jan.  12, 
1834,  aged  22  )'ears  &  8  mo. 

John  BrooJvS,  Son  of  John  &  Polly 
Brooks,  died  Aug.  22,  1794,  in  his  4*'' 
year. 

Here  lies  intered  the  Body  of 
John  Brooks,  Esq.,  who  departed 
this  Life  March   7"',  A.D.  1777  in  the 
63'!  year  of  his  age. 


Inscriptions  in  the  Congregational  Biirying-placc.  2 1 1 


In  Memory  of 
Anna  Brooks,  Relict  of  John  Brooks 
Esq.,  who  died  March  19,   1S04,  aged 
^    89  years. 

Here  lies  the  remains  of 
John  BrooTxS,  Esq.,  who  departed 
this  Life  October  22'',  1788,  Aged  49 
Years. 

Farewell  bright  soul  a  short  farewell 
Till  we  shall  meet  again  Above, 
In  the  sweet  groves  where  pleasures  dwell 
And  tears  of  life  bear  fruits  of  love, 
There  glory  sits  on  every  face, 
There  friendship  smiles  in  every  eye. 
There  shall  our  tongues  relate  the  grace 
That  led  us  homeward  to  the  sky. 

John  Brooks,  Esqr.  and  Mrs.   Dorothy 

Brooks,  his  Wife,  have  erected  this 

stone  in  memory  of  their  Son 

Eli,  who  died  August  29,   1783,  Aged 

4  Years  4  months  &  25  days. 

Likewise  in  memory  of  another  infant 

son,  named  also 

Eli,  who  died  the  11  of  August,  1785 

aged  I  week  &  7  hours. 

In  memory  of 
Theodosia  Brooks,  Daur.   of    Mr. 

John  Brooks,  Junr  &:  Mrs.  Dorothy 
his  wife  ;  who  died  Nov.  is"",  1773, 
Aged  4  years  &  22  Days. 

Beneath  this  scattered  dust  here's  silent  laid 
the  Father's  Comfort  &  Mothers  Aid. 
Cropt  like  a  flower  she  fell  a  victim  soon 
tho  flattermg  life  had  promised  years  to  come. 

NcitJian  Brooks,  Son  of  Mr.  David 

&  Mrs.  Ann  Brooks,  who  Died  Nov'"' 
2'',  1746  Aged  13  months  and  7  Days. 

In  memory  of 
Willifnn    Brooks,    who    departed 
this  life  August   11,   1804,  in   the   50 
year  of  his  age. 

In  Memory  of 
Phebe,  relect  of  William  Brooks,  who 
died  July  6,  1822,  aged  66. 

Sacred  to  the  Memory  of 
Willictni  Brooks,  who  departed  this 
life  July  24*",  1809,  aged  30  years. 

Nathan,  son  of  Cap.  Isaiah  &  Mrs. 
Ann  Brown,  died  Nov.  23'''^,  1753, 
aged  4  months. 

Bhoda,  Daughter  of  Capt.  Isaiah  & 
Mrs.  Ann  Brown,  died  Jany24,  A.  D. 
1754,  aged  3  years. 

John  Bruce,    Died   May   10,   1870, 

J£.  82  yrs.  8  mo. 

In  memory  of 
Comjihy,  Wife  of  John   Bruce,   died 

Sept.  17,  1S49,  M.  60. 


Sarah   Burch,    Daughter    of     Mr. 

Jeremiah  &   Mrs.   Sarah  Burch,  Died 

May  ye  I4'\  1738,  aged  2  years  9  mo. 

&12  Da. 

In  Memory  of 
Ilezekiah    Burr  iff,   who  departed 

this  Life,  June   i,  1809;  In   the   70"' 

year  of  his  Age. 

In  Memory  of 
3Ir.  John  liinrift.    Who   departed 
this  Life,  June  29,  1787,  in  y'  77  Year 
of  his  Age. 

Redeemed  from  Earth  and  Pain 
Oh  when  shall  we  assend 
And  all  in  Jesus  presence  reign 
\Vith  our  departed  Friends. 

Here  lyes  the  body  of 
3£rs.  Phehe  Burritt,  formerly  Wife 
to  Mr.   John    Burritt,   who    departed 
this    Life,   March   22,   1789,  in   y"   83 
Year  of  her  Age. 

Redeemed  from  Earth  and  Pain 
And  all  in  Jesus  presence  reign 
With  our  departed  friends. 

In  memory  of 
Nathan   W.    Bur  riff,    who    died, 
Aug.  4,  1838  ;  ^-E.  40  years. 

In  memory  of 
Bobert,  Son  of  Nathan  &  Sarah   Bur- 
ritt, who  died  Aug''  18,  1803,   aged  3 
years. 

Here  lieth  the  Body  of 
Capt.  Stephen  Burritt,    who   de- 
parted this   Life  in  the  57  year  of  his 
age,  January  24"',  169!.* 

In  memor}'  of 

3Irs.  3Iary,  the  Wife  of  Mr.  Charles 

Burroughs,    Who    departed    this    life 

April   the   13     A.  D.    1777,    With  the 

small  pox  in  the  62  Year  of  her  age. 

In  Memory  of 
Mrs.  Bette  Burton,  Wife  to   Mr. 

Ephriam    Burton,  departed  this  life, 

Aug.   10,   1783  in  the  55  Year  of  Her 

Age. 

Erected  by  Robert  Coldwell,  in  mem- 
ory of  his  mother, 
Jane  Coldwell,  and  sister  of  Joseph 

Jamieson,  who  died   Mar.   23,    1S51, 

^•53- 


*  Mr.  Robert  H.  Russell  found  this  stone, 
recently,  in  the  foot-path  from  his  house  to  his 
garden.  It  was  several  inches  under  the  sur- 
face of  the  ground,  and  about  200  feet  from  the 
southeast  corner  of  the  cemetery.  There  is  no 
kftowledge  of,  nor  coniecture  how  it  came 
there.  It  was  probably  first  erected  at  the  old 
cemetery. 


212 


History  of  Stratford. 


Here  lyes  interred  the  Body  of 
Smmiel  'Casre77,  who  died  April  ye 

2'^,  1707,  in  yo  29  year  of  his  age. 
Here  lyeth  y"  body  of 
3Ir.  Israeli  Chaumeif,  Who  was 

minister  of  y''   Gospell  in  this  place 

upwards  of  38  years  &  dyed   March 

ye  14*  170I  in  ye  sg"'  year  of  his  age. 
Here  lyes  ye  Body  of 
Sarah  ClarL\  Wife  to  David  Clark, 

Aged  iS  years  &  )2  Ds.     Died  March 

ye  12,  1743. 
Carrie    ClarJi,    daughter  of  Myron 

&  Jane  E.  Jurson. 

Here  lyeth  the  Body  of 
Deborah  Clarke,  Wife  to  J.  C.  Senr. 

who  departed  this  life  in  the  61^'  year 

of  her  Age,  December  14,  1705. 
In  Memorjf  of 
Edivard  Laivareiice,  Son  of  John 

W.  and    Susana  A.  Close,  who  died 

May  12"'  1843,   aged  6  months  and  14 

days. 
Da  rid  Coe,  Died  Oct.  6,  1842,  aged 

30  years. 

Blessed  are  the  dead  who  die  in  the  Lord. 
Mary   Elizaheth,    Wife   of    David 

Coe,  Died  Aug.  27,  1849,^.  37  yrs. 

Into  thy  hand  I  commit  my  spirit ;    thou  hast 
redeemed  me,  O  Lord  God  of  Israel. 

In  Memory  of 
Capt.  Ehenezer  Coe,  Who  depart- 
ed this  life  March  the  26'i>  1766,  Aged 
62  years. 

In  Memory  of 
3Irs.    Mary    Coe,    Wife  of   Capt. 
Ehenezer  Coe,  who  departed  this  life. 
May  the  23'^  1773.  in  ye  68  year  of  Her 
Age. 

In  Memory  of 
Deac.    Ehenezer    Coe,   who   died 
Aug.  i^',  1820,  Aged  85  years. 

In  Memory  of 
Mrs.   Sarah   Coe,    Wife  of   Deac" 
Ebenezer   Coe,   who    died    Oct.    15"^ 
1S02,  aged  67  years. 

In  Memor}'  of 
SaraJi   Coe,  Dautr.  of  Mr.   Ebenezer 
&  Mrs.  Sarah  Coe,  who  died  Nov.  29"», 
1772  in  y"  6"^  year  of  her  age. 

In  Memory  of 
3Irs.  Esther  Coe,  Wife  of  Mr.  Josiah 
Coe,  who  departed  this  life,  Ocf  i6"», 
1794,  In  the  26*''  year  of  her  age. 

Isaac  Tho)npsoii,  son  of  James  and 
Sally  Coe,  died  Dec.  6,  1822  ;  aged  12 
yrs. 


In  Memory  of 
James  Coe,  Who  died  May  12,  1851, 

JE.  70. 
Sarah  T.,  wife  of  James  Coe,   Died% 
Oct.  5,  1868,  Aged  87. 

In  Memory  of 
James  Coe,  Jr.,  who  died,  Dec.  18, 
1848,  ^-E.  33  yrs. 

The  sweet  rememberence  of  the  just 
Shall  flourish  when  they  sleep  in  dust. 

James  H.,    son    of  James  &;    Helen 
Coe,  died  Sept.   10,   1S52,  aged  4  yrs 
&  9  mos. 
Suffer  little  children  to  come  unto  me. 
In  Memory  of 
3Ir.  James  Coe,  Who  departed  this 
life  July  31,  1790,    In  the  50"^  Year  of 
his  age. 

In  Memory  of 
IluldaJi-    Coe,    wife   of  James   Coe, 
who  died  Nov.  10,  1814,  aged  75  years. 
In  Memory  of 
James  Coe,  the  son  of  James  &  Hul- 
dah  Coe,  who  Departed  this  Life  Sep- 
tember 18,  A.  D.  1778,  Aged  6  months 
&  9  days. 

Here  lyes  Buried  y"  Body  of 
Caj>t.  John  Coe,  Who   Died    April 
19,  Anno  Domni    1741,  in  y'^  Ss**  year 
of  His  Age. 

Here  lies  Buried  y**  Bod}'  of 
Mrs.  Mary  Coe,  Wife  to  Capt.  John 
Coe,  Who  died  September  y^  9"^,  1731, 
in  y*^  69"'  year  of  Her  Age. 
In  Memory  of 
John  E.  Coe,  who  died  Nov.  8,  1827, 
aged  59  years. 

In  Memory  of 
31  rs.    Ennica    Coe,    Wife  of    Mr. 
John  E.  Coe,  who  died  Aug.  3,  1815  ; 
Aged  43  years. 

In  Memorj' of  three  children  of  John 

Ebenezer  &  Eunice  Coe, 

Sally  Coe,  died  Oct.  31'',  180-  [iSoi 

or  2],  aged  6  years. 
3Iary  Coe,  died  Oct.  lo*"^,  1802,  aged 

2  years  &  6  months. 
Hobert  Coe,  died  April  4^'^,  179-  [per- 
haps 1796]  aged  3  months. 
John  If'm.,  son  of  John  &  Anna  Coe, 
died  Aug.  4,  1S26,  aged  6  months. 
Sacred  to  the  memory  of 
Deacon  Zeehariah  Coe,  Who  died 
Aug.  8"\  1805,  JE.  73. 

Also  of  his  wife 
Lei'inia  Coe,   who  died  July   loth, 
1805,  j£.  71. 


Inscriptions  in  the  Congregational  Bnrying-place.  213 


Charles  MortU^xev  Cook,    son  of 

Joseph   &  Mar\'  Cook,   died  June  4, 
1809,  aged  7  )'ears  &  25  days. 
In  Memory  of 
Helen  Louisa,  only  child  of  Joseph 
H.  and   Susan  T.   Cowdry,  who  was 
born  in  New  York,  Feb.  26,  1839,  and 
died  in  New  York,  Dec.  4,  1840,  Aged 
I  year  9  months  and  18  daj-s. 
In  Memory  of 
Helen  Louisa,  second  child  of  Jo- 
seph  H.  and   Susan  T.  Cowdry,  who 
was  born  in  New  York,  Oct.  16,  1842, 
and  died  in  New  York,  Nov.  21,  1844, 
Aged  2  years  i  month  and  5  days. 
Here  lyes  Buried  y''  Body  of 
3Irs.  Abigail  Cui-tis,  Wife  to   M"" 
Ebenezer  Curtis,  Who  Departed  his 
life   Nov"""  29"',  A.  D.  1746,   Aged  32 
3'^ears  10  months  &;  25  Daj's. 
In  Memory  of 
3Lr.  Ahner  Curfiss,  who  departed 
this  LIFE  December  19"',   1779  in  the 
48"^  year  of  his  age. 
O  reader  stop  and  cast  an  eye 
As  thou  art  now  so  once  was  I. 
As  I  am  now  soon  thou  must  bee, 
Prepare  for  death  and  follow  me. 

Here  lies  the  Body  of 
3Ir.  Ahvam   Curfiss,  Who  depart- 
ed   this  Life  September  y*^  7"",  A.  D. 
1779,  Aged  79  years. 

Here  lyes  ye  Body  of 
3Irs,  Elizabeth  Curtiss,  Wife  to 
Mr.  Abraham  Curtiss,  Who  departed 
this  Life,  August  y**  31^*,  1770  in  y" 
68  year  of  her  Age. 
Anna  Curtis,  died  Jan.  4,  1871,  JE. 
86  yrs. 

Sacred  To  the  Memory  of 
Dea.  Agur  Curtis,   who  died  April 
22,  1S44,  in  the  84""  year  of  his  age. 
In  memory  of 
Huldah  Curtis,  wife  of  Agur  Cur- 
tis, &  Mother  of  Lewis  &    Benjamin 
Curtis,  who  died  on    the    6""   day  of 
June,  1858,  Aged  92. 

In  Memor)^  of 
Augur  Curtiss,  who  died  Nov.  10, 
1S38,  aged  81  yts. 

In  Memory  of 
3Iercjf,    wife    of    Agur    Curtiss,    who 
died  Dec.  17,  1850,  M.  90  yrs.  &  7  mo. 
Agur  FeeTi,  son  of  David  &  Amy  Cur- 
tiss, died  Oct. 1,1810, aged  2y'rs  &3  mo. 
Here  lyes  }•'  bod)^  of 
Mrs.  Bethsheba  Curtiss,  formerly 
wife  to  Mr.  Ephriam  Stiles,   Aged  74 
years.     Died  Febuary  y*^  9*'',  1735. 

15 


In  memorj'  of 
Betsey  Curtiss,  who  died  March  21, 
1843,  aged  52  years. 

Catharine,  Wife  of  Marcus  Curtiss, 
died  June  17,  1855,  JE.  61  years. 

In  Memory  of 
Charlotte   Curtis,  'who  died   Mar. 
13,  1866,  JE.  67  yrs. 

In  Memory  of 
David  Curtiss,  who  died   Nov.   i, 
1819,  in  his  81  year. 

In  Memory  of 
3Irs.  SaraJt  Curtiss,  Wife  of  Mr. 
David  Curtiss,  who  departed  this  life, 
March  6"^,  1801,  in  the  60'"  year  of  her 
age. 

Agur,  The  son  of  Mr.  David  &  Mrs. 
Sarah  Curtiss,  who  died  October  ye  9, 
1776,  in  y«  5  year  of  his  age. 

Your  moans  fond  parents  cease 
and  let  this  hope  suffice 
Your  babe  shall  sleep  in  peace 
till  Jesus  bid  it  rise. 

Dolly  Curtis,  died  Feb.  27,  1875,  JE. 
75  yrs.  10  mo. 

In  Memory  of 
Ebenezer  Curtiss,  who  died,  May 
19,  1819,  JE.  42. 

Here  lyes  y"  Body  of 
3Lrs.  Buth  Curtis,  wife  to  Mr.  Eben- 
ezer Curtis,  Departed  this  life.  May  y« 
28"^,  1739  in  y«  70"^  year  of  her  age. 

In  memory  of 
3Ir.  Elihu  Curtiss,  who  died,  Aug. 
9,  1820,  aged  79  years. 

Elihu,  son  of  Daniel  Curtis,  died 
Sept.  23,  1820,  JE.  73. 

After,  wife  of  Elihu  Curtis  &  daughter 

of  Lewis  Nodine,  died  1S04,  JE.  47. 

This  stone  erected  to  their  memory  by 

their  son  Alfred. 

In  Memorv  of 
Mr.   Elijah    Curtis,    Son    of    Mr. 

Henry  &  Mrs.  Anne  Curtiss,  who  died 
Sept.  23'',  A.  D.  1776,  in  the  35"'  year 
of  his  Age. 

Here  lies  inter'd  the  Body  of 
Ephraim  Curtiss,  Esqr.,  who  de- 
parted this  Life,  May  9"',  1775,  in  the 
92'"  Year  of  his  Age,  & 
Elizabeth,  his  wife,  who  departed 
this  Life,  October  5"',  in  the  91^*  year 
of  her  age.* 


*  No  year  is  given  to  the  death  of  Mrs.  Eliz- 
abeth ;  but  probably  she  died  in  1775. 


214 


History  of  Stratford. 


Here  l3-es  ye  Body  of 
EpJiraini  Citrfiss,  son  of  Ephraim 
Curtiss,   Esq.,   &   Mrs.    Elizabeth  his 
Wife,   Who    Died    Decembr  2,    1737, 
Aged  20  years  3  months  &  2  Days. 

Here  lyes  y*  Body  of 
Elizabeth    Cnrfiss,     Daughter     of 
Ephraim  Curtiss,  Esq.,  &  Mrs.  Eliza- 
beth his  Wife,  Who  Died  July  31,  178S, 
aged  8  years  8  months  &  15  Days. 
In  Memory  of 
Dr.  Ezra  Cartiss^  who  died  &  was 
buried  at  Litchfield.  Nov.  17,  1797,  in 
the  33d  year  of  his  age. 
In  Memory  of 
Hannah    CUrrfis,    wife  of    Samuel 
Curtis,  who  died  Jan.  7,  1822,  aged  74 
years  &  i   month. 

In  Memory  of 
Hannah  Curtis,  wife  of  Stiles  Cur- 
tis, of  Norwalk,  &   daughter  of   Sey- 
mour   C.    &    Hannah    Whiting,    who 
died  Feb.  8,  1S38  ;  aged  35  years. 

Here  Ives  y^'  Body  of 
Mrs.  Hannah  Curtis,  Wife  to  Mr. 
Zechariah    Curtis,      Aged    73    years. 
Died  Feby  I4'\  173I  [or  175I]. 

Henrietta  Cartiss,  Born  Jan.  25, 
1811.     Died  April  30,  1874. 

In  Memory  of 
jyir.  Henrif  Curtiss,  who  departed 
this  life.   May   23'^,  1804,  in  the  gsih 
Year  of  his  Age. 

In  Memory  of 
Mrs.  Anne  Curtiss,  the  wife  of  Mr. 
Henry    Curtiss,    who     Departed    this 
Life  September  14"^,  A.   D.    1783,  in 
the  63"'  Year  of  her  Age. 

In  Memory  of 
Mr.  Henri/  Curtiss,  who  died  April 
18,  1814,  aged  63  years. 

In  Memory  of 

Phebe  Curtiss,  wife  of  Henry  Cur- 
tiss, who  died  Feb.  5,  1826.  Aged  O7 
years,  also 

George  Curtis,  their  son,  died  in 
the  State  of  Illinois,  Sept.  18,  1S22, 
JE.  24. 

Harriet,  Daughter  of  Mr.  Henry  & 
Mrs.  Phebe  Curtiss,  died  June  20*'', 
1793.  aged  5  months. 

Eliza,  their  Daughter,  died  March  7"', 
1800,  aged  15  days. 

In  Memory  of 
^[rs.  Hepsy  Curtis,  who  died,  Feb. 
10,  1832,  aged  54. 


Here  lyes  buried  the  Body  of 
Mr.  HezeJxiah  Curtiss,   Who  de- 
parted this  life  Oct.  y"  9"',  1771,  in  y* 
64"^  year  of  His  Age. 

Here  lyes  Buried  the  Body  of 
3Irs.  Bulah  Curtiss,  Dau.  of  Mr. 
Hezekiah  Curtiss  &  Mrs.  Mehetable 
Curtiss,  Who  departed  this  life  Sep- 
tember y^  16,  1771,  in  y«  17"'  year  of 
her  age. 

In  memory  of 
3Irs.  Huldah,  Late  Consort  of  Mr. 
Samuel  Curtiss,  who  was  born  April 
i5"\  -738,  &  died  April  28,  1765. 
HuldaJi,  Dau.  of  the  above  Parents, 
who  was  born  March  16"',  1765,  & 
died  in  July,  A.  D.  1765. 

In  calm  repose 
Their  body  lies 
AVhen  Christ  appears 
Their  dust  shall  rise. 

In  Memory  of 
Mr.  Isaac  Curtiss,  Son  of  Mr.  Sam- 
uel &  Mrs.  Hannah  Curtiss,  who  died 
Jan.  17,  [796,  ^Etat,  21. 

Behold  and  see  as  you  pass  bv 
As  you  are  now  so  once  was  I 
As  I  am  now  so  you  must  be 
Prepare  for  death  and  follow  me. 

Elezabeth    Curtiss,    wife  of    Isaac 

Curtiss,  died  July  i,  1797,  aged  26. 

In  Memory  of 

3Ir.  'Tahez  Curtiss,  who    departed 

this  life,  Jan.   iG"',   1829,    in  the  go*** 

year  of  his  age. 

In  Memory  of 
3Irs.  Betty  Curtis,  wife  of  Mr.  Jabez 
Curtis,  who  departed  this  life,  Oct.  i, 
1818,  in  the  75"'  year  of  her  age. 
In  memory  of 
James  Curtis,  who  died  March  22, 
1821,  Aged  41  Years. 

Here  lyes  Buried  the  Body  of 
3Irs.  Jerusha  Curtiss,  Wiie  to  Mr. 
Stephen  Curtiss,  Who   Departed  this 
Life    Dec.  24"",    A.  D.  1747,   in  ye  21 
Year  of  her  Age. 

Abraham  Curtiss,  Son  of  Mr.  Ste- 
phen &  Mrs.  Jerusha  Curtiss,  Died 
Janry  23'',  174J.  Aged  2  months  & 
12  Ds. 

In  memory  of 

John   Curtiss,    who    died    Aug.   31, 

1S25,  aged  80  years. 

Also  of 

Mary,  his  wife,    who  died    the  same 

day  &  hour,  aged  78. 

They  were  both  deposited  in  the 

same  grave. 


Inscriptions  in  the  Congregational  Burying-place.  2 1 5 


3Ir.  Joseph  Curtiss,  died  Mar.  15, 
1 801,  aged  80  yrs. 

Here  lyes  enter'd  the  Body  of 
Mr.  fTosiah  Ciirfiss,  who  died  May 
26"^,  1773,  in  the  71^'  year  of  his  Age. 

In  Memory  of 
3riss  Eunice  Curtiss,  daughter  of 
Mr.  Josiah  Curtiss,  who  died  Oct.  21- 
1817,  in  the  53  year  of  her  age. 

In  Memory  of 
3Ii\  Josiah  Cuftiss,  who  departed 
this   life,    Feb.   6*'\    1S04,    in   the  70''' 
year  of  his  age. 

In  Memorv  of 
Mrs.  Mary  Curtiss,   Wife  of  Mr. 
Josiah  Curtiss,  who  died  May  20-1817, 
in  the  80  year  of  her  age. 

In  Memory  of 
Lewis  Curtis,    who  died,    March  5, 
1834,  Aged  89  years. 

In  Memor}'  of 
3Irs.  Hejisa  Curtiss,  the    wife    of 
Mr.  Lewis  Curtiss,  who  died  April  16, 
1819,  aged  71  years. 

3Irs.  Martha  Curtiss,  died  Aug. 
26,  1790,  aged  77. 

Mary,  wife  of  Judson  Curtiss,  died 
Feb.  23,  1 814  ;  aged  42  years. 

Judson  Curtis,  Son  of  Mr.  Judson 
&  Mrs.  Mary  Curtiss,  was  killed  by  a 
Cart  wheel  going  over  him  Octo  4"", 
1S05,  aged  5  years  &  10  days. 

In  Memory  of 
Neheniiah,  Curtiss,  who  died  May 
13,  1810,  aged  69  years. 

Phebe  Curtiss,  Died  Jan.  2,  1864,  JE. 
76  yrs.  &  7  mo. 

Here  lies  intered  the  Body  of 
3Irs.  Phebe,  Wife  to   Mr.  Nehemiah 
Curtiss,  who  departed   this  life,  July 
24,  1770,  in  the  32'"'  Year  of  her  age. 

No  gift  of  nature.  Art,  or  Grace, 
E.xempteth  from  the  Burying  place. 
All  must  obey  the  solemn  call. 
Before  that  Tyrant  all  must  fall. 

In  Memory  of 
PoJly,  wife  of  Nehemiah  Curtis,  who 

died  Sept.  17,  1S17,  aged  34  years. 
Also  of  three  Children  of  Nehemiah  & 

Polly  Curtis  : 
Stiles,    died   Sept.   15,    1808,   aged   15 

months. 
Betsey  Ann,    died   Sept.   11,   1S13  ; 

aged  6  months. 
Nehemiah,  died  Sept.  25,  1817  ;  aged 

17  months. 


In  memory  of 
Kehemiah    Curtis,    who    departed 
this  life,  Sept.  30,  1835,  JE.  6r. 
Sacred  to  the  Memory  of 
Anne  Curtiss,    Wife   of    Nehemiah 
Curtis,  Junr.,  who  died  March  3, 1804. 
in  the  22''  year  of  her  age. 
And  of  their  Infant. 
She  lived  much  esteemed 
And  died  much  lamented. 

Peter  Pixlee,  Son  of  Mr.  Daniel  & 

Mrs.    Betsey    Curtiss,    died    May  10, 
1817,  aged  3  months. 

Dea.  Philo  Curtis,    Died   Mav   <; 

1852,  JE.  78.  '     ■ 

In  Memory  of 
Betsey  Curtis,   wife   of   Dea.    Philo 
Curtis,  who  died  Feb.  11, 1S44,  aged  68. 
In  memor}'  of 
Beheeea,  Consort  of  William  Curtiss, 
Deceased,  Dec.  3.  1823,  aged  41  years. 
In  Memory  of 
Bejoice  Curtiss,  who  died  Oct.  11, 
1S61,  JE.  74  y'rs. 

In  memory  of 
Sally  Curtis,  Who  Died  May  2,  183 1, 
Aged  39  years. 

Eliza  Curtis,  Died  Jan.  ri,  1831, 
aged  28  Yrs. 

In  Memory  of 
Capt.  Samuel  Curtiss,  who  died 
•Feb.  15,  1833,  aged  63  years. 

In  Memory  of 
Alice,  Wife  of   Capt.  Samuel  Curtiss 
&   daughter    of    Elisha  &  Sarah   De 
Forest.  Who  died  Dec.  13,  1859,  .^.74. 

3Iary  Ann,  daughter  of  Capt.  Sam- 
uel &  Mrs.  Alice  Curtiss,  died  June 
14,  1814,  aged  5  months. 

Erected  by  Capt.  Curtiss  In  Memory 
of  his  Daughter 
Henrietta,  who  died  Aug'  26"^,  1S03, 
in  the   7"*    Year  of  her  age,  &  of  his 
son  Saml.  J.,   who   died    Aug'   28"', 
1803,  aged  5  yeais. 

Miss  3Iary  Ann,  daughter  of  Capt. 
Samuel  &  Mrs.  Temperence  A.  Cur- 
tiss, died  April  i,  1S14,  aged  ig  years. 

Erected  by  Capt.  Sam'  Curtiss,  In 
memor}'  of  his  Wife, 
Temperence  Anna  Curtiss,  who 
departed    this    life,    Aug'    30"",  A.  D. 
1800,  aged  30  Years. 

In  Memory  of 
Mr.  Samuel  Curtiss,  who  died  Sept. 
8"S  1802,  in  the  68  year  of  his  age. 


2l6 


History  of  Stratford. 


In  Memor)'  of 
Samuel  Clirfiss,  who  died  May  19, 
1826,  aged  69  years. 

In  Memory  of 
Dolly  Cvrtiss,  wife  of  Samuel  Cur- 
tis, who  died,  Sept.  19,  1829,  JE.  66  yrs. 
In  Memory  of 
Charles  Curfiss,  the  beloved  son  of 
Mr.  Samuel  Curtiss,  Jr.,  &  Mrs.  Dolly 
Curtiss,    who    died    Janu'^  8'^,    1793, 
In  the  4  year  of  his  age. 
Sleep,  sweet  Babe  and  take  thy  rest 
God  call'd  thee  Home  he  thought  it  best 
Though  to  thy  parents  dear. 

SaraJi,  Wife  of  Charles  Curtiss,  Died 
Nov.  25,  1877,  Aged  85  yrs.  4  mo. 
In  memory  of 
3Iarij  J.,    who   died    May    12,    1831, 

aged  3  yrs.     Also 
Samuel  H.,  died  April  16,  1831,  aged 
I  y.  &  3  mo.,  daughter  &  son  of  Charles 
&  Sarah  Curtis. 
As  you  stand  by  this  grassy  tomb 

In  silent  sorrow  weep. 
For  two  sweet  infants  side  by  side 

In  death's  cold  slumbers  sleep. 
So  fades  the  lovely  blooming  flower 

Frail  smilling  solace  of  an  hour 
So  soon  our  transient  comforts  fly 
And  pleasures  only  bloom  to  die. 

Charles,  son  of  Charles  &  Sarah  Cur- 
tiss, died  Sept.  3,  1833,  aged  5  mo.  & 
23  ds. 
Emilff,  daughter  of  Charles  &   Sarah 
Curtis,  Died  Feb.  11,  1S32,  vE.  8  mos. 
Adieu  sweet  baby  thy  stay  was  short 
Just  looked  about  and  call'd  away. 

Moxaiia  Peck,    Adopted    Daughter 
of  Charles  &  Sarah  Curtis,  Died  April 
16,  1848,  JE.  23. 
Blessed  are  the  dead  who  die  in  the  Lord. 
In  memory  of 
Sarah,  Dr   of    Mr.    Curtiss    &    Mrs. 
Mary. 

In  memory  of 
Mr.  Silas  Curtis,  who  died  Aug.  5, 
1822,  Aged  72  years. 

In  memory  of 
3Ir,  Silas  Curtiss,    who  died  Jan. 
15,  1816,  in  the  74  year  of  his  age. 
In  memory  of 
3farf/,  wife  of  Silas  Curtiss,  who  died 
April  II,  1805  ;  in  the  50  year  of  her 
age. 

In  Memory  of 
3Irs.  Helen  Curtiss,  Wife  of  Silas 
Curtiss,   Ters.   Daughter   of  Stiles  & 
Naomi  Judson,  who   died  April    2'', 
1801,  Aged  21  years. 


In  Memory  of 
Hannah,  Wife  of  Silas  Curtiss,  who 
died  Nov.  25,   1811,  in  the  65  year  of 
her  age. 

Sacred  to  the  Memory  of 
Solomon  Curtis,  who  departed  this 
life,  July  13,  1824,  JE.  76  )'ears  &  11 
months. 
Blessed  are  the  dead  who  die  in  the  Lord. 

Sacred  to  the  Memory  of 
Jerusha  Curtis,  relict  of  Solomon 
Curtis,  who  died  Aug.  29,  1834,  aged 
76  years. 

O  Death  !  where  is  thy  sting? 
O  Grave  !  where  is  thy  victorj' ! 

In  Memory  of 
Jahez  Curtis,  son  of  Mr.   Solomon 
&  Mrs.  Jerusha  Curtis,  who  died  Feb. 
8,  1797,  JEXdiX..  8  years, 
rhy  flesh  disolv'd  in  sorrow  must  appear, 
While  here  we  drop  ye  sympathetic  tear ; 
The  tomb  shall  safe  retain  its  sacred  trust, 
Till  life  divine  reanimates  thy  dust. 

In  memory  of 
Stephen  Curtis,  who  died  May  8*'', 

1806,  aged  79  )^ears. 

In  memory  of 
3Irs.  Sarah  Curtiss,  Wife  of  Mr. 

Stephen  Curtiss,   who    departed    this 

Life,  November  2'\  1794,  Aged  64  yrs. 
Here  lyes  ye  Bodj'  of 
Stejihen  Jet  son   Curtiss,    Son    of 

Mr.    Stephen    &    Mrs.  Sarah   Curtiss 

Who    died    June    17,    1760,    Aged    3 

Years. 
Sai'ah  Curtiss,  died  April  9,  1766, 

Aged  2  Years  &  8  months. 
Stej)hen  Jetson  Curtiss  died  April 

18,     1766,    Aged    5    years    &  6    mos. 

Children  of  Mr.  Stephen  Curtis,  Junr 

&  Sarah  his  Wife. 
In  Remembrance  of  2  Children  of  Mr. 

Stephen  &  Mrs.  Sarah  Curliss  : 
Abram  Curtiss,  Departed  this  Life 

at  New  York,  September  4*'',  A.  D. 

1776,  &  Buried    in    Harlem    Burying 

place,  in  the  23''''  year  of  his  age. 
Betty  Curtiss    Departed    this    Life, 

October  9"=,   A.  D.    1777,  in  the  ii**" 

Year  of  her  age. 

In  Memor}'  of 
Cajit.  Stiles  Curtiss,  who  departed 

this  Life  the  22'    Day  of  April,  A.  D. 

1785,  in  the  78  year  of  his  age. 
In  Memory  of 
3Irs.  Hehekah  Curtiss,    Relict  of 

Capt.    Stiles    Curtiss,    who   departed 

this   Lif^,  July  i'*,   1798,   In   the  89"' 
Year  of  her  Age. 


Inscriptions  in  the  Congregational  Bur ying-place.  217 


In  memory  of 
Mv.  Thaddeus  Citvtis,  Who  died 
Septr.  23'',    1776,  in   the  30"^   Year  of 
his  age. 

3Ir.  Thaddeus  CurfisSf  who  died 
on  his  passage  from  Exuma  and  was 
buried  in  the  Sea  Dec.  25,  iSoi,  in  the 
22'^  year  of  his,  age. 

In  memory  of 

Salltj  Curtis,  Who  Died,  May  2, 
1831,  Aged  39  yrs. 

ElizabefJi  Curtis  Died  Jan.  11,  1S31, 

aged  28  }'rs. 
Andrew    Dayton,    died    Feb.    11, 

1807  ;  aged  53. 
Anna  Dayton,  Died  March  23,  1869, 

Aged  Si  yrs.  &  8  Mos. 

John  Dayton,  Died  June  16,  1819, 

JE.  35  years. 
Defsey  Dayton,  died  Sept.  9,   1815, 

36  21  yrs. 
tTemsJia,  widow  of  Andrew  Dayton, 

died  Jan.  7,  1847,  JE.  91  Yrs. 
Robert  Dayton  died  June  16,  1816, 

aged  24. 

3Irs.  Ruth  Dayton,  Wife  of  Mr. 
Brewster  Dayton  &  Daughter  of  Mr. 
Abner  Judson,  died  June  15,  1788, 
Aged  26  years  &  11  months. 

Sarah,  Wife    of    Wm.    S.    DeForest, 
died  March  16,  1848,  yE.  30  y'rs. 
Our  Little 
Willie,  only    son    of  A.   E.  &    M.    L. 
Dudly,  died  Feb.  20,  1856.  M.  3  mos. 
How  many  hopes  lie  buried  liere. 
Here  lyes  the  body  of 
3Ir.  Ai^chable  Dunlax),    who   de- 
ceased Sept*""  24,  1713,  in  ye  35"^  y,ear 
of  his  age. 

Here  lies  Interr'd  the  Body  of 
3Irs,  Sarah  Easton,  Wid"   of  M"' 

John  Easton,  of  Hartford,   who  died 

March  )'"  10*,   1750,  In   the  59  year 

of  her  age. 
Charles  S.,  son  of  Charles  &  Sarah 

M.  Edmond,  Died  Oct.  i,  1843,  JE.  3 

and  a  half  mos. 

Sarah  31.,  Wife  of  Charles  Edmond 
Died  Sept.  i,  i88i,aged  80 years. 

Betsey,  daughter  of  William  &  Han- 
nah Edwards,  died  Nov.  13,  1825, 
^t.  28. 

Sacred  to  the  Memory  of 

Anne  Fairchild,  Wife  of  Robert 
Fairchild,  Esqr.,  who  departed  this 
Life,  August  29"^,  1796,  in  the  Ss"' 
Year  of  her  Age. 


Jienjamin  Fairchild,  Died  April 

14,  1865,  yE.  83  yrs.  9  mo. 
Eunice  Fairchild,   Died    Feb.    10, 

1874,  M.  88  yrs.  lo  mo. 

Charles  C.  Fairchild,  Died  April 
30,  1849,  ^E.  30  yrs.  &  II  mo. 
In  Memory  of 

Cornelia,  Daughter  of  Robert  &  Es- 
ther Fairchild,  who  died  April  ir, 
1836,  M.  22  yrs. 

In  Memory  of 
Frederick,  son  of   Robert  &  Esther 
Fairchild,  who  died  May  9,  1862,  /E. 
50  yrs. 

In  Memory  of 
3Ir.  Hamlet   Fairchild,    Son    of 
Capt.   John    Fairchild,    of    Durham, 
who  departed  this  life,  January  the  13, 
1773.  in  y"  17""  Year  of  His  Age. 
In  Memory  of 
Jane  Emeline,  daughter  of  Robert 
&  Esther  Fairchild.    who  died,    Nov. 
25,  1835,  ^-E.  30  yrs.  10  mo.  &  4  ds. 

John  C.  Fairchild,  Died  Feb.  27, 
1873,  yE.  67  Yrs. 

3Iabel,  Wife  of  J.  C.  Fairchild,   Died 

May  16,  1880,  JE.  77  Yrs. 

Here  lyes  the  Body  of 
3Ir,  Joseph  Fairchild,  Who  Died 

April  y^  20"",  1727,  in  y''  37"'  year  of 

His  Aged. 

Julia  A,,  Died  July  10,  1S09,  JE.  9 
yrs. 

3Iaria,  Died  Sept.  5,  1882,  yE.  83  yrs, 
Daughters  of  Robert  &  Esther  Fair- 
child. 
Esther  Fairchild,  wife  of  Robert 
Fairchild,  Esq.,  died  Dec.  19,  1819  ; 
aged  43. 

In  merr.ory  of 
Lewis  Fairchild,   who   died    Sept. 
4,  1826,  aged  32. 
Give  joy  or  grief,  give  ease  or  pain. 
Take  life  or  friends  away  ; 
But  let  me  find  them  all  again 
In  that  eternal  day. 

Louisa,  wife  of  Lewis  Fairchild,  Died 

Oct.  16,  1867,  Aged  71. 
3Iariah,  Daughter  of  Thomas  &  Susan 

Fairchild,  Died  May  19,  1849,  ^E.  i  yr. 

&  II  mo. 

In  Memory  of 
3Iartha,  wife  of  John  Fairchild,  who 

died   Nov.  25,   ^834,   JE   79  yrs.  7  mo. 

&  24  days. 

Here  Ij^es  y"  Body  of 
3lr.  Nathan  Fairchild,  Who  died 

Jany,  y*^  9"'.  1 730-1,  Aged  38  years. 


2l8 


History  of  Stratfo?'d. 


In  memor}'  of 
Philip  Fnirchild,  who  died,  Nov. 

8,  1S30,  aged  64  years. 
Philip,    son   of   Mr.    Philip   &    Mrs. 
Charry  Fairchild,  died  Jany  2i«',  1803, 
Aged  9  months. 

In  Memory  of 
Robert  Fairchild,    Born    Jan.  19, 
1775,  died  July  11,  1835,  JE.  60  yrs.  5 
mo.  &  22  ds. 

"  Requiescat  in  pace." 

Hobert  B.  Fairchild,  Died  Nov. 
I,  1849,  JE.  34  yrs.  &  6  mo. 

Sacred  to  the  Memory  of 

liobcrt  Fairchild,  Esqr.,  who  de- 
parted this  Lite  January  20"',  1793,  In 
the  go""  year  of  his  age. 
In  memory  of 

3Ir.  Robert  Fairchild,    only  son 

of  Robert   Fairchild,   Esq.,  and  Mrs. 

Anne  Fairchild,  his  wife,  who  deceasd, 

April  12"^,  1765,  in  17*'' year  01  hisage. 

In  Memory  of 

Elizabeth  FaircJiild,  the  only 
daughter  of  the  same  Parents,  who 
deceased  July  19,  1745  in  the  3"^  year 
of  Her  Age. 

Sarali  Fairchild,  daughter  of  Cur- 
tis &  Mary  Fairchild,  died  Oct.  1756, 
aged  9  yrs. 

In  Memory  of 

Samuel  A.  Fairchild,  who  died 
Nov.  I,  1S44,  JE.  24  y'rs  &  10  mo. 

Samuel  William,  son  of  Benjamin 
&  Eunice  Fairchild,  Born  in  Stratford, 
March  30,  1811,  Who  was  lost  at  sea, 
on  his  passage  in  Steam  Ship  Pacific, 
which  left  Liverpool  for  New  York, 
Jan.  23,   1S56. 

Susan    E.,    daughter    of    Robert    & 
Sarah    M.    Fairchild,    Born   July   25, 
1854,    Died  March  19,  i860. 
He  is  titling  up  my  mansion, 
Which  eternally  shall  stand. 
For  my  stay  shall  not  be  transient 
In  that  holy,  happy  land. 

Here  lyes  ye  Body  of 
Timothy  Fairchild,  Aged  39  years. 
Died  November  23,  1728. 

Joseph  Farr a ud,    Died   Sept. '  26, 

i860,  JE.  64. 
Anna,  His  Wife,  Died  Aug.  19,  1863, 

JE.  76. 

In  Memor}'  of 
Mr.  Jehiel  Foot,  who  died  Novbr. 

16,  1754,  In  His  3i^t  Year. 

Here  lies  the  Body  of 
3Ir.  Jehiel  Foot,  who  died  Sept.  y« 

2*1,  1740,  in  the  55  year  of  His  Age. 


Joseph  Foot,  son  of  Miller  &  Mary 
Foot;  Dec^  March  26"",  1726,  in  y* 
17"^  j'ear  of  his  age. 

Here  lies  the  Body  of 

3Ir,  Peter  Foot,  who  died  Decemb'' 

y*  8,  1753,  in  y'^  56  year  of  His  Age. 

Sarah  Foot,    wife    to   D Foot, 

sen.  died  Mar.  26,  1704,  in  her46*''}'ear. 
Eugenia,  daughter  of  John  &  Han- 
nah Ford,    Died  Aug.  23,  1851,  JE.  12 
yrs.  10  mo.  &  17  ds. 

Bud  of  promise  early  taken, 

To  a  more  congenial  clime. 

Oh  !  how  soon  thou  hast  forsaken. 

Those  who  loved  thee  here  in  time. 

In  memory  of 
Mr.  Stephen  Frost,  who  died  Aug. 
3,  1S07,  in  the  61^'  year  of  his  age. 

In  memory  of 
Eunice     Frost,     Wife     of    Stephen 
Frost,  who  died  Jan.  14"^,    1807,  aged 
63  j^e.Trs. 

Joseph  Frost,  son  of  Miller  &  Mary 
Frost,  Died  March  26"',  1726,  in  y" 
17"'  year  of  his  Age. 

Wheeler  Frost,  Died  March  2,  1S52, 

yE.  79. 

Here  Lyes  Interred  the  Body  of 
Samuel  Gaskill,  Who  died  April  y'' 

2'',  1707,  in  y*'  29  Year  of  his  Age. 

Christoj>her  Godfree,  aged  58, 
Died  November  26,   1715. 

3Irs.  Amy  Goodwin.     [This  is  on 
the  foot  stone  ;  the  head  stone,  a  fine 
brown   stone,  is   broken   off  and   the 
inscription  entirely  gone.] 
In  Memory  of  the 

Rev.  Hezekiah  Gold,  Who  depart- 
ed this  mortal  Life  April  the  22'^  A. 
D.  1761,  in  y*  67  Year  of  His  Age. 
He  was  the  4""  Settled  Minister  in 
the  first  Society  of  Stratford  of  the 
Presbyterian  &  Congregational  De- 
nomination, &  executed  the  Ministe- 
rial office  in  Sd  Place  for  more  than  30 
years,  which  he  performed  with  Dili- 
gance  &  an  honest  heart  to  the  end  of 
his  Ministr}'. 

Here  lies  Interr'd  the  Body  of 

3Irs.  3Iary  Gold,  Consort  to  the 
Rev''.  Mr.  Hezekiah  Gold,  who  De- 
parted this  Life  July  the  2'^,  1750,  In 
the  48""  year  of  her  Age. 

Here  lyes  y"  Body  of 

Anna  Gold,  Daughter  to  y"  Rev.  Mr. 
Hezekiah  &  Mary  Gold,  who  died 
April  9'*",  Anno  Dom.  1739,  Aged 
about  4  years  &  4  Mo. 


Inscriptions  in  tJie  Congregational  Burying-place.  219 


Here  lyes  ye  Body  of 
Catee    Gold,    Daughter  of  y*  Revd. 

Mr.  Hezekiah  &  Mrs.  Mary  Gold,  who 

died  Sept.  30*'',    Anno   Dom.  1742,  in 

ye  18  year  of  her  Age. 

Here  lyes  y«  Body  of 
Catharine   Gold,    Daughter    of   y« 

Revd   Hezekiah  &  Mrs.  Mary   Gold, 

Who  died  Oct.  23"^,  1743,  Aged  i  year 

&  7  Ds. 
Ann  Gorham,,  Died  May  2,    1878, 

Aged  87. 
Charles    B.  Gorham,    Died  Feb. 

25,  1881,  Aged  S3  years  &  4  mos. 
Eliza  B.,  Daughter  of  Charles  R.  & 

Sarah  Gorham,  Died  June  3,  1S62,  JE. 

25  yrs.  &  6  mo. 

In  Memory  of 
Eliza,  Wife  of  Charles  R.  Gorham,  & 
daughter   of  the  late   Isaac    Brooks, 
who  died  May  2,  1835,   aged  27  years 
&  10  months. 

In  memory  of 
Capf.  Isaac  Gorham,    who    died 
Feb.  14,  1820,  aged  81. 

Capf.  Neherniah  Gorham,   died 
Feb.  17,  1836,  aged  83. 

He  was  an  officer  in  the  army  of  the 
Revolution,  and  served  his  country 
faithfully  through  the  war  which  estab- 
lished the  Independence  of  his  country. 

Joseph    Gorham,    died    April    24, 

1742,  aged  60  years. 
Sarah,  his  wife,  died  April  18,   1822, 

in  y"  37th  year  of  her  age. 
Marij  Gorham,  Wife  of  Capt.  Ne- 

hemiah    Gorham,    died    Jan.  2,    1837, 

aged  74. 

Blessed  are  the  dead  who  die  in  the  Lord. 

Lewis   Walker,  son  of  Lewis  W.  & 

Louisa  M.  Gorham,  died  July  17, 1852, 
yE.  8  mos.  &  16  d's. 

In  Memory  of 
Julia  Elizahefh,    wife  of  Judson 
Gorham,  who  died  Oct.  7,  1832,  aged 

26  years. 

Judson  Gorham,  Died  March   2g, 
1848.  M..  44. 

In  midst  of  life  we  are  in  death. 
Nancy  Gorham,  Relict  of  Judson 
Gorham,  Died   Apr.  24,   1878,  JE.  65 
y'rs. 

In  the  midst  of  life  we  are  in  death. 

In  Memory  of 
3Iiss  3Iary  Gorham,  daughter  of 
Mr.  George  Gorham,  who  died    Dec. 
26,  1813,  in  the  70  year  of  her  age. 


In  memory  of 
Phebe  Gorham,  who  died    July  6, 
1824,  JE.  65. 

Also 
Charity  Gorham,  who  died    Dec. 
14,  1833,  J£.  78: 

And 
George  Gorham,  who  died  Oct.  21, 

1837,  IE.  77. 
Sally  Gorham,  Died  April  28,  1872, 
Aged  66. 

Blessed  Rest. 

Jaines,  son  of  Jeremiah  &  Sarah 
Greemman,  died  Mar.  29,  1726,  Aged 
I  year  7  mo.  &  20  ds. 

Here  Lyes  the  Body  of 
Joseph  Grimes,  Died  March  y«  4"', 
17x6,  in  y^  25"'  Year  of  his  age. 
Here  lyes  the  Body  of 
Hannah  Grimes,  Wife  to  Joseph 
Grimes,   Died  January  j^**  4*'',  1715-6 
in  ye  22  Year  of  Her  Age. 
[A  Monument.] 

3Ierwin  Hale,  aged  58,  Died  at 
Elizabethtown,  N.  J.,  Aug.  13,  1847, 
From  injuries  received  on  the  Rail 
Road. 

Mary,  Wife  of  Merwin    Hale,    Died 
Aug.  30,  1870,  Aged  70. 
In  Memory  of 

Asael  Hawley,  who  died  Jan.  23, 
1820,  aged  25  years. 

In  Memor}-  of 

Mrs.  Abigail  Haivley,   Relict  of 
Mr.  Edward  Hawley,  who  died   Aug. 
31^*,  1803,  in  the  72*^  year  of  her  age. 
In  Memory  of 

Mr.  Edivard  Hawley,  who  de- 
parted this  Life  January  the  11"',  A. 
D.  1782,  in  the  62  Year  of  his  Age. 

Catrin  Hawley,  Daughter  of  Mr. 
Samuel  &  Mrs.  Patience  Hawley,  who 
died  in  the  2'^  year  of  her  age,  Febru- 
ar}-,  1696. 

J.  H.,  May  20,  1690.* 

J.  H.,  June  25,  1691. 

M.  Hawley,  1693. 

Here  L3es  Buried  the  Body  of 

Mr.  Daniel  Hawley,  who  departed 
this  life  July  y'  28"^.   Anno  Domini, 
1750  in  y'^  66">  year  of  His  Age. 
Here  Ives  ve  Body  of 

3Irs.  Deborah  Hawley,  Wife  to 
John  Hawley,  Esq.,  Who  died  Decem- 
ber 3"i,  Anno  Domni,  1739,  in  ye  73* 
3'ear  of  Her  Age. 

*  Probably  the  monument  of  Joseph  Hawley, 
the  first  of  the  name  in  Stratford. 


220 


History  of  Stratford, 


In  Memory  of 
Mr.  Ed7mind  Haivletj,  who  died 
March  2V\  1810,  Aged  55  years. 
Here  lyes  3'e  Body  of 
3Irs.  Elizabeth  Hanley,  Wife  to 
Mr.    Daniel    Hawley,   who    departed 
this  life,   Jan.   the  6.  1763,  in  y"  79*'' 
Year  of  Her  Age. 

Here  lyes  the  Body  of 
John  Hawleii,  Esq.,  aged  63  years 
and  I  mo.     Died  July  27,  1729. 
In  Memory  of 
Luci/  Hatvlet/,    Refect  of  Edmund 
Hawley,  who  died  Aug.  31,   1S40,  JE. 
82  years. 
This  stone  is  erected  by  her  son  Lewis 

Hawley. 
Luct/,  Daughter  of  Edmond  &  Lucy 
Hawley,  Died  Nov.  6,   1822,  aged  25 
yrs. 

Here  L3'es  Buried  the  Body  of 
Mr.  Nathaniel  Ilawleij,  Who  De- 
parted this  Life,  Janry  7"',  Anno  Dom. 
1754  in  y'*  52''  Year  of  His  Age. 
In  Memory  of 
Pairson   Ilairleij,    who    departed 
this  Life,   August   27,   A.  D.  1795,   in 
the  65  year  of  his  age. 

In  Memory  of 
Mrs.  Ahiah  Hairley,  widow  and 
Relect  of  Mr.  Pairson   Hawle}^  who 
departed    this     Life,    Oct.    10,    A.  D. 
1795,  in  the  60"'  year  of  her  age. 
Here  lyes  Buried  y"*  Body  of 
Mr.  Samuel  Hatvieij,    Who    De- 
parted   this   Life,   Aug.    24*'',    A.    D. 
1734  in  y**  87"'  year  of  His  Age. 
Win.  Hawley,  Killed  Nov.  26, 1842, 

JE.  22. 
Charles  Hill,  son  of  Charles  &  Sarah 
Tomlinson,  Died  Jan.  19,  1814,  Aged 

5  months  &  5  days. 

Daniel  Holmes,  Son  of  Mr.  Daniel 

6  Mrs.  Mary  Holmes.  Died  May  3, 
A.  D.,  1738,  Aged  I  year  6  months  & 
21  Days. 

Here  lyes  ye  Body  of 
Mart/  Holmes,  Dau'''  of  M'  Daniel 

&  Mrs.  Mary  Holmes,  who  Died  May 

5"',    1738,   Aged  6  years  7  months  5 

days. 
Mehetahel  Holmes,   Dau»'  of    Mr. 

Daniel   &.  Mrs.  Mary  Holmes,  Died 

April  25"^,    173S,   Aged  4  years  &  5 

Days. 

Here  licth  y^  Body  of 
Mr.  Nathaniel  Hodson,  aged  27 

years,  Deceased  May  the  6"',  1701. 


3Ir.   EliaMin  Hough,   died  Jan. 

3,  1822,  aged  53  Years. 
SaraJi    Eeuns,    widow   of    Eliakim 

Hough,  Died  Dec.  9,    1858,  aged   88 

yrs.  2  mos.  &  24  days. 

This  stone  is  erected  in  memory  of 
Aner  Howes,  Wife  of  Eben"  Howes, 

who  died  Oct.  20"^,  1803.  in  the  47*'' 

year  of  her  Age. 

In  memory  of 
Ebenezer  Howe,  who  died  Jan.  16, 

1832,  aged  90  years. 
3Iary   Howe,    Died   Sept.   5,   1S63, 

JE.  34. 
Sarah  Hotve,    Died   Oct.   2,    1861, 

^.85. 
Emily  IToyt,    Born    Feb.    17,    1800, 

died'Sept.  28,  1862. 

"  He  giveth  his  beloved  sleep." 

In  memory  of 
3Irs.  Betsey  Hubhell,  Wife  of  Mr. 
David  Hubbell,  who  died  March  4^'', 
181 1,  aged  23  Years. 
Hannah  Hubbard,  Widow  of  Dan- 
iel Hubbard,  Died  Aug.i,  1855,^.  73. 
In  memory  of 
3Irs.  3Iary  Hubbell,  wife  of    Mr. 
Ebenezer    Hubbell,    who    died    Sepf 
18"',  1790,  JE.  67. 
Sarah  3Iariah,  daughter  of  Lewis 
S.  &  Julia  Ann  Hubbell,  died  July  22, 
1835,  aged  4  yrs.  and  4  mos. 
In  Memory  of 
Lovisa,  wife   of    Roswell    Humiston, 
who    died   March    11,    1831,  aged   29 
years. 
Sleep  on  dear  wife  &  take  thy  rest. 
Thy  God  has  called,  he  thought  it  best. 
Sleep  calmly  with  the  silent  dead, 
For  thy  blest  spirit  now  has  tied. 
No  joys  on  earth  were  worth  thy  stay. 
They'll  soon  forever  pass  away, 
Hut  joys  eternal  now  are  thine 
Far,  far  beyond  the  bounds  of  time 
Lovisa  I  hope  to  meet  you  there 
And  in  God's  kingdom  have  a  share 
I  hope  to  sing  with  j'ou  above 
The  notes  of  everlasting  love. 

3Iiss  Sibel  Huntington,  of    Nor- 
wich, Conn.,  Died  April  11,  1820,  JE. 
78. 
Erected  by  Jedediah  Huntington. 

In  Memory  of 
Josejihine,  daugh"'  of    Frederick    & 
Delia  C.  Hunt,  who  died  July  7,  1S34, 
JE.  2  y'rs.  &  I  mo.     Also 
Frederica,  died  July  20,  1834,  JE.  i 
year. 
Suffer  little  children  to  come  unto  me,  and 
forbid  them  not,  for  of  such  is  the  Kingdom  of 
Heaven. 


Inscriptions  in  the  Congregational  Bury ing-placc.  221 


In  Memory  of 
Delia  C  Hunt,  widow  of  the  late 
Capt.  Frederick  Hunt,  of  New  Ha- 
ven ;  &  dau"'  of  John  Thompson, 
dec'd  ;  who  died  April  16, 1842  ;  aged 
39  years. 

In  thee  O  Lord,  do  I  put  my  trust;  let  me 
never  be  ashamed  ;  deliver  me  in  thy  righteous- 
ness. Into  thy  hand  I  commit  my  spirit  ;  thou 
hast  redeemed  me,  O  Lord  God  of  truth.  I  will 
be  glad  and  rejoice  in  thy  mercy  ;  for  thou  hast 
considered  my  trouble;  thou  hast  known  my 
soul  in  adversities. 

Here  lyes  y"  body  of 
tfohn  Hard,  deceased  in  y^  63  year 

of  his  Age. 

In  memory  of 
2i^(lorni,  the  wife  of  James  Hurl  hurt 

and  daughter  of  Stiles  &  Naomi  Jud- 

son,  who  died,   March  6,   1S45,  Aged 

50  yrs. 

In  Memory  of 
Doi'ofJif/  Ires,  formerly  wife  of  John 

Brooks,  Esq.,  dec'd.   and  late  widow 

of  Thomas  Ives,  Esqr.,  who  died  Sept. 

12,  1S34,  aged  92. 

Here  lyeth  the  Body  of 
Alice  Jenkins,  the  Daughter  of  D. 

J.,    Who  departed  this  life  in  the   20 

3'ear  of  her  age.  January  9"^,  lyof. 
Abel    Jntleson,    son    to    David    & 

Phebe   judeson.    Aged  about    7    mo. 

Died  Sept.  y"  i8"\   1721. 
3Ir.  Abner  Judson,  died  July  16, 

1814,  ^t.  49. 
Fanny  Judson,  daughter  of  Abner 

&  Elizabeth  A.  Judson  ;  died  Dec.  29, 

1812,  yEt.  14. 

In  memory  of  My  beloved  husband, 
Abner  tJudson,    who  departed  Nov. 

22,  1867.  ^E.  76  yrs.  &  10  mo. 
Maria,  Wife  of  Abner  Judson,  Died 

July  31,  1881,  JE.  85  yrs.  &  9  mo. 
Here  lies  inter'd  the  Remains  of 
3Ir.  Abner  Judson,  who  Departed 

this  Life  February  y"  18'^,  A.  D.  1774 

in  y^*  43''  Year  of  his  Age. 

Here  lyes  the  Body  of 
3Irs,  Ann    judson,    wife    to    Mr. 

Samuel  Judson,  Aged    19  Years  &  6 

months  14  days.  Died  March  14,  1720. 
In  Memor}'  of 
Aaron  Judson,  who  died  Jan.   31, 

1835,  aged  75  years. 

In  Memory  of 
Betfjf     Judson,    who    died    Oct.    2, 

1815  ;  in  the  59,  year  of  her  age. 
In  Memory  of 
Clarissa,  wife  of  Isaac  Judson,  who 

died  Oct.  29,  1822,  aged  39  years. 


[.V  Monument.] 
David  I*.  Judson,    Died    May  24 
1869,  JE.  60. 

William  Judson,    Died   Aug.   30 
1868,  JE.  55. 


Kate  ITolden,  Died  Oct.  5, 1857,^. 

5  mos. 

William,  Died  Mar.  5,  1869,  /E.  7 
mos. 

Children  of  D.  P.  &  E.  S.  Judson. 
Here  lyes  Buried  the  Bodv  of 

Ca2)t.  David  Judson,    Who    De- 
parted   this   life    May   the    5"',   1761, 
Aged  67  years  &  9  months. 
Here  lyes  y*  Body  of 

3Irs.  PJiebe  judson,  formerly  Wife 
to  Capt.  David  Judson,  Who  departed 
this  life  May  y''  20"^,  1765,  Aged  69 
years  &  2  months. 

Daniel  Judson,  Esq.,  Deceased 
Nov.  4,  1813  ;  in  the  86  year  of  his  age. 

Daniel  Judson,  the  son  of  Daniel 

6  Sarah  Judson  ;  died  Sept.  14,  i8'5  ; 
in  the  14  year  of  his  age. 

Death  called  Daniel  long  before  his  hour  ; 
(How  immature  this  sacred  marble  tells) 
It  called  his  tender  soul,  by  break  of  bliss. 
From  the  first  blossom,  from  the  buds  of  joy  ; 
To  join  the  dull  mass,  increase  the  trodden  soil. 
And  sleep  till  earth  herself  shall  be  no  more. 

Daniel,  son  of  Daniel  &  Sarah  Jud- 
son, died  Dec.  6,   1823,  aged  7  years. 
So  break  our  glittering  shaddows,  human  joys, 
The  faithless  morning  smiled,  he  takes  his  leave. 

[A  Monument.] 

Daniel  Judson,  Died  Oct.  4,  1847, 

Aged  84. 
Sarah,  Wife  of  Daniel  Judson,   Died 
Aug.  14,  1S57,  Aged  82. 
The   Children  of  Daniel  and  Sarah 
Judson. 
Daniel,  Died  Sept.  7,  1815,  Aged  14. 
Daniel,  Died  Dec.  6,  1823,  aged  7. 

In  memory  of 

Mrs.  Elizabeth  Abig a  il  Judson, 

who  died  Aug.  31'*,  aged  38  years  ; 

Also  their  Daughter 

Betsey  Judson,  who  died  Sept.  21*', 

aged  15  years  ; 

Also  their  Son 
David  Judson,  who  died   Sept.  3'', 
aged  8  months  : 

All  in  the  year  1803. 
Elizabeth  Ann    3Iills   Judson, 
daughter  of  Rosswell  &  Sarah  Judson, 
died  March  12"^,  1806,  JE.  22  months 
&  II  days. 

Alas  !  how  transient  all  our  earthly  store  ; 
To-day  we  bloom  to-morrow  are  no  more. 


222 


History  of  Stratford. 


[JNIONUMENT.] 

n.  T.  Judsou,  M.D.,  Died  Feb. 
23,  1S51,  JE.  50. 

N<(iH-f/  T.  Jutlson,  died  Sept.  27, 
1864,"^.  69. 

Sara  It  Judson,  died  April  18,  1859, 
^.83. 

Miss  Haunah  Jndson,  Daughter 
of  Mr.  Abner  &  Mrs.  Hannah  Judson, 
died  Sepf  17,  1795,  Aged  21  years  &i 
5  months. 

In  Memory  of 

31  rs.  ITaunah  fTiidson,  formerly 
Wife  to  Mr.  Abner  Judson  Who  de- 
parted this  Life  May}-"  15,  A.  D.  1777, 
in  the  41  Year  of  her  Age. 

In  Memory  of 
Helen  Judson,  wife  of  Aaron  Jud- 
son, who  died  May  26,   1S25,  aged  56 
years.     Also  of 

Edwin  fjiidson,  son  of  Sidney  I.  & 
Mary  Ann  Beardsley,  who  died  Sept. 
25,  1825,  aged  5  montlis. 

In  Memory  of 
Isaac  Judson,  son  of  Mr.  Abner  & 
Mrs.  Hannah  Judson  ;  Who  died  July 
ye  26th^  1772,  Aged  4  years  &  6  months. 

In  memory  of 
Abner  Judson,  son  of  Mr.  Abner  & 
Mrs.  Hannah  Judson,  Who  died  May 
17,  1764,  Aged  2  months  &  17  Ds. 

Here  lyes  Buried  ye  Body  of 
Joshua  Judson,  who  departed  this 
Life,  Nov.  27,  Anno  Domni,   1735,  in 
ye  gs""  year  of  his  age. 

Here  lyes  the  Body  of 
Calif.  James  Judson,  Esq.,  Who 

dyed  Feby  y"  25*^1,  1721,  Aged  71  yrs. 
Here  lyes  y®  Body  of 
3Irs.  BehcJcah  Judson,  Who  Dyed 

Nov.  y"  5'i>,  1717,  Aged  62  Years. 

In  Memory  of 
IsadC  Judson,    who    died    Nov.    5, 
1831,  Aged  46  years. 

Here  lyeth  the  Body  of 
Mr,  Jeremiah  Judson,  Who  died 
in  the  79  year  of  His  Age,   May  15, 
1700. 

Here  lyes  Buried  ye  Body  of 
Mr.  Jerenii((h  Judson,  who   de- 
parted this  life.  Decern.  ii"»,   1759,  i" 
ye  26  Year  of  His  Age. 

Here  lyes  Burried  y"  Body  of 
Ca2)t.  Jeremiah  Judson,  Who  de- 
parted this  life  Feb.  9,  1734,  aged  63 
years. 


Sacred  to  the  memory  of 
Josei>h  Judson,  and  Sarah,    his 

wife  :  Joseph  died  Oct.  8,  1690,  aged 
71  years. 

Sai'ffh  died  March  16,  1696,  aged  70 
)'ears.  Joseph  came  from  England 
when  13  Years  old  in  1634  with  his 
father  Wm.  and  two  brothers  and  re- 
sided in  this  Town  : 

The  old  monument  being  so  effaced  by 
lime  as  10  be  scarcely  ledgible  his  de- 
scendants have  erected  this  to  perpet- 
uate his  memor}',  in  the  year  18 12. 

In  memory  of 
Lewis  Judson,  son  of  Stiles  &  Charry 
Judson,  who  died  Mar.  25,  1837,  aged 
21. 

In  memory  of 
Charity  Judson,  daughter  of  Stiles 
&  Naomi  Judson,  who  died  Feb.  26, 
1817,  aged  29  years. 

In  Memor}'  of 
Lewis   Judson,    Son    of    Stiles    & 
Naomi  Judson,  who  died  July  9,  1815, 
aged  25  years. 

In  memory  of 
N^aonii,  wife    of  Stiles   Judson,    who 

died  June  4,  1850,  JE.  91  yrs. 
Stiles  Judson,  Died,  March  10,  1834, 
aged  81  years. 

Sacred  to  the  memory  of 
Sarah  Judson,  Consort  of  Daniel 
Judson,    Esq.,   Who    died    May  30"", 

A.  D.  1 80S,  Aged  77  years. 

Here  lyeth  Burried  the  Body  of 
3Lr.  Isaac  Knell,  sen.,  who  depart- 
ed this  life   in  the  57  year  of  his  age, 
November  2,  1708. 

Here  lieth  the  Body  of 
Lieut.    Thomas    Knowles,  Who 

Departed  this  Life,  November  3''  17"', 

in  the  57*'^  Year  of  his  Age,  1705. 
S.  L.,  March  30,  1691. 
Cornelia    Augusta,    Daughter    of 

David  &  Laura  Lacy,  Died  April  24, 

1850,  JE.  18  Y'rs  &  6  mo. 

"  Come,  dear  Saviour  take  me  home." 
I  long  to  see  thy  blessed  face, 
To  hear  thy  voice  and  wear  thy  crown. 
The  gift  of  thy  free  grace. 

Short  from  the  cradle  to   the  grave. 
Christine    S,,    Daughter  of   Francis 

B.  iS:  Cathrine  A.  Lacy,  Died  Aug.  22, 
1844.  JE.  17  mo.  2  da's. 

David  Lacy,  Born  Dec.  4,  17S5, 
died  Feb.  9,'  1862,  JE.  76  Y'rs,  2  mo. 
&  5  d's. 


Inscriptions  in  the  Congregational  Bury ing-place.  223 


2).  Augustus  Lnry,  Died  at  Vicks- 
burg.  Miss.,  October  6,  1855,  JE.  26 
y'r=  &  4  mo. 

His  remains  were  removed  to  this 

place,  Apr.  7,  1856. 

Beneath  this  silent  marble  sweetly  sleeps 
A  Farther,  friend,  and  husband,  loved. 
The  memory  of  whose  bright  virtues  keeps 
Fond  hearts  prepared  to  meet  above. 

Little 
Lauvdf  daughter   of  D.  Augustus  & 
Eliza    D.   Lacy,    Born  Aug.  22,    1852, 
Died  Dec.  i,  1S60,  M.  8  Yrs.  3  mo.  & 
9  d's. 

A  flower  transplanted. 

In  Memory  of 
Francis  H,  Lacy,  who  died    Dec. 
26,  1847,  in  the  29'''  Y'r  of  his  age. 

Mother 
JLaura  Burr,  Wife  of  David  Lacy, 
Born  Apr.  25, 1793,  Died  Nov.  5, 1S69. 
JE.  76  Y'rs  6  mo.  10  d's. 

JPeter  Laboree,  the  son  of  James  & 
Abigail  Laboree,  died  March  11,  1721. 

Here  Lyes  Buried  y*  Body  of 
Mari/  Lanison,  Daugluer  of  Wil- 
liam &  Elizabeth  Lamson,   Who  De- 
parted This  life  March  the  3o"\  1727, 
Aged  2  Years,  3  months  &  20  Days. 

Jacob  Lattin,  Son  of  Benjamin  & 
Mary  Lattin,  Dec<i  Novb''.  y«  23,  1724, 
Aged  3  months  &  25  Ds. 

John  Hooker,  son  of  Rev.  Jackson 
&  Sarah  Leavitt,  died  July  11,  1828, 
aged  3  yrs.  8  ds. 

In  memory  of 
Abratn  C  Leivis,  who  died  Dec.  9, 
1845,  JE.  68  Yrs. 

In  memory  of 
Elizabeth  Leicis,  Wife   of   Abram 
C.  Lewis,  who  departed  this  life   Oct. 
30,  1S04,  aged  26  years. 

In  Memory  of  Two  Children  of  Abram 

C.  &  Elizabeth  Lewis, 
Caty,    died    Sept.   12"',    1803,    aged  3 

years  &  5  months. 
Charles,  died  Sept.  5"^,   1803,  aged  i 

3'ear  &  10  months. 
Juliana^   wife  of  Abram   C.  Lewis, 

died  May  16,  1849,  JE.  65. 
Edward  C,  Son  of  A.  C.  &  J.  Lewis, 

died  in  California,  Sept.  29. 

Here  l3-es  Buried  the  Body  of 
3Ir,  Benjamin  Eeivis,  who  depart- 
ed this  life,  July  y*  7"^,  1759,  in  y*  63*^ 
Year  of  His  Age. 


Here  lyes  ye  Body  of 
Mrs.  Sarah  Lewis,    Wife  of    Mr. 
Benjamin  Lewis,  Who  departed  this 
Life,  June  y"  8,  1765,  in  y"  66  Year  of 
Her  Age. 

In  Memory  of 
Mr.  Benjamin  Leivis,    who    de- 
parted this  life.  May  2.  iSoo,  aged  71 
3-ears. 

O  !  welcome,  welcome  Death. 
In  Memory  of 
3Irs.  Elizabeth   Lewis,  Relict   of 
Mr.  Benjamin  Lewis,  who  died  Oct. 
29"\  1802,  aged  6^  years. 
Beujamin  Birdscy   Leivis,    son 
of  Mr.  Agur  &  Mrs.'  Charity   Lewis, 
died  Sept.  13"',  1805,  aged  11  months. 
Vouth's  forward  slips 
Death  soonest  nips. 

Here  lies  intered  the  Body  of 
Daniel  Lewis,  Son  of  Mr.   Joseph 
Lewis,  who  departed  this  Life,  April 
9''',   A.  D.    1775.    aged    21    years   if 
months  &  22  D.iys. 

No  gift  of  Nature,  art  or  Grace, 
Exempteth  from  the  burying  jilace. 
All  must  obey  the  solemn  t  all, 
Before  that  tyrant  all  must  Fall. 

In  Memory  of 
Mr.  Oeorye  Leivis,  who  died  Nov. 

13,  1S15,  in  the  Si  Year  of  his  age. 
3Irs.   3Iary  Leivis,    wife    of    Mr. 
George   Lewis,   died  May  24-"',  1814, 
Aged  76  Years. 

In  Memory  of 
Jerusha  Lewis,  wife  of  Stephen 
Lewis,  who  died  Feb.  12,  183S  ;  in 
the  86  year  of  her  age. 
Jerusha,  daughter  of  Mr.  Stephen 
C.  &  Mrs.  Hannah  Lewis,  died  Nov. 
4,  1814,  aged  7  months. 

Here  lyeth  y"  Body  of 
Hannah  Leivis,    the    Daughter   of 
Mr.  E.  L.,  Who  Departed  this  Life  in 
y^  3  Year  of  her  age,  April  10,  1700. 
In  memory  of 
Mr.  Joseph  Lewis,  who  died  Oct. 
7,  1797,  In  y«  77  Year  of  His  Age. 
In  memory  of 
Rebecca  J.,  daughter   of  Abram    C. 
&  Juliana  Lewis,  who  died  Feb.   14, 
1835,  JE.  9  years  8  months. 
In  memory  of 
Sarah  Leivis,  the  beloved  Consort 
of  Mr.  Joseph  Lewis,  who  died  Feb. 
20"^,  1789,  in  the  63  year  of  her  age. 
In  memory  of 
Stephen  Leivis,  who  died  July  18, 
1839,  aged  91  yrs. 


224 


History  of  Stratford. 


Charlotte  A,,  only  Daughter  of  Ben- 
edict   &    Marilla    Lillingstone,    Died 
July  6,  1861,  yE.  24  yrs.  3  mo.  &  16  Ds. 
This  is  ground 
which  no  rude  footstep  should  impress. 

Manj  H.,  Wife  of  David  W.  Lilling- 
stone, Died  Oct.  13,  1863,  JE.  22  yrs. 
2  mo.  &  II  Ds. 

Tread  softly  stranger. 

In  memory  of  Four  Infant  children  of 
EzeJxiel    tC*    Hamiah    Lovejoy. 

They  died  in  the  year  of  1793,  1794, 
1795  &  1S05. 

Little  Carrie 

In  memory  of 
Ezelxiel  Lovejof/,    who  died    April 

20,  1837  ;  aged  77  years. 

In  memory  of 
Clarissa  Lovejoy,  relict  of  Ezekiel 
Lovejoy,    who  died    March  31,    1839, 
aged  46  years. 

Theodora,  daughter  of  Ezekiel  & 
Clarissa  Lovejo}',  died  Sept.  27,  1S24, 
aged  3  years  &  7  months. 

3Irs.  Hannah  Lovejoy,  wife  of 
Mr.  Ezekiel  Lovejoy  ;  died  Dec.  15, 
1813  ;  aged  48  years. 

In  memory  of 
3Irs.  Susannah  Lovejoy,  wife  of 
Capt.  Phineas  Lovejov,  who  departed 
this  life.  April  6'\  A.D.  1S06,  ^t.  76. 
Behold  and  see,  you  who  pass  by, 
As  you  are  now  so  once  was  I ; 
As  I  am  now  so  vou  must  be. 
Prepare  for  death  and  follow  me. 

Ca^it.  Ph  ineas  Lovejoy ,  died  Sept. 

21,  1S12.  in  the  81  year  of  his  age. 
Farewell,  my  offspring,  left  on  shore, 
Vou  soon  must  pass  this  dangerous  deep  ; 
Where  all  our  ancestors  are  gone  before  ; 
I  hope  in  heaven  we  all  shall  meet. 

The  Grave  of  two  sisters,  only  children 

of   DeForest  and  Catharine  Maria 

Manice,  died   in  New  York  of 

scarlet    fever. 

Catharine  Maria,    born    in  New 

York,  Jan.   26.    1S28,    died    Feb.    11, 

1S30,  aged  2  years  &  16  days. 

Mary  Anne,  born  in  Hartford,  Jan. 
6,  1S26,  died  March  8,  1830,  aged  4 
years  2  months  &  2  days. 

In  Memor}^  of 
Samuel  3IeAlister,  Born  1S03,  Died 
May  12,  1852. 

And  also 
Harriet,  his  wife.    Born   1783,    Died 
Sept.  13,  1863. 


Samuel  Ufford  McAlister,  Aged 
10  yrs.  1843. 

A  blighted  flower, 
A  bud  of  fairest  promise  nipped 
In  early  morning  hour. 

Abijah  McEwen,  Esq.,  died  Dec. 

1,  i8i2,  aged  70. 

In  memory  of 
3Irs.  Catee,  the  virtuous  and  beloved 
Consort  of  Abijah  McEwen,  &  Daugh- 
ter of   Agur  Tomlinson.  Esqr.,    who 
departed  this  Life  in  a  glorious  pros- 
pect of  a  better  ;   December  28"",  A. 
D.,  1774,  ^tat.  28. 
O  just  beloved  and  lost,  O  ever  dear  ! 
Thy  memory  still  shall  prompt  the  tender  tear 
With  every  virtue,  every  Grace  adorn'd 
Whatever  in  life  is  Loved,  in  Death  is  mourned. 

Charles  3IcEwen,  Died  January  6"^, 
1S36,  Aged  56. 

Sarah  McEwen,  wife  of  Chnrles 
McEwen,  died  Sept.  17,  1847,  aged  68. 

Wni,  Wallace,  son  of  Charles  & 
Sally  McEwen,  died  Aug.  25,  1815, 
aged  4  years. 

George  V.  T.  3IcEwen,  Died  Sept. 
10,  1S82,  Aged  63  years. 

Jane  Elizaheth,  daughter  of  Charles 
and  Sally  McEwan,  died  Nov^""  16"", 
1804,  aged  10  months. 

tTerusha  3IcEiven,  Died  April  6, 
1839,  Aged  82  years  and  7  months. 

Dr.  John  Befts  3IcEwen,  born  in 
Stratford,  March  31,  1S08,  and  died 
in  New  York  October  7,  1867. 

3Iaria  Catharine  3IcEwen,  Died 

Dec.  16,  1843,  Aged  62. 

In  Memory  of 
Mary  Alice    3IcEwen,    Dau""   of 
Mr.  Abijah  &  Mrs.  Catey  McEwen, 
who    died    April    7"",    1772,    Aged    5 
months. 

In  Memory  of 
Ruth     3IcEwen,    wife    of     Samuel 
McEwen,  wlio   died   June  22'^^,   1S36, 
Aged  55. 

Sacred  to  the  Memory  of 
Sally    3IcEiien,    Wife    of    Samuel 
McEuen.  who  died  Oct.  20,  1S02,  ^t. 
23.  and  of  their 
Daughter,  who  died  Oct.  17"',  1S02,  .^Et. 
17  hours. 

In  memory  of 
Samuel  3IcEwen,  who  died  March 

2,  1S49,  JE.  74. 

In  Memory  of 
3Ir.  Timothy  3IcEH€n,  who  died 
Feby  g"",  17S8,  aged  84  years. 


Jnscriptious  in  the  Congregational  Durying-placc.  225 


In  Memory  of 
Williau  S.  W.  McE wen,  who  died 
Aug.  17,  1833,  Aged  34. 
In  Menior}'  of 
Caroline   Elizabeth,    daughter  of 
William  S.&  Sarah  M.  M'Ewen,  Who 
died  Sept.  4,  1S2S,  /E  13  Months. 
This  lovely  bird  so  young  and  fair, 
Called  hence  by  early  doom. 
Just  come  to  show  how  sweet  a  flower. 
In  Paridise  would  bloom. 

In  Memory  of 
Setiniiel  Curfiss,  son  of  William  S. 
&  Sarah  M.  M^Ewen,  who  died  July 
6,  1836,  yE  7  yrs. 
JFiil.  Samuel,  son  of  .^bijah  &  Mary 
Ann  M'^Ewen,  died  Oct.  14,  1845, 
aged  7  years. 

In  Memor}' 
Geovfje  ^IcCune,  Son  of  Mr.  Timo- 
thy *&    Mrs.    Abigail    M'Cune,    who 
Departed  this  Liife  .April  y"  6"',  176S, 
in  y"^  16""  year  of  His  Age. 

Here  lies  inter'd  the  Body  of 

3Irs.  Abigail  3Ic  eime,  Wife  of 

Mr.  Timothy  M^Eune,  Who  died  Aut. 

17''',  1775,  in  the  66"' year  of  Her  Age. 

Jane  Mills,  Died  April   12,   1S49,  JE 

37- 
Mr.  Williani  Morehouse,  died  of 
consumption,  Sept.  11,  1S32,  aged  34 
years. 
Farewell  my  dear  husband,  he's  gone 
And  we  are  destined  for  a  while  to  part 
I  am  left  for  to  weep  and  to  mourn — 
The  wound  has  sunk  deep  in  my  heart. 

To  the  Memor)'  of 
3Iari/  3runif Orel ,  daughter  of  B  M. 
ti:    Harriet   Mumford,   of  New  York, 
died  31  July,  1814,   aged  i  year  &  29 
days. 

Here  lyes  Buried  the  Body  of 
Mr.  Hoivkins  Nichols,  Who  De- 
parted  this  Life   Sept.  y^   13"',   1757, 
Aged  29  Years,  11  months  &  29  Days. 
Here  lyes  Buried  the  Body  of 
Mr.  Jonathan  Nichols,  Who  de- 
parted this  Life  November  y"'  6"^,  1760, 
in  y"^  73  year  of  His  Age. 

In  Memory  of 
Mrs.  Susan  Nichols,  who  departed 

this  life,  Jan'>  13"',  1792,   In   the   ss"" 

year  of  her  Age. 
Josiah  Nicols,  June  25,  1692,  [Aged] 

39  7- 

Here  lyes  Buried  the  Body  of 
Hichard  Nichols,    Who   departed 

this  life,  Sept.  y"*   20,   1756,   in  y«   78 

of  His  Age. 


In  Memory  of 
Mr.  Silas  Nichols,  who  departed 
this  Life  Jany.  13,  1792,  in  tlie  55  Year 
of  his  age. 

[A    MoNtlMF.NT.] 

Sacred  to  the  Memory  of 
3Irs.  Ann  Nichols,  wife  of  George 
K.  Nich' Is,  and  daughter  of  Jabez  H. 
Tomlinson,   Esqr.,   born    on    the    23'' 
day  of  January,  17S5.    She  died  deep- 
1)'  lamented,  on  the  26  day  of  Febru- 
ary, 1S12.  aged  XXVII. 
She  was  a  dutiful  Child,  an  affectionate    Sis- 
ter, a  constant  Kricnd,  a  loving  Wife,  and  a  ten- 
der jNIother. 

Possessing  an  elevating  and  descriminating 
mind.  She  gratefully  embraced  the  religion  of 
Jesus,  and  living  in  the  exercise  of  the  Christian 
Faith,  she  resigned  this  life  with  a  well  found- 
ed hope  of  a  blessed  immortality,  through  the 
divine  Redeemer. 

In  Memory  of 
3Ir.  Georf/e  K.  Nichols,  who  was 

born    Dec.    26,    1776  ;    died    Sept.    i. 

1821,  near  Natchez,  where  his  remains 

were  buried. 

An  amiable  and  generous  heart,  enlivened  by 
the  love  of  the  divine  Redeemer,  endeared 
himself  to  his  numerous  friends  and  relatives. 

Elizabeth  Huutinf/ton   Nichols 

was  born  on  the  3''  day  of  February, 
iSog,  and  died  on  the  9^''  da}'  of  July, 
1S12. 

She  was  a  lovely  child.  She  was  committed 
to  our  care,  and  we  watched  over  her  with  the 
tenderest  aflfection,  but  we  loved  her,  perhaps, 
too  well,  and  she  was  taken  from  us  in  mercy. 

Here  lies  the  body  of 
Josiah,   Son    to    Mr.  Thomas  &  M" 

Sarah  Olcott,  who  died    May  y«   3'^<', 

1747,  in  the  10  year  of  his  Age. 
Sarali  Olcott,  wife  of  Thomas  Olcott, 

died   May  11,  iSii,  in  the  89  year  of 

her  age. 

In  Memory  of 
3Ir.  Thomas  Olcott,  who  died  May 

3,  1795  ;  In  y''  82  year  of  his  Age. 

Here  lies  Interred  the  Body  of 

3Irs.   Sarah  Ollcott,  wife  of  Mr. 

Thomas  Ollcott,   who   Departed  this 

Life  March  y»  30"^.  A.D.   1756,   In  y' 

40*''  Year  of  Her  Age. 

In  Memor)'  of 
Frederick   Olmstead,    who    died 

Nov.  9.  1826,  aged  39  years. 
In  Memory  of 
3Iarjj  J.  wife  of  Frederick  Olmstead, 

Born    Nov.   20,    1792,    Died    Jan.   10, 

1882. 
William  Pixlee,  son   of  Frederick 

and  Mary  J.  Olmstead,  died  Jan.  21, 

1S23,  aged  17  months. 


226 


History   of  Stratford. 


Mr.  Xormand    Olmstead,    died 
March  28,  18 19  ;  aged  43  years. 
In  Memory  of 

Marther   Osborii,   wife  of   Nathan 
Osborn,  who  died  Oct.  5"',  1803,  aged 

54- 

Here  lyes  Buried  y*  Body  of 
Mr.  Andrew  Patterson,  Who  de- 
parted this  Life  December  y"  2'^',  An- 
no  Domni  1746,  Aged  87  years. 
Isaac  Patterson,  Son  of  M-"  John  & 
M"  Marv  Patterson  :  Died  Feb'>  I3"\ 
A.D.  1749;  aged    i  year  &  8  Months. 
Helen  T.,  wife  of  Edward  Patterson, 
died  Feb.  5,  184S.  JE  21  y"   &  6   Mo. 
Also  their  Infant  daughter  died  Jan.  31, 

184S,  JE.  2  ds. 
IsaJtella  cC  Helen  T.,  Daughters  of 
Edward  and   Mary   H.  Patterson,  M 
5>2  mo. 

Here  lyes  y^  body  of 
Parthenia  Patterson ,  Daugh"'  ol 
M^  John&  M''^  Mary  Patterson,  Who 
Died  Jan''>'  26"',  174^,  Aged  16  Years 
I  ino.  &  27  d". 

Here  lies  Interr'd  the   Body  of 
Lieut.  Samuel  Peat,  who    Dec'd 
Sepf  the  14*'',   1747,  in  the  84*'^  Year 
of  his  age. 
In  Memory  of  two  Children   of   Capt. 

John  &  Mrs.  Mary  Peck. 
Elizabeth  Peek,  departed  this  Life, 
Janry  30"^,  17S5,  in  the  5  Year  of  her 
age. 
David  Brooks  Peck,  departed  this 
Life,  Febry  4"'.  17S5,  in  the  2  year  of 
his  Age. 
Vour  moans  fond  parents  cease  &  Let  this 

hope  suffice. 
Your  babies  shall  sleep  in  peace  till  Jesus  bids 
them  rise. 

In  memory  of 
Hatinah,   wife   of    Thaddeus    Peck, 
who  died  Oct.  5,  1815,  aged  33  years. 
In  memory  of 
James  Peck,  Son  of   Dean  Job  & 
Mrs.  Bettee  Peck,  Who  died  Oct''^  8, 
A.  D.   1776,   in   the    i8"'    Year  of  his 
Age. 

In  memory  of 
Deacon  tTof}  Peck,    who    departed 
this    Life,    September    the   9'*',    A.  D. 
1782,  in  the  62''  Year  of  his  Age,  and 
also  of 
Petti/  Peck,  his  wife,  who  departed 
this  Life,    december    the  21^',  A.    D. 
1780,  in  the  56"'  Yc.tr  of  her  Age. 
Redeemed  from  Earth  &  pain 
Ah  when  shall  we  ascend 
And  all  in  Jesus  presence  reign 
V\ith  our  departed  friends. 


In  Memory  of 
Mr.  Job  Peck,   who   died    Feby   3, 
1797,  in  the  44"'  Year  of  his  age. 
Redeemed  from  earth  and  pain 

O  when  shall  we  assend 
And  all  in  Jesus  presence  reign 
With  our  departed  friends. 

In  memory  of 
3Irs.  Martha  Peck,  Wife  of    Mr. 
Job  Peck.      She  died  Sept.   13,  1798, 
^tat.  42. 

In  memory  of 
Josiah  Peck,  Jun^  who  died  at  St. 
Christopher's   August  27"',    1809,   In 
the  23''  year  of  his  age, 
Also, 
Sally  Peck,  Daughter  of  Mr.  Joseph 
Peck,  who  died  Sept.  17"',  1809.     In 
the  17""  year  of  her  age. 
While  our  departed  friends  are  gone, 
To  join  the  Church  above. 
May  We  Prepare  to  follow  them, 
And  sing  Redeeming  Love. 

In  memor)'^  of 
Leivis  Peck,  Son  to  Mr.  Job  &  Mrs. 

Martha  Peck,  who  died  June  3,  1796, 

in  the  12  year  of  his  Age. 
JLlice,  widow  of  Isaac  Pendleton,  Died 

Dec.  10.  186S  ;  Aged  88  yrs. 
Isaac  Pendleton,    deceased,    Nov. 

10.  1824,  aged  46  years. 
William,  Pendleton,    Died    Sept. 

14,  1883,  36  78  yrs.  9  mos. 
J.  P.,  S.  P. 

Here  lyes  Buried  y*'  Body  of 
3Ir.    David    Pixlet/,    Who    Died 

August  y**  I"',  A.D.   1742,  in  y«  38"^ 

year  of  his  Age. 

Memory  of 
Mr.  Peter  Pi.rlee,  Who  Departed 

this  Life,   Aug.  2'*,   1788,  In  the  86^'' 

Year  of  his  age. 
David  Pi.rlee,  son  of  Peter  &  Mary 

Pixlee,  died  Sept.  y**  18,  1751,   in  his 

gth  year. 

In  memory  of 
M7'S.  3Iary  Pixlee,  Relict  of  Mr. 

Peter  Pixlee,  who  died  June  13,  1799, 

aged  92  Years. 

In  Memory  of 
Mr.   William    Pixlee,   who   died 

May  8"^,  1800,  aged  66  years. 
In  memory  of 
Bette  Pixlee,  Wife  of  Mr.  William 

Pixlee.  who  died   Sepf  27"^,  1776,  in 

the  40^''  Year  of  her  Age. 

And  also  two  Children. 
Bette,  died  Sept.   28,   1776,  in  the  8"> 

Year  of  her  Age. 
William,  died  Oct''   16,   1776,  in  the 

6""  Year  of  his  Age. 


Inscriptions  in  the  Congregational  Burying-p/act 


227 


Sacred  to  the  Memory  of 
Mrs.  liathshcbah  Plant,   Relict 

of  Mr.  James  Plant,  late  of  Branford, 

who  died  Jany  5"^,   1S03,  in  the  87"' 

year  of  her  age. 

In  Memory  of 
Cathrine,   wife    of    David    Plant    & 

Daughter  of  William  &   Phebe  Tom- 

linson,  who  was  born  Oct.  9,  1787,  & 

died  June  2,  1835. 
David  Plant,  born  March  29,  1783, 

died  Oct.  18,  1851. 
Edward,  son  of    David  &  Cathrine 

Plant,  died  May  14,  1826,  se  10  months. 
Mary,  Wife   of    Henry    Plant,    Died 

Nov.  7,  i860,  aged  38  years. 
3Iart/  B.,  Wife  of  Henry  Plant,  Died 

Nov.  7,  1862.  aged  38  years. 
John  Henry,  son  of  David  &  Cath- 
rine Plant,  died   Sept.  7^'',  1815,   aged 

I  year  &  7  months. 

In  Memory  of 
Sarah,  wife  of  Solomon  Plant,  who 

died  Sept.  15"^,   1815  ;  aged  68  years. 
In  Memory  of 
Mr.  Solomon   Plant,    who    died. 

May  20,  1822,  aged  81  years. 
Justus  Platnb,  Died  March  17,  1845, 

Aged  81. 
Hlddall,    His    Wife,    Died    Sept.    19, 

1853,  Aged  88. 

In  memory  of 
Rebecca  Poore,  wife  of  Dr.  Joshua 

Poore,   who  died  July  8,   1838,  aged 

Sr  years. 
Joshua  Poor,  M.D.,    Died    1792, 

Aged  42. 
Catharine,  Daughter   of   Joshua   & 

Rebecca    Poor,    Died    Sept.    7,    1868, 

Aged  80. 

In  Memory  of 
3Irs.     Charitf/    Pointer,    wife    of 

Stephen    Porter,    who    died    Oct.  12, 

1 81 7,  aged  63  Years. 

In  Memory  of 
3Ir.    Stephen    Porter,    who    died 

September  7,  1S17,  aged  Si  years. 
In  Memory  of 
Cliarlotte  Prince,  widow   of    Wil- 
liam Prince,  who  died   Dec.  17,    1841, 

aged  79  years. 
James  Prince,  Son  of  William   & 

Grandson  of  Joseph  Prince,  of  Strat- 
ford,  Died  Aug.  4,   1876,  JE.  88  y'rs. 

6  mo. 
Jerusha,  Wife  of  James  Prince,  Died 

Dec.  29,  1S73,  JE.  82  yrs.  5  mo. 


Charlotte  Aiu/usta,    Daughter    of 
James  &  Jerusha   Prince.  Horn   May 
17,  1829,  Died  lulv   10,  1033. 
Love  to  her  Savior,  love  to  ull 
She  knew,  were  her  last  accents. 

To  the  lovely  and  much  lamented 

Mary  Abiyail,  Daughter  of  Jaines 
and  Jerusha  Prince,  who  died  Sep- 
tember 12"',  1S27,  ai^ed  3  months  and 
8  days. 

John  Prince,  Son  of  Mr.  Joseph  & 
Mrs.  Hannah  Prince,  Died  Feb.  13, 
1740-1,  Aged  4  Yeais  4  months  &  8 
Days. 

Here  lie  the  Remains  of 

Mr.  Joseph  Prince,  4"'  Son  of 
Samuel  Prince,  Esq'.,  by  Mary  his  2'^ 
Wife  of  Sandwich,  where  he  was  born 
April  I*',  1695,  and  Died  here  Decern'' 
4,  1747,  in  the  53'''  year  of  his  Age, 
Much  beloved  and  lamented. 
Here  lyes  the  Body  of 

Samuel  Pitman,  Son  of  Mr.  Jona- 
than Pitman,  Deceased,  May  y"  18"', 
1717,  Aged  25  years,  3  Mo.  &  13  Ds. 

Mary  liexford,  daughter  of  Ilezo- 
kiah  &  Maria  Rudd,  died  .Aug.  17, 
181 7,  Aged   I  year  8  mo. 

Mary  L.  Pexford,  died  Jan.  iS, 
1869,  aged  80  y'rs. 

Mrs.  Sarah  liexford,  died  Aug. 
ir,  1831,  aged  So  years. 

Charles  H.  Royers,  Died  March 
10,  1864,  M.  48  yrs.  3  mos. 

Harriet  3Iaria  liogers,  relict  of 
T.  M.  Rogers,  daughter  of  Robert 
died  Mar.  19,  1847,  :iged  60  years. 

Laura  M.  Rogers,  Born  Oct.  13, 
1855,  Died,  Dec.  25,  iSSo. 

Sophronia  E.  Royers,  Born  June 
14,  1S54,  Died  Juneg,  1375. 

Thomas  Mnmford  Royers,  aged 
63  Years. 

Here  Lyes   Hurried  y'  Body  of 

Abiyail  Rumsry,  Daughter  of  Mr. 
Beiij">"  &  Mrs.  Rebecka  Rumsey,  of 
Fairfield,  Who  Died  Octb'  14,  1743, 
Aged  16  years  &  7  months. 

Wasting  sickness  spoiled  ve  beauteous  form 

And  Death  Consignedher'to  her  kindred  Worm. 

The  Dav  Advances  When  ye  saints  shall  Rise 

With  Sparkling  Glory  &  Ascend  ye  skyes. 

Alden  Rnssell,  Died  Dec.  26,  1S63, 

Aged  77  years. 
Sarah  A.,  Wife    of  Alden    Russell, 

Died  Feb.  21,  1865.  JE.  70. 
"The  morning cometh." 

Julia  E.  Rnssell,  Died  Oct.  26,  i860, 
Aged  21  yrs.  4  mos.  &  15  ds. 


228 


History  of  Stratford. 


In  Memory  of 
JEliphalet   Bussell,    sun.  of    Doct. 
Win.  &  Hannah  Russell  who  departed 
this  Life  Mrch  26,  1776,  in  the  21  year 
of  his  age. 

In  memory  of 
Betsy  Bnssell,  Daughter  of  Mr.  Wil- 
liam   &    Mrs.   Jerusha    Russell,  who 
died  Sept.  28,  1790,  aged   i  year  &  11 
mo. 

In  meiriory  of 
William   Unssell,  son  oC  Mr.  Wil- 
liam   &   Jerusha    Russell,    who    died 
Dec.  2,  1792,  aged  i  year  &  3  months. 
Sleep,  lovelv  Babe  and  take  thy  rest 
God  called  thee  home  as  he  thought  best, 
Though  to  thy  Parents  dear. 

From  the  afTectionate  desire  of  a  Father 

let  this  Stone  remain    Sacred  to  the 

memory  of  his  son, 

James  Saidlev,  Jim.,  Student  of 
Columbia  College,  New  York,  Aged 
14  Years  &  9  months,  who,  after  three 
days'  illness,  died  on  his  arrival  here 
from  that  city  of  the  Pestilential  dis- 
disease  on  the  ii*''  day  of  August, 
1798. 

Here  lieth  The  Body  of 

Sarah  Foot,  Wife  to  D.'  F.  Senior, 
Who  died  in  the  46"^  year  of  her  age, 
March  26,  1704. 

Elijah  Sharman,  died  August  y« 
15*^1  175I1  aged  9  months. 

3Ir.  Benjamin  Sherman, 

Mrs.  Behechah   Sherman. 

Walher,  the  Son  of  Mr.  Enos  &  Mrs. 
Abigail  Sharman,  April  y"  6,  1751 
in  the  19*  year  of  his  age. 

In  Memory  of 
Charles  B.  Smith,  who  died  Nov. 
3, 1822,  JE.  29. 

In  Memory  of 
George  Smith,   who   died   Oct.    13, 
1822,  JE.  73. 

Sacred  to  the  Memory  of 
Lttcy  SmitJi,,  wife  of  George  Smith, 
deceased   June    26,    1813  ;    ^tat.    53 
years. 

And  of 
Sarah  Anna,    their  daughter,   who 
died    at    Huntington,    Long    Island, 
Feb.  19,  1785  ;  yEt.  6  months  &  4  dys. 
Here  silence  dwells  with  all  her  solemn  train 
And  secrecy  holds  her  Court  explored  by  man 
in  vain. 

George  B.  Smith,  son  of  George  & 
Lucy  Smith,  was  killed  at  Stratford 
tide'mill,  Nov.  17,  1796,  JE.  15. 


Grace,  Daughter  of  L.  D.  &  Julia  E. 
Smith,  Died  Apr.  20,  1882,  Aged  4 
3'ears. 

Here  lies  Buried  the  Body  of 
3Irs.  Charity,  ^'ife  of  Mr.  William 
Southworth,  who  departed  this  Life, 
August  15"^,  1773,  in  the  39*  j'ear  of 
her  age. 
In  calm  repose  her  Body  lies, 
When  Christ  appears,  her  dust  shall  rise. 

In  Memory  of 
3Iercy,  widow  of  Samuel   W.  South- 
worth,  who  died  Dec.  24,  1842,  JE.  80 
yrs. 

In  Memory  of 
Samtiel  Wells  Southworth,  who 
died  Aug.  17,  1S37,  aged  80  yrs. 
Also  his  son 
Samuel  Wells  Southivorth,  Jr., 
who  died  at  sea,   A.  D.  1S18,  aged  30 
yrs. 

Sacred  to  the  Memory  of 
Bdbert  Southworth,  who  died  May 
17,  1814  ;  aged  29  years. 
Also  of 
Edward   Southworth,    who    died 
Sept.  18,  iSi5,aged  8  years  &  6  months. 
In  Memory  of 
Mr.  Bohert  Southivorth,  who  died 
October  23'^,  A.  D.    1770  in  the  22"^ 
year  of  his  Age. 
3Iiss  Abigail  Southivorth,  daugh- 
ter   of  Mr.    Samuel    W.    Southworth. 
died  May  5,  181 7  ;  Aged  22  years. 

In  memory  of 
Phehe  Spratt,  wife  of   Capt.   Wm. 
Spratt,  formerly  the  wife    of    Abijah 
Curtiss,  who  died  June  28,  1834,  aged 
79- 
Eunecia,  daughter  of  Revd.  Stephen 
W.    &    Mrs.    Eunecia    Stebbins ;    de- 
parted this  life  July  4,   181 1  ;  in  the 
27  year  of  her  age. 
Let  me  but  hear  my  Saviour  say 
Strength  shall  be  equal  to  the  day 
ThenI  rejoice  in  deep  distress 
Leaning  on  all  sufficient  grace. 
I  glory  in  infirmity 
That  Christs  own  power  may  rest  on  me. 
When  I  am  weak,  then  am  I  strong, 
Grace  is  my  shield  &  Christ  my  song. 

Eunice  Sophia,   Daughter  of  Revd. 

Stephen  W.  &  Mrs.  Eunecia  Stebbins, 

departed  this  life  May  4*^,  1S06,  in  the 

19"'  year  of  her  age. 

To  a  tender  and  benevolent  heart,  expanding 
with  those  virtues  which  endear  &  strengthen 
every  social  tie  ;  She  united  an  apparent  sub- 
mission to  God,  &  an  humble  trust  in  Jesus 
Christ,  which  cherish  in  surviving  friends,  the 
hopes  of  her  blessed  immortality. 


Inscriptions  in  the  Congregational  Burying-place. 


229 


[A  Monument.] 

tTohn  W.  Sterling,  Born  Sept.  4, 
1796,  Died  Feb.  13,  1866,  JE.bq. 

[A  Monument.] 

Mar}/  H.  Sterling,  wife  of  John  W. 
Sterling  and  daughter  of  Daniel  & 
Sarah  Judson,  Died  June  2"',  1838, 
aged  31  3-ears. 

Marg  Judson,  daughter  of  John 
W. &  Mary  R.Sterling,  Died  Sept.  14, 
1S38,  J£.  7  months. 

Here  lyes  y"  bod}'  of 

3Ir.  E2yhraim  Stiles,  Aged  69 
3'ears,  died  June  y"  21,  1745. 

Frances  Ives,  Daughter  of  G.  W.  & 

S.  A.  Stow,  Died   Mar.  i,  1859,  ^-  8 

mos.  23  Ds. 
Frederick  H.  Stow,  Died  July  18, 

1872,  ^.58  yrs. 
Susan     A.     Fairchild,    Wife    of 

George  W.  Stow,  Born  Aug.  12,  1823, 

Died  Dec.  6,  1S73. 

Susan  Fairchild,  Daughter  of  F. 

H.  &  S.  B.  Stow,  Died  June  11,  1858, 

JE.  II  Years,  3  mos.  &  20  Days. 
Here  lyes  Buried  y^  Body  of 
3Ir.  Joseph  Strong,  Who  departed 

this  Life  Sept.  22,  Ann  Domni,  1741, 

Aged  24  Years. 
Mrs.    Friscilla    Stratton,    died 

April  ir,  1738,  aged  86  years. 
In  memory  of  two  Children  of  Mr.  John 

&  Mrs.  Mehetable  Thacher. 
Anthofiy ,  died  the   3'^  of    February, 

1779.  aged  7  days. 
Mehetable,  died  the  16"^  of  Jul}-,  1780, 

aged  30  hours. 
Solomon  Thomas,  Aged  about  61 

years,  Died  April  16,  1729. 
In  Memory  of 
Mr.  Abijah  Thompson,  who  died 

Oct.  5,  1799,  in  the  61^*  year  of   his 

age. 

In  Memor)'  of 
John  Thompson,   Who   died   July 

16,  1S36,  JE.  73  y'rs. 

In  Memory  of 
Alice    Thompson,    relict    of    John 

Thompson,   who  died  May  14,   1862, 

J£.  97  y'rs  &  8  mo. 

Here  lyes  Burried  y"  Body  of 
Mr.  Ambrose    Thompson,  Who 

Departed  this  Life,    Sept.    7"',   Anno 
Doni.  1742,  in  the   92'"'   Year  of  his 
age. 
Precious  in  ye  sight  of  ye  Lord  is  ye  death  of 
his  saints. 


In  Memory  of 
Mr.  Ambrose  Thompson,  who  de- 

parted  this  Life  the  3''  day  of  May 
1768,  In  the  86"'  Year  of  his  age. 
In  Memory  of 
3Irs.  Ann  Thompson,  Wife  of  Mr. 
Ambrose  Thompson,  who  departed 
this  Life,  Sept.  22,  1774,  in  the  86 
Year  of  her  age. 

Mrs.  Bathsheba  Thomx>son,  re- 
lict of  Mr.  Abijah  Thompson,  died 
Feb.  12,  1814,  in  the  70  year  of  her 
age. 

Bathsheba  Thompson,  died  Aug. 
27,  1815,  aged  87. 

In  Memory  of 
3Irs.    Betttf   Thompson,    wife  of 
Mr.  David  Thompson,  who  died  Jan. 
18,  1800,  Aged  44  Years. 
In  Memory  of 
3Ir.  David  Thomi>son,  who  died 
April  8,    1800,   In  y«   82  Year  of  his 
age. 
Blessed  are  the  dead  that  die  in  the  Lord. 

David    Thompson   died    Aug.    4, 

18 1 7,  Aged  67  years, 

And  his  wife, 
Sarah,  died  Dec.  12,  1815  ;   aged  64 

years. 

Sacred  to  in  the  Memory  of 
Delia  Tliompson,  Daughter  of  John 
&  Ellis  Thompson,  who  died  Oct.  s*"", 
1790,  aged  12  3'ears. 

She  is  not  lost,  but  only  gone  ; 

To  realms  of  Glory  &  celestial  peace. 

Harriet  Thompson,  Died  Sept.  21, 
1874,  JE.  89  Y'rs. 

Jonathan,  son  of  Ambrose  Thomp- 
son,   Junr.,    &   Ann,    his    wife,    Dec* 
Juneyi^  28,  1726,  Aged  3  years  &  5  mo. 
Here  lies  the  Bod}'  of 

3Irs.  Elizabeth,  Wife  of  Mr.  Eben- 
ezer  Thompson,  who  died  Nov.  28"", 
1747,  in  her  40"^  year. 

Here  lyes  Burried  y*  Bod}-  of 

Mr.  Ephraim  Thompson,  Who 
departed  this  Life  June  18,  Anno 
Domni,  1746,  Aged  26  years. 

3Iaria  Thompson,  widow  of  the 
late  Enoch  St.  John,  of  New  Canaan, 
Died  March  3,"iS73,  ^E.  83  Y'rs. 

In  Memory  of 
Mrs.  Martha  Thompson,  the  Be- 
loved wife  of  Mr.  David  Thompson, 
who  departed  this  Life  January  26"*, 
1792,  In  the  74"'  Year  of  her  age. 
She  lived  much  esteemed  and  died  much  la- 
mented. 


16 


230 


History  of  Stratford. 


Here  lyes  Buried  y*  Body  of 
Mrs.  Murtha   Thomjison,  wife  to 
Dea"'"  John  Thompson,  who  departed 
this  life  Feb"->-  7"^  Anno   Dom',  1740, 
in  ye  63''  Year  of  his  age. 

Here  lyes  buried  the  Body  of 
Beacon  John  Thompson,  Esq., 

who  departed   this  life  July  y''   20"", 
1765,  in  y"  85  Year  of  His  Age. 

Here  lyes  y*"  Body  of 
Saniuel  Toinj)!<on,  Son  of  Mr.  Am- 
brose &  Mrs.  Anne  Tompson,  Who 
Departed  this  life,  Feby  19'",  Anno 
Dom  1749-50,  in  y"  29"^  Year  of  his 
age. 

Here  lyes  v''  Body  of 
3Irs.  Sarah  Thomjison,  Wife   to 
Mr.    Ambrose  Thompson,  Who   De- 
parted this  Ufe  Mar.  23'',  1730,  Aged 
About  71  Years. 

Sacred  To  the  Memory  of 
Lieuf.  Williani  T]ionij)Son,Vfho 

fell  in  battle,  bravly  fighting  for  the 
liberties  of  his  country,  in  the  mem- 
orable action  at  Ridgefield,  on  the 
27*''  of  April,  1777,  where  a  handful 
of  entrepid  Americans  withstood  some 
thousands  of  British  troop  till  over- 
powered by  numbers,  he  fell  a  victim 
to  the  British  tyranny,  and  more  than 
savage  cruelty  in  the  35"'  year  of  his 
age.  He  lived  greatly  beloved,  and 
died  universally  lamented,  and  his 
body  being  removed  from  the  place  of 
action,  was  here  deposited  with  mili- 
tary honors. 

Relettered  in  1864. 

In  Memory  of 
Caj)t.  Williani   Thomjison,  who 

died  at   sea.   Dec.    14,    1812,   aged  47 
years.     Also  of 
Edivai'd,  son  of  Capt.  William  &  Mrs. 
Phebe  Thompson,  died,  Sept.  30,  1815, 
aged  10  years. 

Isaac,  son    of    Mr.    William    &    Mrs. 

Mehetable  Thompson,  who   departed 

this  Life  Aug.  20"',  A.D.  1775,  aged 

7  years  5  months. 

Ye  Young,  ye  gay,  attend  this  speaking  stone, 

Think  on  his  fate  and  tremble  at  your  own. 

In  memory  of 
Phehe,  widow  of  tly;  late  Capt.  Wil- 
liam Thompson,  who  died  April  27, 
1844,  in  the  80"'  yr.  of  her  age. 

Mary  Thoin2>son,  daughter  of  Wil- 
liam &  Phebe  Thompson,  died  Oct. 
28,  i860,  JE.  69. 


3Iiss  Huldah  Tibbals,  died  Oct. 
22,  1823,  aged  58  years. 

The  soul  of  a  sister  is  gone 

To  brighten  the  triumph  above  ; 

Exalted  to  Jesus'  throne, 

And  clasped  in  the  arms  of  his  love. 

Abraham  TomJinson,  died  April, 
1S21,  aged  88  Years. 

Anna  Tondinson,  relect  of  Abra- 
ham Tomlinson,  died  May  5,  1827, 
Aged  85. 

In  Memory  of 

Anna  Tondinson,  daughter  of 
Abraham  &  Anna  Tomlinson,  who 
died  July  28, 1799,  aged  17  years. 

In  Memory  of 
Sarah     Tondinson,    daughter    of 

Abraham  &  Rebecca  Tomlinson,  who 

died  March  24,  1813,  in  the  53  year  of 

her  age. 
SatJisheba  Tondinson,  died  Aug. 

27,  1815,  aged  87. 

Here  lyes  Buried  y"  Body  of 
Lieut.    Affur    Tomlinson,    Died 

March  5,  172I  in  y*  70  year  of  his  age. 

Here  lies  Intered  the  Remains  of 
Affiir  Tondinson,  Esq.,  who   de- 
parted this  Life,    February   the   is"", 
A.  D.  1774.  in  the  53''  year  of  his  age. 
You  pass  with  melancholy  state 
By  all  these  solemn  heaps  of  fate. 
And  think  as  soft  as  sad  you  tread  above 

the  Venerable  Dead, 
Time  was  like  you  Life  possess'd 
And  time  will  be  when  you  shall  rest. 

Doct.  Charles    Tomlinson,    died 

July  10,  1830,  aged  55. 
Sarah  H.  Tomlinson ,  Wife  of  Dr. 

Charles    Tomlinson,    Died    March  i, 

1858,  aged  77. 
Charles  Hill,  son  of  Charles  &  Sarah 

Tomlinson,  died  Jan.  ig,  1814,  aged  5 

mos.  &  5  ds. 

In  Memory  of 
3Ir.  George  Tondinson,  who  was 

born  June  29,  1796,  and  died  June  19, 

1824. 
Gideon  Tondinson,  was  born  in 

Stratford,    December    31,     1780,    and 

died  at   Greenfield,  October  8,    1854. 

He  was  admitted  to  the  Bar  and  commenced 
the  practice  of  Law  at  Greenfield  in  1807  ;  was 
successively  a  member  of  the  State  Legislature  ; 
Speaker  of  the  House  of  Representatives  • 
Member  of  Congress,  Governor  of  the  State  of 
Connecticut,  and  United  States  Senator  ;  at  the 
close  of  the  last  named  term  of  office  he  volun- 
tarily retired  to  private  life.  Amiable  and  up- 
right, an  affectionate  husband  and  fond  father, 
happily  exemplifying  Christian  piety  in  life, 
and  dying,  supported  by  the  hope  which  it  in- 
spired. 


Inscriptions  in  the  Coiigregational  Bnrying.place. 


231 


Sdi'uTl,  the   beloved   wife   of  Gideon 

Tomlinson,  died   December  25,   1842, 

in  the  56  j-ear  of  her  age. 

Her  affectionate  kindness,  enlightened  mind, 

good  principals,  sincerity  &  many  endearments 

&  virtues,  made  her  worthy  of  love,  respect  & 

confidence.     The  loss  of  her  endeared  society 

was  deeply  felt  and  lamented  by  her  bereaved 

husband,  but  he  derived  comfort  from  the  hope 

and  evidence  that,  while  she  realized  the  decay 

of  her  body  &  mourned  for  their  darlinfj  son, 

in  devout  submission  to  the  will  of  God,  she 

was  mercifully  brought  to  exercise  faith  &  trust 

in  Christ. 

Juhez  Hnntingtoti  Tomlinson, 

the  beloved,  loving  &  only  son  of 
Gideon  and  Sarah  Tomlinson,  was 
born  June  28,  iSiS,  and  died  of  con- 
sumption, April  21, 1838  in  New  York, 
where  he  had  recentl}'  arrived  from 
Charleston  with  his  deepl}'  afflicted 
parents. 

The  rememberance  of  his  promising  and  im- 
proved talents  amiable  disposition,  sound  judg- 
ment, e.xemplary  virtues  and  endearing  deport- 
ment, is  warmly  cherished,  while  his  patience 
in  a  long  sickness  and  the  disappointment  of 
earthly  expectations,  his  solicitude  for  the  hap- 
piness of  others  ;  penitence  and  faith,  hope  and 
trust  in  God  aflFord  consolation,  under  the 
mournful  &  trying  dispensation  of  an  all-wise 
just,  merciful  and  holy  Providence. 

In  Memory  of 

Mrs.  Hannah  Tomlinson^  Con- 
sort of  Capt.  Gideon  Tomlinson,  & 
Dautr.  of  Colo.  Jabez  Huntington,  of 
Windham,  Who  departed  this  Life, 
December  y''  26,  1762,  in  y^  27"^  Year 
of  Her  Age. 

In  Memory  of 

Capt.  Gideon  Tomlinson,  Who 
departed  this  Life  January  the  ig"', 
1766,  in  y«  ss"'  Year  of  His  Age. 
He  was  an  officer  in  y''  army  &  fought 
in  y«  battle  at  }•"'  Narrows  ;  was  at  y' 
Taking  Ticonderoga,  Crown  Point, 
La  Callette  and  Montreal. 

In  Memor}'  of 
3Iiss  Hannah  Tomlinson,    who 

was    born    Jan.    16,    1783,    and    Died 
April  2,  1S27. 
Htildah  Tomlinson,  Born  May  r, 

1766,  Died  Sept.  16,  1844. 
Blessed  are  those  servants  whom  the  Lord  when 
he  cometh  shall  find  watching. 

In  Memory  of 
Dr.   Hez.    Tomlinson,   A. 31.,  a 

learned  and  eminent  Physician,  who 
departed  this  Life  on  the  12"^  day  of 
May,  A.  D.  1781,  in  the  34  year  of  his 
Age. 

He  lived  much  esteemed  and  died  greatly 
lamented.  Vain  World,  farewell  to  you.  Heav- 
en is  my  native  Air,  1  bid  my  friends  a  short 
Adieu,  Impatient  to  be  there. 


In  memor}'  of 
Anna,  the  Daughter  of  Dr.  Hezekiah 
&    Mrs.    Sarah   Tomlinson,    who  de- 
ceased July  2.  1781   in   the  3''  year  of 
her  age. 

Happy  the  Babe 

Who's  priviledged  by  Fate 

To  shorten  labor 

And  lighten  weight. 

In  memory  of 
Jahez  ir.  Tomlinson,  Esq.,  who 

died  January    14,    1849,   ^E-   89. 

He  was  highly  respected  as  a  patriotic  officer 
01  the  revolutionary  army  and  an  experienced 
able  and  upright  legislator  and  magistrate" 
and  deservedly  honored  and  beloved  as  a  friend' 
husband,  father  &  Christian. 

In  memory  of 
Mebecca  Tomlinson,  the  Wife  of 
Jabez  H.  Tomlinson,  who  was  born 
on  the  3  day  of  Dec.  1761,  &  died  on 
the  I  day  of  Jan.  1823,  deeply  &  justly 
lamented  by  her  afflicted  husband  & 
bereaved  children. 

Let  those  who  delight  to  cherish  the  remem- 
tierence  of  her  unwearied  and  constant  affec- 
tion, imitate  the  pious  example  of  one.  whose 
active  and  unshaken  faith,  in  the  Divine  Re- 
deemer, affords  just  ground  of  confidence  that 
she  has  gone  to  possess  an  inheritance  incorrupt- 
ible &  eternal  in  the  heavens. 

In  Memory  of 
Ca^if,    Joseph    Tomlinson,    who 

departed   this    Life    Oct.    5'^,    i-]-]^^. 

Aged  50  years. 

In  Memory  of 
Elizabeth    Tomlinson,    Relict  of 

Capt.  Joseph  Tomlinson,    who   died 

July  28"',  1809,  aged  80  years. 
3Iari/  Tomlinson,    Born    Jan.   27, 

1772,  Died  Dec.  19,  1S61,  Ninty  Years. 

We  know  that  when  he  shall  appear,  we 
shall  be  like  him,  for  we  shall  see  him  as  he  is. 

In  memory  of 
3Irs.  3Iary  Tomlinson,    Consort 
of  Capt.  Gideon  Tomlinson,  Who  De- 
parted this  Life,  Juney"  7<'',  175S,  in 
ye  ge""  Year  of  Her  Age. 

In  Memory  of 
3Irs.  3Iarij  Tomlinson,  Relect  of 
Augur   Tomlinson,    Esq.,    who   died 
June  23'',  1802,  in  the  79  year  of  her 
age. 

In  Memory  of 
William  Agar  Tomlinson,  an 
eminent  Physician  who  Departed  this 
Life  on  the  20"'  day  of  August,  A.  D. 
1789  in  the  27"'  Year  of  his  Age.  He 
lived  much  esteemed  and  greatly  la- 
mented. 

Christ  ray  Redeemer  lives 
And  freely  I  can  trust 
My  naked  soul  into  his  hands 
When  parted  from  its  dust. 


2  t2 


History  of  Stratford. 


In  Memory  of 

Mary  Alace,  the  Daughter  of  Agur 
Tomlinson,  Esq--  and  M"  Mary  his 
Wife,  who  died  October  8"^,  A.  D. 
1771,  Aged  5  years  and  I  month,  &  5 
other  infant  children  of  the  above 
Parents,  Who  lie  here  interr'd. 

Sleep  lovely  Babes  and  take  your  perfect  rest. 

God  called  you  home  because  he  thought  it 
right. 

In  memory  of 
PJiebe  Tonifinson,    widow  of  Dr. 
William  Agur  Tomlinson,  who  died 
March  11,  1842,  Aged  76  years. 

Here  lies  Hid  in  this  Grave  the  Body  of 
Jlrs.  Bebekalt,  the  amiable  Consort 
of  Abraham  Tomlinson,  Esqr.,  who 
Departed  this  Life  on  the  first  Day  of 
Novem''^  1774,  in  the  39">  year  of  her 
age. 
I  have  been  what  thou  art  now,  and  are  what 

thou  Shalt  shortly  be. 
How  Loved  thou  valued  once,  avail  me  not  to 
whom   Related   or  by  whom   begot,  a 
heap  of  Drift  alone 
Remains  of  me,  'tis  all  I  am,  and  all  that  you 
must  be. 

In  memory  of 
Itachel  E.,  widow  of  John  Tomlin- 
son, who  died  Sept.  21,  1841,  aged  74. 
Susan  Tomlinson,  wife  of  William 
A.  Tomlinson,  and  daughter  of  Joseph 
&Susannah  Walker,  died  Mays,  1826, 
aged  33  years. 

In  memory  of 
Mr.  Step] ten  Tomlinson,  son   of 

Capt.  Joseph  &  Mrs.  E.  Tomlinson, 
who  departed  this  Life  Oct.  27,  1774, 
Aged  25  Years. 
Susan  Wftlher,  daughter  of  William 
A.  &  Susan  Tomlinson,  died  Sept.  23, 
1822,  aged  I  year  &  6  months. 

[Monument.] 

Williani  A.  Tomlinson,  died  in 
New  York,  Dec.  19,  1837,  in  the  49"* 
Year  of  his  age. 

Mark  the  perfect  man,  and  behold  the  upright, 
for  the  end  of  that  man  is  peace. 

Susan  Walker,  Wife  of  Wm.  A. 
Tomlinson,  died  May  5,  1S26,   JE.  33. 

Susan  Walker,  daughter  of  W.  A. 
&  S.  W.  Tomlinson,  died  Sept.  23, 
1822,  Aged  I  y'r  &  6  mo. 

Eliza  liussell,  wife  of  Wm.  A.  Tom- 
linson, died  Sept.  13,  1S62,  yE.  74. 

In  Memory  of 
Mr.  Zachariah  Tomlinson,  who 

Departed  this  Life  on  y"^  15"'  day  of 
April,  Anno  Domni,  1768,  in  y"  75"' 
Year  of  His  Age. 


Here  lyes  y*'  Body  of 
Mrs.  Hannah  Tomlinson,  Wife 
of  M''  Zachariah  Tomlinson,  who  de- 
parted this  life,   Octo^""  5"",  1740  in  y« 
37  year  of  her  age. 

Elijah   JJffoot,  died  March  28,  18 14, 
aged  68  years. 

Here  lies  the  Body  of 
Lieut.  Samnel  Ujfoot,   who  died 
Dec'  y^  30,  A.  D.   1746,  in   y«  77  year 
of  his  Age. 

In  Memory  of 
Mrs.  Abigail  Ufford,  wife  of  Mr. 
Samuel    Ufford  ;    who   died    Dec.   3, 
1817  ;  aged  73  years. 

In  memory  of 

Anne,  Wife   of    Elijah    Ufford,    Who 

died  April  24,  1810,  aged  62  years. 

In  memory  of 
Alice   Ufford,  wife  of  William  Uff- 
ord, who  died  Oct.  27,   1819,  aged  36 
years. 

In  Memory  of 
Benjamin  Uff'ord,  who  died  March, 
1 8 10,  aged  68  years. 

And  of  his  wife, 
Elizabeth,  who  died  July  1824,  aged 

78. 
JBetsey    Ufford,    Died    August    20, 
1837,  Aged  25  years. 

Catharine    Uff'ord,   Died   Oct.  21, 
1866,  Aged  85  yrs  &  6  mos. 

In  Memory  of 
Benjamin  ZTff'ord,  who  died  July 
12,  1844,  Aged  73  yrs. 

In  Memory  of 

Caty,  wife  of   Benjamin    Ufford,  who 

died  Sept.  22,  1S31,  in  her  61  year. 

Henry   Uff'ord,  Died  Nov.  30,  1S31, 
yE.  44  Yrs.  4  mo. 

Hannah  Jerotne,  His  Wife,  Died 
Feb.  2,  1S79,  JE.  Si  yrs.  5  Mo. 

Bev.  Hezekiah  Gold  Ufford,  Died 

January  23,  1863,  Aged  84  yrs. 
"  Be  thou  faithful  unto  death,  and  I  will  give 
thee  a  crown  of  life." 

Julia,  Wife  of  Hezekiah  Gold  Ufford, 
Died  May  5,  1864,  JE.  76  yrs. 
"  Blessed  are  the  pure  in  heart,  for  they 
shall  see  God." 

Isaac   Ufford,  Died    Dec.  iS,  1836, 
JE.  52  years. 

Phebe  Datjton,  wife  of  Isaac  Ufford, 
Born    Aug.  8,    1785,    Died    Aug.   11, 

1872. 


Inscriptions  in  the  Congregational  Biirying-place.  233 


Louisa  J.,  Daughter  of  Henr}'  J.  & 
Lucy  L.  Ufford,  died  April  13,  1863, 
aged  15  yrs.  &  6  mo. 

Too  fondly  loved 
Too  early  lost. 

Lticy  L.,  Wife   of  Henry   J.    UfTord, 
Died  April  8,  1861,  J£..  41. 
O  Mother  dear  thy  pains  are  o'er 
Thou  ne'er  shall  sigh  nor  weep  no  more, 
Thy  spirit  dwells  among  the  blest, 
In  heaven  thou  shall  forever  rest. 
VV'e've  laid  thee  in  thy  narrow  home. 
Until  the  resurrection  morn, 
Till  Christ  shall  bid  the  sleepers  rise, 
To  dwell  in  mansions  in  the  skies. 

In  memory  of 
JPhebe,  wife  of  Benjumin  Ufford,  who 

died  Sept.  21^*,  A.  D.  iSio,  aged  37. 
Caroline^  their  daughter,  died    Sept. 

3',  1803,  aged  I  year  &  8  months. 
Cothfii'ine,  Daughter  of  Benjamin  & 

Phebe    Ufford,    Born    Dec.    9,    1801, 

Died  Mar.  21,  1880. 

In  memory  of 
Samuel  Ufford,  who  died  Dec.  21, 
1824  ;  in  his  54  Year. 

In  memory  of 
3Ii's.  SusannaJi    Ufford,   wife    of 
Samuel   Ufford,  Jur.,  who  died   Dec. 
29,  1817,  .'Et.  43. 

In  Memory  of 
Dea.    Samuel  Uff'ord,    Who  was 

born  Feb.  27,  1749,  and  deceased  Dec. 
10,  1822  ;  in  the  74  3'ear  of  his  age. 

In  Memory  of 
Sophia,  Daughter   of  Elijah    Ufford, 

Jun.,  who  died  Sept.  18,  1S03,  aged  i 

}-ear  &  4  months. 
Susannah    &    Hezekiah       Children    of 

Samuel  &  Susanna  Ulford. 
Susannah,    died   Dec.    23,    1801,    in 

the  4*''  }-ear  of  her  age. 
Hezekiah,  died  June  3,  iSoi,  in  the 

4*  day  of  his  age. 

In  memory  of 
William  Uff'ord,  who  died  May  29, 
1848.  JE.  70  yrs. 

In  Memory  of 
Abigail,  wife  of  William  Ulford,  who 
died  Dec.  5.  1848,  JE.  62. 

Here  lyes  the  Remains  of 
Deliverance  Wahlin,  who  departed 
this   life   in    the  57  year  of  his   age, 
November  6,  1707. 

Sacred  to  the  memory  of 
Ann  Brasher  Walker ,   who    de- 
parted this  life  Jan.  12,  1837,  aged  46. 


[A  Monument.] 

Joseph  Walker,  Died  Aug.  12,  1810, 

Aged  55  Years. 

He  entered  the  American  Army  in  the  year 
1777,  &  served  his  country  in  the  several  grades 
of  office,  from  a  Captain  to  a  Major  General. 

Jonathan  Otis  Walker  died  Oct. 
27,  1821,  aged  36  years. 

3Iari/  Ann,  Wife  of  Jonn.  Otis  Wal- 
ker, Died  Nov.  23,  1867,  Aged  72. 

Susanna,  relict  of  Gen.  Joseph  Wal- 
ker,  died  Oct.  20,  1822,  aged  70  years. 

Joseph  Walker,  son  of  Joseph  & 
Susannah  Walker,  died  on  the  18"'  of 
March,  1803,  in  the  13"'  year  of  his 
age,  of  a  fracture  in  his  scull,  occas- 
ioned by  a  fall  from  a  horse,  Jan.  10"^, 
1803. 

Here  lyes  Buried  ve  Bodv  of 

Mrs.  3Iary  Walker,  Wife  to  Mr. 
Josiah  Walker,  who  departed  this  Life 
Jany  y"  s"",  A.  D.  1745,  or  6  in  y^  24*'' 
year  of  Her  Age. 

3Irs.  Eunice,  Relect  of  Capt.  Wil- 
liam Walker,  died  Dec.  28,  1832  aged 
64  years. 

Caj)t.  William  Walker,  died  Dec. 
5"^,  1S30,  aged  62  years. 

[A    MONCMENT.] 

Hobert  Walker,  Esq.,  Died  Novem- 
ber 7.  A.D.  1810,  .'^ged  64  years. 
In  private  life  his  deportment  was  in  the  high- 
est  degree  exemplary.      The   urbanity    of    his 
manners,  the  amiableness   of  his   Disposition, 
and  the  tjencvolence  of  his  character,  were  pre- 
eminently conspicuous.     He  was  kind,  courte- 
ous and  charitable  ;   ardent  in   his  friendships, 
and  forgiving  in  his  resentments.    To  his  strong 
intellectual   powers,   were  united   a  quick  dis- 
cernment and  a  discriminating  judgment.     He 
was  honored  with  many  civil  offices,  the  duties 
of  which  he   discharged  with   an   unwavering 
iidelity.     He  was  a  firm  believer  in  Christianity 
and  a  powerful  advocate  for  good  morals,  An 
affectionate  Husband  and  tender  Parent. 
Here  also  lies  mingled  with  the  same 
earth  the  dust  of 
3Irs.  3Iargaret  Walker,  relict  of 
Robert  Walker,  Esq.,   who  died  Feb. 
6,  1819,  aged  66  years. 
[A  Tablet  of  sandstone  with  slatestone 
inlaid.] 
In  Memory  of  the 
Honble.    Bohert    Walker,  Esq., 
Who  departed  this  Life,  July  13,  A.D. 
1772,  ^tat  68. 

He  sustained  many  important  offices  in  civil 
Life.  For  many  Years  before  and  at  the  time 
of  his  Death,  He  was  one  of  his  Majesty's 
Council  for  the  Colony  of  Connecticut,  one  of 
the  Judges  of  the  Superior  Court,  and  a  Colo- 
nel of  the  Militia  ;  all  which  offices  he  discharg- 
ed with  Fidelity  and  honor.  He  firmly  believed 
and  Conscientiously  Practiced  the  Christian 
Religion  ;  was  a  kind  Husband,  a  Tender  Pa- 
rent, and  faithful  Friend. 


234 


History   of  Stratford. 


Mrs.  Heheckali  Walter,  Relict  of 
Honble  Robert  Walker,  Esqr.,  died 
Feby  28">,  1805,  in  the  8q"^  Year  of 
her  age. 

Bobert  Wm.  Walker,  Died  May 
8,  1852  ;  Aged  59. 

Here  Lves  Buried  Ye  Bodv  of 

3Ir.  Bobert  Walker,  Who  Depart- 
ed this  Life,  April  y''  ist  Anno  Domni, 
1743,  in  y"  75""  Year  of  His  Age. 
In  memory  of 

Mrs.  Abigail  Walker,  the  beloved 
Consort  of  Mr.  Robert  Walker,  Junr., 
Who  departed  this  Life  June  25"^, 
1769  in  the  25"'  year  of  her  Age. 

Joseph  Walker,  Son  of  Robert 
Walker,  Esqr.,  by  his  wife  Rebeckah, 
who  died  the  8'''  day  of  Maj-,  A.  D. 
1752,  aged  9  years,  five  months  &  27 
Days. 

C'a2>t.  William  Walker,  died  in 
the  service  of  the  United  States  at 
Burlington,  Vi.,   Dec.  31,  1812,  aged 

29- 

In  Memory  of 
Anna    Wells,  Wife  of  James  Wells, 

who  died  April  9,  1831,  aged  77  years. 
Two  Children,  daughters  of  Nathan  and 

Mary  R.  Wells. 
Catharine    Jane,    died    March    i, 

1806,  aged  16  days. 
3Iari/  Buggies,  died  Sept.  2,  181 3, 

aged  2  years  &  5  months. 
In  Memory  of 
3Irs.  Charity  Wells,  y"   daug""  of 

Mrs.  Comfort  Wells,  and  Sister  to  the 

wife  of  Jabez  Curtis.     She    Departed 

this   Life  July  29"\   1783,  in  the  42'' 

Year  of  her  Age. 

Here  lyes  Buried  the  Body  of 
3Ir.  David    Wells,  Who    Departed 

this   life    April    25"'.    Anno     Domni, 

1742,  Aged  43  Years. 

In  memory  of 
Hannah  Wells,  who  died  April  19, 

1806,  aged  55  years. 
31  rs.  Jlepsa    Wells,    wife    of    Mr. 

John  Wells,  died  Sept.  9,  1815,  in  the 

26  jear  of  her  age. 
Xathaniel B.,\.\\e'u  son,  died  August 

30,  1815,  ^t.  S  weeks. 

In  memory  of 
3Ir.   Isaac  .lad son    Wells,   Who 

Departed  this  Life,  April    ig'*",  1772, 

in  y*  62  Year  of  his  Age. 
3Ir.  Isaac  Wells  died  Feb.  27,  1814, 

in  the  62  year  of  his  age. 


In  Memory  of 
James   Wells,  who   died    August  2, 
1821,  in  his  74"'  year. 

Here  lyes  Buried  y"  Body  of 
Capt.  John   If  ells.  Who  Departed 
this  Life  February  17*'^,  Anno  Domni 
1735.  Aged  59  Years. 

Here  lyes  Buried  the  Body  of 
3Ir.  John    Wells,    Who    Departed 
this  Life  February  y*  S"',  Anno  Dom- 
ni, 1753,  in  }"  40  Year  of  his  Age. 

In  Memory  of 

3Irs.  Comfort  Wells,  Wife  to  Mr. 
John  Wells,  who  departed  this  Life, 
February  g,  1790,  In  the  73  Year  of 
her  Age. 

In  memory  of 

3Ir.  John  Wells,  Son  of  Mrs.  Com- 
fort Wells  and  only  Brother  of  the 
Wife  of  Jabez  Curtis  &  beloved  friend 
of  Phebe  Gorham,  who  Departed  this 
Life,  Jany  14"'.  A.  D.  1789,  in  the  41'' 
Year  of  his  Age. 

Here  lyes  Buried  y*^  Body  of 
Mrs.  3Iay  Wells,  Widow  of  Capt. 

John   Wells,  Who   Departed  this  life 

Jany  b^^.  Anno  Domni  1743,  Aged  64 

Years. 

In  memory  of 
3Iarg    Wells,    Relict    of    Benjamin 

Wells,  who  died  May  24,  1796,  aged 

68  Years. 
Mrs.    3I0II1J    Wells,    wife    of    Mr. 

John  Wells  ;  died  Jan.  29,  1814  ;  aged 

46. 

In  memory  of 
Nancy   Wells,    who   died    Nov.    2g, 

1835,  in  the  60  year  of  her  age. 
3Ii's.   Eunice   Wells,  relict   of  Mr. 

Nathan  Wells,  died   April    12,    1816, 

aged  87  years. 

In  memory  of 
Lieut.  Nathan   Wells,    Who    De- 
parted this  mortal  life  on  the  20'^  of 
iVIay,  Anno   Dom.   1776,    in  the   4g''^ 
year  of  his  Age. 

Think  of  your  friend  lies  buried  here, 

And  view  your  transient  state  ; 

Bestow  at  least  one  pious  Tear, 

And  with  Submission  wait. 

E'er  long  this  melancholy  scene. 

Shall  on  your  hearse  attend  ; 

With  haste  employ  the  Space  between. 

To  make  of  God  a  Friend. 

In  Memory  of 
Miss  Phebe,  Daughr  of  Mr.  Stephen 
&  Mrs,   Mary  Wells,  Who   Departed 
this   Life,   Sept.   g,   1775,    in  the    lo"' 
Year  of  her  age. 


Inscriptions  in  the  Congregational  Biirying-placc. 


235 


In  memory  of 
Mr.  Samuel   Wells,  Jr.,  who  de- 
parted this  life,   Sept.  9"',  1804,  aged 
39  years. 

In  memory  of 
Lieut.  StepJien  Wells,  who  depart- 
ed this  life  April  4,  1799,  in  y''  58  year 
of  his  age. 

In  mem  or}'  of 
3Ir.  TJionias  Wells,  who  departed 
this  Life,  Sept.  23'',  1791,   In  the  74*'' 
year  of  his  Age. 

Here  lyes  Buried  v'^  Body  of 
3Ir.    William    Wells,  Who  depart- 
ed this  life  Nov.  i,  Anno  Domni,  1745, 
in  y®  30*  Year  of  his  age. 

[A  Monument.] 
This  monument,  erected  by  Robert  M. 

Welman,  of   New  York. 
Sacred  to  the  memory  of  his  much  be- 
loved wife, 
Catharine    Rebecca     Welman, 
who  left  this  sublunary  sphere  July 
2'',  1804,  JE.  22  years,  7  months  and 
II  daj's. 
Pause  Gentle  traveler, 

Was  her  matchless  worth 
To  thee  in  happier  moments  known? 
Then  pour  the  tide  of  sorrow  forth, 
And  in  her  fate  lament  thine  own. 

But  didst  thou  not  her  virtue  know, 
Still  let  thy  tears  her  death  attend 
And  mourn  that  midst  a  world  of  woe 
Thou  wert  not  lovely  Catharine's  friend. 
Deep  the  sleep  of  death  !  low  the  pillow  of  dust. 

Catharine  M.  Wefmore,  relict  of 
Victory  Weimore,  died  Oct.  14,  1859, 
JE.  86. 

Sacred  to  the  Memory  of 
Victor  If  Wetniore,  Esq.,  who  De- 
parted this  life,   March  10,  1817  ;  ^Et. 
50. 

In  Memory  of 
Charles  Joseph    Wetniore,  who 
died  the  17  of  July,  A.  D.  1S16,  in  the 
37  year  of  his  age. 

Mev.  Izrahiah  Wetmore,  died 
Augt.  3'',  1798,  in  the  70""  Year  of 
his  age,  and  45*'*  year  of  his  ministry. 

Mrs.  PJiehe  Wetniore,  Consoit  of 
Revd  Izh.  Wetmore,  and  Daughter  of 
Robert  Walker,  Esq.,  died  Septr.  12'*', 
17S4,  in  the  45*''  year  of  her  age. 

In  Memory  of 
Victory,  son   of    the    Revd    Izrahiah 
Wetmore,    and    Phebe  Wetmore,    his 
wife,  who  Deceased  Novem""   1762,  in 
the  3'i  Year  of  his  Age. 


In  Memory  of 
Rebecca,  Daughter  of  the  Revd.  Izra- 
hiah  Wetmore,  and   Phebe  Wetmore, 
his  wife,  who  deceased  Deer,  i,  1760, 
Aged  about  10  months. 
Light  as  the  Summer's  tiust  we  take  in  air 
A  moment's  giddy  flight  and  fall  again 
Join  the  dull  mass,  increase  the  trodden  soil. 
And  sleep  till  earth  herself  shall  be  no  more. 

In  Memory  of 
Mrs.  Tryphena  Whet  more,  Dau"^ 
of  Cap'  Hezekiah  Wetmore,  of  Mid- 
dletown    (Deceas'd),  Who    departed 
this  mortal  life  on  the  11"'  day  of  July, 
1772,  in  y  22'^  year  of  her  age. 
The  Souls  the  only  thing  we  have 
Worth  an  important  thought. 
The  soul  is  of  the  immortal  kind 
Ne'er  formed  of  Fire,  or  Earth,  or  Wind 
outlives  ye  mouldering  corpse  &  leaves 
ye  globe  behind. 

3Irs.  Charity,  relect  of  Mr.  Elna- 
than  Wheeler,  died  March  6,  1816,  in 
77  year  of  her  age. 

In  Memory  of 
3Iiss  Charity   Wheeler,  Daughter 

of    Mr.   EInathan   and    Mrs.    Charity 

Wheeler,  Who  died  May  i^*,  1797,  in 

the  28"!  Year  of  her  Age. 
Charles  M.,  died  June  17,  1812,  JE. 

7  years  &  5  months. 
Nelson,  died  June  28,  1817,  JE.  8  years, 

Sons  of  John  &  Avis  Wheeler. 
Elisha  Wheeler,  died  May  5,  1853, 

Aged  81  years. 

In  memory  of 
Dorothy,   Wife   of    Elisha    Wheeler, 
who  died  Jan.  12,  1847,  JE.  71  Years. 
Here  Ives  Buried  y*  Bodv  of 
3Irs.  Elizabeth  Wheeier,  Wife  to 
Nathan  Wheeler,  Who    Died  Jan.  22, 
Anno    Domini,    1739-40,    in    y"    51" 
Year  of  Her  Age. 

In  memory  of 
EInathan  Wheeler,  Jr.     He  died 
Nov.  I**,  1805,  aged  39  years. 
The  sweet  memory  of  the  just 
Shall  flourish  when  he  sleeps  in  dust. 

In  Memory  of 
3Ir.  EInathan  Wheeler,  who  died 

Feb.  14,  1809,   In  the  Gg""  year  of  his 

age. 

Here  lyes  Buried  the  Bodv  of 
Deacon  EInathan  WJieeler,  Who 

Departed  this  Life.  March   the   14"^, 

1761,  Aged  58  Years. 
EmiliJ  Curtis,  Daughter  of  Ezra  & 

Emily  Wheeler,   Born   Oct.   4.   1852, 

Died' Aug.  28,  1872. 


236 


History  of  Stratford. 


Edtvard,son  of  Ezra  &  Emily  Wheel- 
er, Died  Nov.  10,  1865,  JE.  i  yr.  &  6 
mos. 

George  WJie€ler,died  July  16, 1S35, 
aged  35,  also, 

31<iry  C.»  daughter  of  George  &  Bet- 
sey C.  Wheeler,  died  July  29,  1833, 
JE.  2  yrs.  and  7  mo. 

tT.  W.,  1694.     [Perhaps  Joanna  Wheel- 
er, youngest  dau.  of  the  i^'  Moses.] 
In  memory  of 

3Irs.  Jetinetf  wife  of  Mr.  David 
Wheeler  and  daughter  of  Capt.  Dan- 
iel and  Mrs.  Betsey  Booth,  who  died 
Oct.  29,  1817,  aged  23  years. 


Here  lyes  intered  The  Body  of 
Mary  Wheeler,  Who  Departed  this 
Life  in  March  the   4"'  day  in  the  year 
1726,  and  in  17""  year  of  her  age. 
Here  l^es  y''  Body  of 
Mrs.  Martha    Wheeler,   Wife  to 
Mr.  Elnathan  Wheeler,  Who  departed 
this  life  August  the   5"',  1764,  Aged 
64  Years. 

In  Memory  of 

Miss  Martha  Wheeler,  who  died 

Aug.  14,  1827,  aged  63. 

1694 

J.   W. 

February  y"  17.* 


Nathaniel  Wheeler,  died  May  19, 
1819,  yE.  S5. 

3rrs.  HacJiel  Wheeler,  wife  of  Mr. 
Nathaniel  Wheeler,  Died  Sept.  15, 
1S14  ;  aged  81  years. 

Here  layes  the  Body  of 
Nathan   Wheeler,  Who    Departed 
this  life,  January  the  31,  I72f,  In  19 
year  of  his  Age. 

Here  lyes  Buried  the  Body  of 
Mr.   Nathan  Wheeler,  Who  de- 
parted  this  life   Nov.  y«   7"^,  1765,  in 
ye  86"!  Year  of  his  Age. 


In  Memory  of 
Capt,  Samuel  WJieeler,  who  died 
June  2,    1815,   in   the   57  3'ear  of  his 
age. 

Our  Mother  Rests. 
Betsey  Haivley    Wheaton,    Died 
Aug.  17,  1872,  In  Her  85"'  year. 

Anna  M.^  Daughter  of  David  &  Jane 
E.  Wheaton,  died  June  20,  1863,  JE. 
16  yrs.  &  I  mo. 


*  This  Stone  is  at  the  left  side  of  Moses  Wheel- 
er's. 


Inscriptions  in  the  Congregational  Bnrying-place. 


237 


WHOPEBARirDTO. 


\^  ■■   I 


BO, 


In  memory  of 
Mary    WhijtpO,  who    died  Jan.   23, 
1812,  aged  53  years,  and   of  her  late 
husband,     Isaac     }y  hi2ypo,     who 

died  in  New  York,  July  6,  1807,  aged 
—  years,  also  of  their  two  sons  John 
&  Charles. 

John  died  in  the  Island  of  New  Prov- 
idence, June  30,  1799,  aged  17. 

Charles  went  to  sea  Aug.  1807,  at  23 
3'ears  of  age  and  has  not  since  been 
heard  from. 

In  Memory  of 
3Ir.  Epiiraiui  Willcoehson,  Who 

died  July  21,  1S06,  Aged  78. 
In  memory  of  three  Children  of  Elna- 

than  &  Sarah  Willcoxson. 
Isaac,  died  July  14,  1783,  ^t.  5  years. 
EUas,  died  July  3,  1783,  ^t.  3  years. 
Sarah,    died   July    12,    1783.    ^t.  8 

months. 


Here  Lyes  Buried  y'=  Body  of 
Lieut.  John     Willcoehson,   Who 

Departed  this  Life,  Sept.  12"",  Anno 
Domni,  1748,  in  y'=  Gs""  Year  of  His 
Age. 

Here  lies  the  Body  of 

Lucy  Willcoehson,  Daughter  of 
Lieut.  Ephraim  &  Ruth  Willcockson, 
died  June  9"',  A.D.  1784,  in  the  28"' 
Year  of  her  age. 

Sacred  to  the  Memory  of 

Mrs.  Suth   Willcockson,  Consort 
of  Lieut.  Ephraim  Willcockson,  Who 
departed  this   Life,  July  30,   1801,  In 
the  74"'  Year  of  her  Age. 
In  memory  of 

Ruth  ^H/i,  daughter  of  Col.  Ephraim 
J.  &  Mrs.  Mary  Wilcoxson,  who  died 
Sept.  22,  1S15,  aged  6  years. 
In  tnemor}-  of 

Samuel  O.  Willcoehson,  who  d'ltd. 
June  7,  1804,  ^-Et.  34. 


238 


History  of  Stratford. 


Here  lies  the  Body  of 
SuniuelWillcochson,  who  departed 
this  Life   August    19,    A.  D.   1783,  in 
the  59""  year  of  his  Age. 
The  Woman's  Seed  shall  bruise  the  Serpent's 

Head, 
And  Christ  shall  raise  his  servants  from  the 
Dead. 

In  Memory  of 
Chester    G.     Whiting,    who    died 

Aug.  19,  1847,  JE.  25  yrs.  &  6  ms. 
HannaJi,  wife  of  Seymour  Whiting, 

Died  Sept.  25,  1846,  JE.  78  yrs.  &  3 

mo. 
3Irs,  3I(trt/  Ann,  widow   of   Ezra 

C.  Whiting,   Died   Dec.   16,   1866,  JE. 

67  yrs.  II  mos. 

"I  shall  be  satisfied  when  I  awake  with  thy 
likeness." 

In  Memory  of 

Ezra  C.  Whiting,  who  died  April 
10,  1824,  in  his  32  year  ;  And  of  2  in- 
fant Children  by  his  wife  Mary  Ann  : 

Elbert,  died  Sept.  7,  1819,  aged  i  year 
&  17  days. 

Elbert,  2d,  died  Aug.  27,  1S21,  aged 
I  year  &  10  days. 

In  Memory  of 

Col.  Samuel  Whiting,   who   died 

Feb.  15,  1803,  aged  82  yrs. 

Also  of 

Elizabeth,  his  wife,  who  died  Dec.  5, 

1793.  aged  70  yrs. 


In  memory  of 
Seymour  Conway  Whiting,  who 

departed  this  life  July  26,   1841,  aged 
74  years. 

Here  lies  Interred  the  Body  of 

Mr.  Samuel  Whitney,  who  De- 
parted this  life  December }•'  6"^,  1753, 
in  }-«  66"^  Year  of  his  Age. 

Sacred  to  the  memory  of 

Mrs.  Abigail  M.  Woodbridge, 
the  amiable  Consort  of  Samuel  Wood- 
bridge,  Esqr.,  and  eldest  daughter  of 
Robert  &  Margaret  Walker,  who  de- 
parted this  life,  Aug.  15,  A.  D.  1814, 
Aged  34  Years. 

In  memor}'  of 

Ruth  Wooster,  widow  of  the  late 
Col.  Joseph  Wooster,  who  died  March 
23"*  iSoi,aged  86  years. 


ERRATA. 

Peter  Pixley,  son  of  Mr.  David  & 
Mrs.  Betsey  Curtiss,  died  May  10, 
1817,  aged  3  months.* 

*  This  inscription  should  have  been 
in  the  Curtiss  families,  but  was  entered 
in  the  wrong  place. 

The  date  of  death  of  John  Hurd  on 
page  221  was  1681,  but  it  is  not  legible 
on  the  grave-stone. 


Note. — The  author  has  had  the  privilege,  after  copying  the  above  list  from  the 
stones,  of  comparing  it  with  the  manuscript  copy  of  these  names  and  dates,  made 
with  great  care  and  labor  by  Mr.  Abraham  W.  Morehouse,  of  Bridgeport,  at  the 
request  of  the  Fairfield  County  Historical  Society,  which  has  contributed  much  to 
the  present  state  of  perfectness  of  the  list. 


CHAPTER  X. 


NEW   SETTLERS   AND    ENTERPRISES. 


XCELLENCE  of  character  is  one  of  the 
^  most  valuable  qualities  in  the  establishment 
of  a  new  plantation  in  the  wilderness.  In 
the  settlement  of  Stratford  the  planters  pos- 
sessed, not  only  this  quality  in  a  marked 
degree,  but  there  was  almost  a  complete 
absence  of  those  of  an  opposite  kind  during 
the  first  fifty  years,  and  largely  so  the  next 
fifty. 

The  early  settlers  in  all  New  England 
were  a  select  class,  from  the  best  stock  of 
England,  France  and  Scotland,  in  the  sense 
of  a  well-informed,  thinking,  energetic  peo- 
ple. Many  of  them  were  of  the  homes  of  the 
commoners  of  England,  sometimes  termed 
Landed  Gentry,  and  most  of  them  were  ac- 
customed to  honorable  daily  employment, 
although  some  of  them  could  trace  their 
ancestry  back  to  royal  blood.  This  pride  in 
ancestry,  although  often  the  topic  of  ridicule,  is  nevertheless 
of  much  value  and  satisfaction,  for,  while  royal  blood — or  any 
blood — may  not  always  exhibit  itself  in  the  most  perfect  man- 
ner, nor  prove  itself  worthy  of  the  highest  honor,  yet  it  has 
represented  the  very  best  qualities  of  which  the  old  nations 
can  boast;  and  every  child  in  America  that  can  trace  its  line 
of  inheritance  back  to  such  an  origin,  may  well  claim  it  as  a 
high  honor. 

It  has  been  a  practice  to  laugh  at  those  who,  not 
being  third-rate  mechanics  when  they  came  to  this  coun- 
try,   pretended    to    be    descended    from    royalty ;    but   only 


240  History  of  Stratford. 

novices  would  indulge  in  such  sourness  of  mind,  for  it  is  be- 
yond controversy  that  quite  a  number  of  the  planters  were 
not  far  enough  removed  from  royalty  and  wealth  to  have  had 
need  of  mechanical  trades,  and  therefore  had  not  such 
knowledge. 

A  large  proportion  of  the  settlers  at  Stratford  were  by 
occupation  farmers,  called  planters  here  because  they  were 
of  a  company  which  established  a  plantation.  A  few  had 
other  trades,  as  ship  builders,  tailors,  stone  masons,  and  mer- 
chants, or  traders.  Several  had  estates  which  they  left  in 
England,  but  which  they  retained  in  their  right  and  posses- 
sion many  years  after  leaving  them. 

The  prominent  object  in  these  planters  in  coming  here 
was  that  they  might  enjoy  church  privileges  in  accord  with 
the  teachings  of  the  Bible,  as  they  understood  them,  and  this 
they  proposed  to  enjoy  under  the  English  Constitution. 
They  evidently  had  no  thought  of  independency  from  that 
constitution,  and  for  one  hundred  years  did  not  dream  of 
such  a  thing. 

This  company  of  seventeen,  after  becoming  located,  imme- 
diately invited  others  to  join  them  upon  certain  liberal,  but 
substantial  terms,  and  at  the  year  1650  about  thirty-five  had 
accepted  those  terms. 

The  township,  being  twelve  miles  long  and  ten  miles 
wide,  contained  120  square  miles,  or  76,000  acres  of  land; 
giving  to  each  of  the  17  families  over  four  thousand  acres. 
The  company  disposed  of  their  lands  in  various  ways.  A 
few  acres  were  sequestered  for  public  use;  some  for  individ- 
ual use  and  ownership.  To  new  settlers  they  gave  a  home 
lot,  a  piece  for  meadow  and  another  piece  of  upland  for  culti- 
vation, upon  condition  that  the  party  should  build  a  house 
and  improve  the  few  acres  thus  donated  during  four  years, 
at  the  end  of  which  the  land  became  their  own  and  was  so 
recorded.  Individual  proprietors  sold  fractional  parts  of 
their  Rights,  so  that  at  the  end  of  about  fifty  years  the  pro- 
prietors numbered  one  hundred  instead  of  seventeen,  and  in 
1699  the  number  was  143. 

The  proprietors,  for  themselves,  voted  at  first,  to  divide 
to  each   Right  a  certain   number  of  acres,  and    the    owner 


Biographical  Sketches.  241 

selected  the  land,  or  located  it,  wherever  he  pleased,  subject 
to  the  sanction  of  the  division  committee,  only  that  he  could 
take  up  but  a  few  acres  in  one  place,  about  18  or  20  at  most. 

After  some  years  certain  tracts  of  land  were  laid  into  plots 
one  for  each  proprietor,  and  then  they  drew  lots  for  them  as 
the  most  impartial  way  of  locating  each  man's  land. 

Having  heretofore  given  some  personal  account  or  bio- 
graphical sketches  of  nearly  seventy  persons,  some  further 
items  in  the  same  direction  will  illustrate  the  work  of  the 
settlement  of  the  town. 

Edward  Katchani  died  in  Stratford,  and  his  will  was 
proved  June  17,  1655.  The  inventory  of  his  estate  amounted 
toi^90-ii-6.  In  his  will,  dated  June  1655,  he  names  three 
daughters,  Mary,  Hannah  and  Hester. 

Michard  Mills,  to  all  appearance,  was  one  of  the  first 
company  at  Stratford.  He  married  the  daughter  of  Francis 
Nichols,  and  probably  came  with  the  Nichols  family  to  Strat- 
ford in  1639.  He  sold  much,  perhaps  all  of  his  estate  to 
Joseph  Hawley  in  1650,  and  removed,  it  is  said,  to  Westches- 
ter, N.  Y. 

It  is  in  connection  with  his  name  that  the  term  "  Lordship  " 
is  first  found,  as  applied  to  a  meadow,  on  what  is  still  known 
as  the  Lordship  farm.  It  is  said  in  the  deeds  of  land — 1650 
to  1660 — several  times,  "  Mill's  Lordship  "  and  the  "  Lord- 
ship meadow." 

No  explanation  of  the  term  is  found  or  known,  but  was 
doubtless  wholly  connected  with  Mr.  Mills  or  his  family  ; 
and  hence  the  name  did  not  originate  with  the  NicoU  family 
who  owned  the  Lordship  farm  many  years.  The  term  was  at 
first  applied  to  the  salt  meadow  at  that  place. 

Scmiuel  Mills,  believed  to  be  the  son  of  Richard,  came 
to  Stratford,  and  on  Dec.  24,  1666,  purchased  land  of  Hope 
Washburn,  and  was  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  at  Oronoke, 
soon  after  this  purchase,  where  he  resided  nearly  twenty 
years,  being  quite  active  as  a  citizen  of  the  town.  One 
record  says,  "  Samuel  Mills  purchased  from  his  uncle  Caleb 
Nichols,  six  acres  of  land,  29th  loth  month,  1668." 

He  sold  his  estate  here  in   1670,  to  "  Hugh  Makie,"  but 


242  History  of  Stratford. 

the  next  year  he  took  it  back  and  Mr.  Makie  removed   from 
the  town. 

Samuel  Mills  died  at  Southampton,  L.  I.,  in  1685,  leaving 
a  widow  and  an  only  heir  Richard  Mills,  who  disposed  of  the 
Stratford  property  soon  after. 

David  3Iitchellf  son  of  Matthew,  and  brother  of  the 
wife  of  Mr.  Samuel  Sherman,  sen.,  came  to  Stratford  and  pur- 
chased the  "accommodations"  of  John  Reader,  Feb.  26, 
1659,  consisting  of  a  house  lot  and  several  pieces  of  land. 

David  Mitchell  became  quite  prominent  in  the  town  as  a 
land  owner  and  farmer. 

John  Washhurn  was  at  Stratford  and  married  Mary, 
daughter  of  Richard  Butler,  June  7,  1655,  and  probably  re- 
moved to  Hempstead,  L.  I.,  with  his  father,  William  Wash- 
burn. 

Sope  WasJihiimf  son  of  William  of  Mass.,  and  per- 
haps of  Stratford  a  short  time,  was  made  a  freeman  here  at 
or  before  1669.  He  purchased  land  at  Oronoke  in  1666,  and 
was  one  of  the  three  earliest  settlers  at  that  place,  probably 
the  next  year.  He  purchased  several  pieces  of  land  at  that 
place,  but  soon  removed  to  Derby,  where  his  descendants 
continued  many  years. 

On  the  Stratford  records  is  an  agreement  of  the  widow 
Mary  and  children,  William,  Samuel,  Sarah  and  Jane,  to  di- 
vide the  estate  of  Hope  Washburn,  dated  Nov.  16,  1696. 

James  ClavTx^  Jr.,  son  of  James  of  New  Haven,  came 
to  Stratford  and  married  Deborah,  daughter  of  John  Peacock, 
about  1662.  He  was  a  farmer  and  received  considerable  land 
bv  his  wife ;  had  a  family  of  five  sons  and  three  daughters, 
and  the  descendants  were  quite  numerous  and  active  citizens 
for  many  years.  He  purchased  land  of  Joseph  Judson  "  near 
unto  Nesumpaws  creek,"  Nov.  25,  1667,  and  several  other 
pieces  soon  after. 

Jahez  Hai'ffeVf  said  to  have  been  a  Huguenot,  from 
Westchester,  N.  V.,  came  to  Stratford  and  married  Margaret 
the  daughter  of  Henry  Tomlinson  in  1662,  and  settled  in 
Derby  about  1670.     He   had  a  house  lot  recorded  to  him   in 


Biographical  Sketches.  243 

1669  in  Stratford,  and  the  same  year  seems  to  have  had  land 
recorded  to  him  in  Derb3%  where  he  lived,  and  died  in  1678. 
He  had  a  family  of  three  sons  and  six  daughters.  He  resided 
in  Stratford  several  years  and  bought  land  of  the  Indians  at 
Oronoke,  on  which  one  of  his  sons  settled  many  3'ears  after- 
wards. 

John  Mull,  son  of  Richard  of  Dorchester,  Mass.,  and 
New  Haven,  came  to  Stratford,  and  received  in  1662,  the 
grant  of  a  "  home  lot  on  the  north  side  of  Jabez  Harger,  pro- 
vided he  build  on  it  and  improve  it  three  years."  This  was 
only  a  home  lot  without  other  land.  He  was  accepted  as  an 
inhabitant  at  Derby  in  1668,  but  seems  to  have  resided  at 
Stratford  until  1675.  He  was  successful  at  Derby  in  accumu- 
lating property,  but  removed  to  Wallingford  in  1687,  where 
he  is  called  Doctor, — received  a  mile  square  of  land  from  the 
town,  and  where  he  died  Dec.  6,  171 1,  leaving  a  numerous 
family.  Three  of  his  sons  remained  in  Derby  and  their  de- 
scendants became  greatly  celebrated. 

John  Pickett  was  of  Salem,  Mass.,  in  1648,  and  came 
to  Stratford  in  1660,  with  a  family  of  four  sons  and  two 
daughters.  He  had  a  home  lot  granted  him  b}'  the  town, 
Apr.  I,  1665,  and  was  a  permanent  citizen.  His  wife  died 
Oct.  6,  1683,  and  he  died  Apr.  11,  1684.  His  son  Daniel  set- 
tled at  Danbury  about  the  year  1700,  and  Daniel,  junior,  was 
one  of  the  early  settlers  in  New  Milford.  John,  sen.,  was 
constable  at  Stratford  in  1667,  townsman  in  1669.  and  repre- 
sentative in  1673. 

JRobevt  LanCf  from  Derbyshire,  England,  first  located 
at  Killingworth,  Conn.,  came  to  Stratford  and  was  granted  a 
home  lot,  two  acres,  April  i,  1665,  "  on  the  same  terms  as 
John  Hull  and  Jabez  Harger,"  On  the  19th  of  December  he 
married  Sarah,  the  daughter  of  John  Pickett,  and  became  a 
successful  farmer  in  the  township.  On  February  21,  1676,  he 
was  chosen  "  burier,"  or  sexton  for  the  graveyard. 

Hohert  Clarkf  from  New  Haven,  married  Sarah,  the 
widow  of  Francis  Stiles  of  Windsor  some  years  before  1665, 
and  probably  after  he  came  to  Stratford. 


244  History  of  Stratford, 

He  became  an  influential  citizen  ;  was  successful  as  a  far- 
mer, and  gave  considerable  land  to  each  of  the  sons  of  his 
wife,  Ephraim,  Samuel  and  Thomas  Stiles. 

Nicholas  Gray  came  from  Flushing,  L.  1.,  and  pur- 
chased land  in  Stratford  in  1661  ;  remained  here  12  or  14 
years  and  returned  to  Flushing.  In  1676,  he  was  in  Flush- 
ing, and  in  1678  he  rented  "  his  dwelling  house,  land  and 
orchard  in  Stratford  to  Joseph  Blakeman,  but  in  1680,  his 
taxes  remaining  unpaid  for  several  years  the  constable  took 
possession  of  his  estate,  which  matter  he  seems  to  have  set- 
tled by  the  sale  of  the  land. 

John  Cook  seems  to  have  come  to  Stratford  as  servant 
to  Richard  Butler,  perhaps  when  quite  young.  His  first  land 
is  thus  :  "John  Cook  by  gift  from  his  Master  Richard  Butler, 
two  acres  of  upland  in  the  Neck,"  and  "  by  gift  from  the 
town  two  acres,  Feb.  i,  1667." 

JSenry  Summers  came  to  Stratford,  apparently  in 
company  with  Samuel  Gregory,  who  was  his  brother-in-law,^ 
before  1668.  Whether  they  were  just  come  from  England  or 
not  has  not  been  ascertained.  The  town  records  say  that 
Samuel  Summers  purchased  of  his  uncle  Samuel  Gregory, 
four  acres  of  land,  in  1696,  near  Golden  Hill. 

Henry  Summers  purchased  his  first  land  in  Stratford, 
"  27th  of  ist  month,  1668  ;  land  lying  at  Pequonnock,  bounded 
east  with  the  great  river  called  Pequonnock  river,  and  south 
with  the  Indians'  land,  north  on  common."  This  he  sold  the 
same  day  to  Samuel  Gregory. 

In  1686,  he  was  living  at  Pequonnock,  his  dwelling  being 
located,  as  near  as  can  be  ascertained,  a  little  way  south  of 
what  is  now  the  junction  of  Park  and  Washington  avenues. 
Here  he  was  residing,  apparently,  in  1707,  but  in  1710  he  was 
residing  in  Milford,  for  at  that  time,  he  deeded,  as  he  says: 
"to  my  son  John  Summers,  one-half  of  my  house  lot  in  Strat- 
field,  a  dwelling  house,  barn  and  orchard,"  it  being  eleven 
acres,  "  the  half  of  the  home  lot  on  which  the  building 
stands."  He  owned  several  pieces  of  land  in  the  vicinity — 
one  of  16  acres,  purchased  in  1686,  "  lying  on  a  hill  west  of 
Ireland's  brook  between  the  wolf-pits." 


BiograpJiical  Sketches,  245 

Henry  Gregory  was  in  Stratford  as  early  as  1647,  as 
recorded  in  tiie  New  Haven  records,  where  he  is  represented 
as  having  sons  Judah  and  John  and  a  daughter,  the  wife  of 
William  Crooker.     Henry  Gregory  died  before  1655. 

Samuel  Gregory ,  probably  the  son  of  the  above  Henry, 
was  one  of  the  first  settlers  at  Pequonnock,  now  Bridgeport, 
where  he  was  residing  in  1686,  at  what  is  now  the  junction  of 
Park  and  Washington  avenues,  for  the  highway  now  Wash- 
ington avenue  was  laid  out  through  the  Indians'  land,  begin- 
ning at  Samuel's  Gregory's  house.  He  settled  at  Pequon- 
nock about  1665. 

Micliard  Seach  was  of  New  Haven  in  1639,  ^nd  one  of 
the  original  signers  of  the  compact.  He  married  there  about 
1640,  and  came  to  Stratford  with  a  family  of  four  children, 
where  he  purchased  his  first  land  February  6,  1660,  of  Thomas 
Wheeler  ;  "  one  house  lot  with  all  the  buildings  upon  it."  In 
1662,  he  purchased  other  pieces  of  land — one  of  five  acres 
"  on  west  point  of  the  Neck,  butted  south  upon  the  meadow 
called  Mills'  Lordship." 

He  and  his  descendants  became  substantial  and  influen- 
tial inhabitants  of  the  town. 

Rev.  Israel  Chaunceyf  youngest  son  of  the  Rev.  Charles 
Chauncey,  president  of  Harvard  College,  was  born  in  1644, 
at  Scituate,  Massachusetts,  where  his  father  was  then  preach- 
ing. He  was  graduated  at  Harvard  in  1661,  in  the  class  with 
his  older  brothers  Nathaniel  and  Elnathan. 

In  1663,  he  compiled  and  edited  the  New  England  Alma- 
nac, on  the  title  page  of  which  is,  Israel  Chauncey.  On  the 
last  two  pages  he  states  "  The  Theory  of  Planetary  Orbs 
and  the  natural  portents  of  eclipses." 

He  preached  in  Stratford  from  April,  1665,  to  June,  1666, 
as  assistant  to  the  Rev.  Adam  Blakeman,  when  he  received  a 
call  to  settle  as  pastor  over  this  church  and  society,  and  was 
soon  after  ordained  as  such,  he  being  then  but  22  years  of 
age.  He  was  made  freeman  in  the  town  in  1667,  and  married 
Mary,  the  daughter  of  Isaac  Nichols,  senior,  one  of  his  most 
prominent  parishioners.  His  first  wife  died  and  he  married 
2d  Sarah  Hodson  of  New  Haven  in  1684. 

17 


246  History  of  Stratford. 

In  1666,  upon  his  settlement  as  pastor,  his  salary  was  fixed 
at  ;^6o  per  annum,  and  one-fourth  of  the  sequestered  minis- 
tr}'  land  was  given  him  for  his  use,  and  a  house  soon  after 
built  on  the  home  lot  for  him  to  reside  in  and  improve  as  his 
own  property,  but  in  case  of  death  or  removal  these  were  to 
revert  to  the  town.  In  1677,  however,  the  house  and  land 
was  fully  deeded  to  him,  as  was  a  like  estate  to  the  Rev. 
Zechariah  Walker,  pastor  of  the  Woodbury  Church. 

Mr.  Israel  Chauncey  studied  medicine  and  was  a  practic- 
ing physician  of  eminence  as  well  as  a  divine,  and  hence  he 
was  an  important  personage  in  the  Council  of  War,  in  the 
Narragansett  Indian  troubles. 

On  the  9th  of  March,  1675-6,  the  authority  at  Hartford 
make  this  record  :  "  The  Council  also  ordered  the  Secretary 
to  write  to  Mr.  Israel  Chauncey  to  hasten  up  to  Hartford  to 
attend  the  Council's  orders,  with  an  order  to  impress  men, 
horses,  and  accommodations  for  his  coming  up.'" 

Two  days  later  a  further  record  was  made. 

"March  11,  1675-6.  The  Council  appointed  Mr.  Chaun- 
cey to  be  one  of  the  Council  of  the  army  in  room  of  Mr. 
Hooker,  and  also  that  he  should  now  go  forth  with  the  army 
as  their  chirurgion,"  [surgeon]. 

Upon  the  breaking  out  of  the  King  Philip  or  Narragan- 
sett War,  in  July,  1675,  a  "  Council  "  of  War  was  appointed  by 
the  General  Court,  consisting  of  the  Governor,  Lieut.  Gov- 
ernor, Assistants  and  a  few  others  named,  and  Mr.  Israel 
Chauncey  being  appointed  a  member  of  that  body  shows  the 
estimation  in  which  he  was  held,  but  this  act  brought  the 
calamity  to  the  heart  of  Stratford  by  taking  their  minister  from 
them  a  number  of  months,  in  the  midst  of  the  most  distress- 
ing anxieties,  for  the  war  created  great  fear  and  excitement. 
The  destination  of  the  army  under  Major  Robert  Treat, 
when  Mr.  Chauncey  was  ordered  to  go  with  them  as  their 
Surgeon,  was  Norwich,  and  if  he  went,  he  soon  returned,  for 
the  burning  of  Simsbury,  Connecticut,  the  following  Sunday, 
caused  the  Council  to  recall  Major  Treat  and  a  part  of  his 
forces  and  send  them  north,  to  protect  the  settlements  in  that 
direction. 

^  Conn.  Col.  Rec,  ii.  415. 


TJie  Rev.  Israel  CJiauncey.  247 

On  the  27th  of  the  same  month,  Mr.  Chauncey  being  at 
Hartford  as  a  member  of  the  Council,  having  received  intel- 
ligence "of  the  death  of  his  child  and  the  dangerous  sickness 
of  his  wife,  was  permitted  to  return  home  ;  but  before  leav- 
ing he  addressed  a  letter  to  the  Council  which  shows  a  little 
further  his  influence  and  public  relations  to  the  Common- 
wealth. 

His  brother,  the  Rev.  Nathaniel  Chauncey,  was  the  pastor 
at  Windsor,  and  had  been  with  the  army  as  chaplain,  ap- 
parently, on  its  first  expedition  to  Norwich,  in  this  war. 

His  brother  Bulkly,  whom  he  mentions  in  his  letter,  was 
the  Rev.  Gershom  Bulkley,  pastor  at  VVethersfield,  and  had 
married  Sarah,  the  eldest  sister  of  Mr.  Chauncey,  and  the 
occasion  for  his  having  an  "easy  horse"  was  from  the  fact 
that  he  had  accompanied  Major  Treat's  forces  northward 
two  weeks  previous,  and  was  wounded  by  a  shot  from  the 
enemy,  in  a  sudden  assault  made  upon  the  English  b}'  a  small 
party  of  Indians. 

Mr.  Chauncey  was  successful  in  his  pastorate  at  Stratford, 
beginning  in  the  Spring  of  1665  and  ending  at  his  decease, 
March  14,  1702-3,  a  term  of  thirty-seven  years.  He  con- 
ducted his  church  through  the  troublous  time  which  re- 
sulted in  the  organization  of  a  second  church  and  its  removal 
to  Woodbury,  with  dignity  of  character  in  apparently  a  large 
Christian  spirit,  securing  to  himself  great  respect  and  honor 
during  his  subsequent  life. 

^  Mr.  Chauncey's  letter. 

"  Much  honoured  :  I  am  truly  sorry  that  I  am  necessitated  to  trouble  you.  I 
have  lately  received  a  letter  from  some  friends,  who  doe  acquaint  me  with  the 
afflicted  state  of  my  family  ;  my  wife  being  very  lately  delivered,  the  child  dead, 
and  my  wife  in  danger  of  death,  by  reason  of  weakness  prevailing  upon  her.  I 
doe  therefore  humbly  entreat  your  Worships  to  grant  me  a  release  to  visit  my 
afflicted  family,  and  dear  wife,  if  living.  E.\cuse  my  boldness  and  troublesome- 
ness,  and  consider  my  condition.  I  hope  my  brother  Bulkly,  provided  he  have  an 
able  and  easy  horse,  will  attend  the  army,  upon  their  present  motion  ;  only,  if  it 
be  expected,  he  doth  desire  care  may  be  taken  for  an  easy  horse,  and  that  it  may 
be  sent  him  this  night.  I  have  not  further  to  adde  but  my  hearty  prayers  for  the 
presence  of  the  great  and  wonderful  Counsellor  with  you,  in  your  solemne  consul- 
tations, and  10  subscribe  myselfe  Your  Worships  reall  servant, 

Stratford,  Mar.  27th, '76.  Is:  Chauncey. 

(Conn.  Col.  Rec,  ii.  424). 


248  History  of  Stratford. 

Notwithstanding  the  calamity  of  King  Philip's  War,  two 
years  later  they  commenced  the  building  of  a  new  meeting- 
house and  completed  it  in  1680. 

After  the  death  of  his  brother,  the  Rev.  Nathaniel  Chaun- 
cey  of  Windsor  and  Hatfield,  Mr.  Chauncey  took,  in  1686,  the 
son  Nathaniel,  of  that  brother,  to  bring  up  until  of  age,  for  the 
use  of  the  Rev.  Nathaniel's  library  during  that  time.  This 
library  was  valued  in  the  inventory  of  the  estate  at  ;^85,  and 
comprised,  probabl}'-,  says  Prof.  Fowler,  a  large  part  of  Pres. 
Charles  Chauncey's  library. 

Mr.  Israel  Chauncey  was  one  of  the  founders  of  Yale 
College,  and  probably  presided  over  the  first  meeting  of  its 
projectors,  his  name  being  first  on  the  list  of  their  names ; 
and  on  November  11,  1701,  he  was  chosen  Rector,  or  Presi- 
dent of  the  Institution,  but  declined  the  labor  and  honor, 
probably  because  of  a  sense  of  failing  health,  as  he  lived  but 
about  a  year  and  a  half  after. 

Dr.  Charles  Chauncey,  a  nephew,  of  Boston,  said  of  him  : 
"  He  spent  his  days  among  that  people  [Stratford]  in  great 
reputation  as  a  physician  as  well  as  a  divine.'' 

Mrs.  Sarah  (Chauncey)  Whittelsey,  who  lived  in  his  fam- 
ily when  a  young  woman,  said,  "  he  was  one  of  the  most 
hospitable,  benevolent  old  gentlemen  she  ever  knew." 

Nathaniel  Chauncey,  nephew  of  the  Rev.  Israel  Chaun- 
cey, was  settled  in  Durham.  He  began  preaching  there  in 
1706,  but  was  not  ordained  before  171 1.  In  1708,  he  was 
called  with  but  one  dissenting  vote  to  become  pastor  of  the 
Stratford  Church.  Five  candidates  had  been  previously  tried 
without  success.     He  declined  and  Mr.  Cutler  was  secured. 

Robert  McJEiv en  came  from  Dundee,  Scotland.  He 
early  in  life  attached  himself  to  the  sect  called  from  their 
leader,  Cameronians,  and  at  the  age  of  eighteen,  in  1679,  '^^^^ 
engaged  in  a  battle  against  the  King.  In  1685  many  of  the 
persecuted  Christians  being  in  bonds  and  imprisonment,  were 
sent  by  the  government  of  Scotland  on  board  of  a  ship  of 
War  of  fifty  guns,  to  colonize  the  isthmus  of  Darien.  The 
commander  of  the  ship  dying  a  few  days  after  they  were  at 
sea  the  passengers  brought  the  ship  toward  New  York  and 
ran  her  ashore  at  Amboy,  N.  J. 


Biographical  Sketches.  249 

Robert  McEwen  wrote  in  his  account  book  the  fol- 
lowing: "In  June  18,  1679,  I  was  in  one  engagement  in 
Scotland  at  Bothwell's  Bridge,  1  then  being  the  age  of  18 
years.  The  5th  of  September,  1685,  we  set  sail  from  Scot- 
land to  come  to  America,  and  we  landed  at  Amboy  the  i8th 
of  December.  The  i8th  of  February  I  came  to  Stratford  in 
New  England,  1686." 

"June  30,  1695,  I  was  married  to  Sarah  VVillcoxson  in 
Stratford." 

Robert  McEwen  died  in  1740  aged  78  years.  Tradition  in 
the  family  says  that  after  being  landed  at  Amboy,  eleven  of 
the  passengers  having  heard  of  the  freedom  of  the  people  in 
Connecticut,  came  on  foot  to  vStratford. 

James  JSlaheman^  son  of  the  Rev.  Adam  Blakeman, 
married  Mirriam,  daughter  of  Moses  Wheeler  in  1657,  and 
died  in  1689.  He  and  his  brother  Samuel  married  cousins. 
He  was  a  farmer  and  miller,  purchasing  first  the  tide  mill  at 
the  Eagle's  Nest,  next  the  one  at  Old  Mill  green,  which  he 
sold  and  went  to  the  Near-Mill  river  and  built  the  first  mill 
there,  receiving  considerable  land  from  the  town  to  aid,  or 
remunerate  him  in  part  for  the  expense  of  building  the  mill, 
at  the  place  now  called  Peck's  Mill.  He  was  one  of  the  most 
active  business  men  in  the  town,  in  his  day. 

Mev.  Henjamin  Blakeman^  son  of  the  Rev.  Adam 
Blakeman,  after  his  father's  decease  chose  to  seek  an  education 
in  accordance  with  his  father's  previous  wishes,  and  was  grad- 
uated at  Harvard  College  in  1663.  He  resided  at  Stratford  a 
few  years  as  a  teacher,  then  entered  the  ministry.  In  1674,  he 
removed  to  Maiden,  Massachusetts,  and  in  1675  married  Re- 
becca, daughter  of  Joshua  Scottow,  merchant  of  Boston,  He 
preached  at  Maiden  until  1678,  and  afterward  he  preached  at 
Scarborough.  He  represented  Saco  in  the  General  Court  of 
Massachusetts,  and  was  a  large  land  holder  in  that  town.  He 
died  before  1698. 

Thomas  J£imherly  was  received  in  Stratford  as  an  out- 
liver  in  1667.  He  was  probably  Thomas  of  New  Haven  in 
1643,  and  purchased  land  of  Joseph  Hawley  on  "  i8th,  loth, 
1668,"  and  in  1670-71  he  bought  a  part  of  a  house  lot  of  James 


250  History  of  Stratford. 

Blakeman,  and  died  about  one  year  afterward.     Some  of  his 
sons  were  quite  influential,  successful  men  in  after  years. 

Jeremiah  Judson^  son  of  William  ist,  born  in  England, 
came  with  his  father  to  Stratford  in  1639,  when  eighteen  years 
of  age,  and  soon  became  a  land  owner  and  prominent  citizen. 
He  married,  ist,  in  1652,  Sarah,  daughter  of  Nathaniel  Foot 
then  of  Stratford,  who  died  about  1672,  and  he  married  Cath- 
arine, the  widow  of  Thomas  Fairchild,  senior. 

He  mas  made  a  freeman  in  May,  1658,  was  a  Sergeant  in 
the  Militia;  a  justice  of  the  peace,  a  large  land  owner  and 
farmer,  and  died  May  15,  1700,  in  his  79th  year.  He  made 
one  mistake  in  business  transaction,  as  indicated  and  explained 
in  the  following  record  : 

"General  Court,  May,  1669.  This  Court  remitts  Jeremy 
Judson  the  remaynder  of  the  fine  that  is  unpayd,  which  fine 
was  imposed  upon  him  by  the  County  Court,  March  last,  at 
Fayrefield,  for  selling  Cider  to  the  Indians." 

His  son,  Jeremiah,  when  sixteen  years  of  age,  with  Wil- 
liam Hunnywell,  had  a  little  court  business,  which  indicates 
that  they  were  like  some  other  young  men  since  that  day. 

"  These  lads,  with  two  others,  were  prosecuted  at  the 
Fairfield  county  court,  August,  1685,  for  'stealing  water  mil- 
ions,  the  last  Thursday  in  the  night  about  the  going  down  of 
the  mone,'  from  Benjamin  Lewis's  yard.  They  confessed 
having  taken  two  melons, — for  which  they  were  fined  eleven 
shillings,  cost  and  damage;  and  for  'night  walking'  were 
fined  in  addition,  ten  shillings  each,  or  in  default  of  payment, 
to  sit  in  the  stocks.  They  petitioned  for  a  remission  of  the 
latter  penalty,  which  was  granted."' 

Lieut,  Joseph  Judson,  son  of  William  ist,  born  in 
England  in  1619,  came  with  his  father  and  two  brothers  to 
America,  at  the  age  of  1 5  years,  in  1634.  The  family  remained 
at  Roxbury,  Massachusetts,  four  years,  came  to  Hartford  or 
Wethersfield  in  1638,  and,  with  Mr.  Blakeman's  company,  to 
Stratford  in  the  spring  of  1639.' 

Joseph  Judson  was   made  a  freeman   in  May,  1658,  when 

'  Col.  Rec,  iii.  197. 

•*  See  inscription  on  his  tombstone,  p. 


Biographical  Sketches.  251 

39  years  of  age,  and  was  elected  a  representative  the  next 
October. 

He  was  made  a  Lieutenant  of  the  Train  Band  of  Strat- 
ford in  June,  1672,  and  was  engaged  in  the  Narragansett  War 
in  1676. 

In  his  time  he  was  one  of  the  most  active,  and  well-known 
business  men  in  the  county,  but  was  not  the  highest  military 
officer,  as  stated  on  page  no. 

In  May,  1673,  a  petition  was  presented  by  Stratford 
townsmen  to  the  General  Court,  to  confirm  the  bounds  of 
their  plantation,  and  "  for  adjudication  of  the  claim  of  Lieut. 
Joseph  Judson  to  a  large  tract  of  land  alleged  to  be  within 
Stratford  bounds.'" 

This  was  a  tract  of  land  purchased  by  Joseph  Judson  of 
the  Indians  in  1661,  twelve  years  before  the  petition,  called 
Mohegan  Hills,  and  contained  over  5,000  acres  of  land,  lying 
between  the  two  branches  of  the  Farmill  river,  including  the 
present  Walnut  Tree  Hill  School  district  of  Huntington,  a 
part  of  two  other  districts  and  extending  into  Monroe,  nearly 
to  the  place  called  East  Village;'  it  being  a  territory  averag- 
ing about  two  miles  wide  and  five  in  length.  This  land  was 
wholly  within  the  township  of  Stratford,  and  they  could  claim 
it  under  their  grant,  but  Joseph  Judson  had  paid  the  Indians 
for  it  and  hence  he  had  a  good  claim.  No  record  has  been 
seen  as  to  how  the  matter  was  settled,  but  it  was  doubtless 
done,  as  in  several  other  cases  in  which  the  individual  parties 
retained  land  sufficient  to  remunerate  them  fully,  and  the 
town  took  the  remainder. 

Joseph  Judson  removed  with  the  Woodbury  company  to 
that  town,  where  he  was  a  leader  among  the  people,  a  deputy 
to  the  General  Assembly  a  number  of  years,  and  also  a  com- 
missioner of  the  town,  but  he  was  buried  in  Stratford. 

Francis  Hall  was  of  New  Haven  in  1639.  He  pur- 
chased land  in  Fairfield  in  1654,  where  he  seems  to  have  re- 
sided a  number  of  years.  He  bought  of  James  Rogers  of  New 
London,  as  the  agreement  says:     "  All  my  debts  that  appear 

*  Col.  Rec,  ii.  195. 

^  See  Indian  deed  on  page  22  of  this  book. 


252  History  of  Stratford. 

hy  account,  or  otherwise  due  to  me,  that  is  to  say  at  Nor- 
wolke,  Fayrfeyld,  Stratford,  Milford  and  New  Haven,  with 
m}'  lands  at  Stratford,  houses,  commons  belonging  to  those 
lands,  with  a  little  house  by  the  water's  side  at  Milford,  Aug- 
ust I,  1659."  Not  long  after  this  he  settled  in  Stratford, 
where  he  died  ;  his  will  being  proved  March  14,  1689-90.  He 
was  a  practicing  lawyer  while  in  Stratford  ;  was  employed 
quite  a  number  of  times  by  the  town,  and  by  the  proprietors 
of  the  common  lands.  He  was  influential  in  ecclesiastical 
affairs,  and  appears  to  have  been  a  useful,  good,  and  honored 
citizen. 

Mphvai^n  Stiles,  whose  mother  married  Robert  Clarke, 
came  to  Stratford  about  1660,  received  land  from  his  step- 
father in  1667,  at  Oronoke,  where  he  settled  and  became  a 
thriving,  valuable  citizen.  He  was  considerably  active  in 
town  matters,  had  a  gristmill  at  Farmill  river,  "a  little  below 
Black  Brook,  near  the  place  called  the  Plum  trees,"  and  in 
character  and  standing  appears  to  have  been  among  the  first 
of  the  town.  His  children  being  three,  and  all  daughters,  his 
family  name  ceased  with  himself  when  he  departed  this  life. 

Sa^miel  StileSf  brother  of  Ephraim,  was  equally  fortu- 
nate in  receiving  land  by  gift  from  his  step-father  Robert 
Clark,  and  thus  had  a  more  advantageous  start  in  the  world 
than  many  others.  All  persons  of  this  name  have  disap- 
peared from  the  old  town  of  Stratford  some  years  ago,  but 
there  are  a  few  in  Bridgeport. 

"June  II,  1667,  Samuel  Stiles,  by  way  of  gift  from  his 
father  Robert  Clarke,  hath  a  dwelling  house  and  the  home 
lot  thereto  adjoining,  lying  at  Woronoke,  bounded  east  with 
the  great  river,  south  with  the  land  of  John  Wheeler,  north 
with  the  Farmill  river,  and  west  with  a  creek." 

He  and  his  brother  Ephraim  received  twenty  acres  to  be 
divided  between  them,  from  Mr.  Clark. 

Thomas  Stiles,  brother  of  Ephraim  and  Samuel,  re- 
ceived land  from  his  step-father  Robert  Clark,  "  fifteen  acres 
in  the  woods  by  the  river  called  Stratford  river  on  the  south 
side  of  Joseph  brook." 

Considerable  search  has  been  made  by  different  parties 


Biographical  Sketches.  253 

to  ascertain  if  Francis  Stiles,  the  father  of  the  above  three 
sons,  came  to  Stratford  with  his  family  before  his  decease, 
without  success,  but  the  following  record  seems  to  give  some 
light  on  the  question,  and  is  the  only  item  of  the  kind  that 
has  been  seen. 

"  Caleb  Nichols  purchased  of  Mr.  Stilles  one  house  lot, 
one  acre  and  a  quarter,  bounded  with  Mr.  Fayrechild  on  the 
south,  Isaac  Nichols  on  the  west,  my  own  lot,  that  was 
Francis  Nichols'  on  the  north,  and  the  street  on  the  east." 
No  date  is  given  to  this  purchase,  but  it  being  in  the  hand- 
writing of  the  town  clerk,  Joseph  Hawley,  it  must  have  been 
made  before  1666,  and  was  probably  made  about  1660.  Mr. 
Stiles'  purchase  of  it  was  not  recorded,  as  far  as  can  be  ascer- 
tained.    The  record  of  this  sale  was  made  in  1664. 

Besides  this,  the  fact  that  Robert  Clark  gave  to  the 
three  sons  of  his  wife,  formerly  widow  of  Francis  Stiles,  about 
fifty  acres  of  land,  when  he  had  several  children  of  his  own, 
indicates  that  he  received  this  land  from  his  wife,  and  deeded 
it  to  its  rightful  owners,  her  three  sons.  By  these  items  it 
seems  quite  evident  that  Francis  Stiles  resided  here  several 
years,  was  the  owner  of  considerable  land  and  a  homestead. 
Also  no  record  is  found  showing  that  Robert  Clark  pur- 
chased the  land  he  gave  to  his  step-sons. 

Captain  John  Minor  was  a  valuable  inhabitant  of 
Stratford  nearly  twenty  years.  He  was  a  native  of  New 
London  or  that  vicinity  ;  was  educated  at  Hartford  at  the 
expense  of  the  Colony  for  an  interpreter  to  the  Indians,  and 
came  to  Stratford  in  1659,  or  before.  He  was  town  clerk  ten 
or  twelve  years  from  1666  until  his  final  removal  to  Wood- 
bury in  1677.  He  was  in  demand  as  interpreter  very  fre- 
quently during  most  of  his  life.  After  settlement  in  Wood- 
bury he  was  appointed  captain  of  the  train  band,  served  many 
years  as  representative  and  departed  this  life  with  many  hon- 
ors, September  17,  1719,  aged  85  years. 

Samuel  Galpin-,  from  New  Haven,  came  to  Stratford 
about  1675,  bought  land  here  September  6,  1681,  which  was 
laid  out  in  the  Newpasture  in  1682,  and  he  may  have  made 
his  home  at  Old  Mill  green.     He  married  Esther,  the  daugh- 


254  History  of  Stratford. 

ter  of  John  Thompson,  in  i^^^-j,  and  died  before  1701,  leav- 
ing several  children,  two  sons,  whose  descendants  soon  dis- 
appeared from  the  town. 

John  JPryoVf  became  a  land  owner  and  inhabitant  in 
Stratford  in  1686,  but  soon  removed. 

Michai'd  Hounesfall  became  a  proprietor  and  inhabit- 
ant in  1687,  but  remained  but  a  short  time. 

Jacob  Walker,  son  of  Robert  of  Boston  and  brother  of 
the  Rev,  Zcchariah,  came  to  Stratford  about  1667,  and  mar- 
ried Elizabeth,  widow  of  Samuel  Blakeman,  December  6, 
1670.  He  is  said  to  have  been  a  weaver  by  trade,  and  his 
wife  had  considerable  property  left  her  by  her  husband  at 
Old  Mill  Green.  They  prospered,  accumulated  property  and 
became  prominent  citizens,  but  his  descendants  of  his  name 
soon  became  extinct  in  Stratford.  His  daughter  Mary  mar- 
ried Abraham  Wooster  and  was  the  mother  of  General  David 
Wooster,  of  imperishable  fame. 

Joseph  Walker,  son  of  Robert  of  Boston,  and  brother, 
also,  of  the  Rev.  Zechariah  and  Jacob,  came  to  Stratford 
about  1667.  He  married  Abigail,  daughter  of  the  Rev.  Peter 
Prudden  of  Milford  in  1667.  His  life  work  in  Stratford  was 
soon  finished,  for  he  died  in  1687,  leaving  one  son  and  four 
daughters.  His  son  Robert  was  deacon  of  the  church  eleven 
years,  and  died,  aged  75  years.  The  grand-son,  Robert,  be- 
came Judge  of  the  Superior  Court  of  Connecticut,  and  is  re- 
ported as  one  of  the  most  capable  men,  of  irreproachable 
character,  that  Connecticut  had  produced  to  that  day.  He  is 
said  to  have  been  the  equal  of  Hon.  William  Samuel  John- 
son, in  many  respects.  The  name  of  Walker  has  been  cele- 
brated above  most  names  in  Fairfield  County. 

John  Brooks,  a  young  man  from  New  Haven,  bought 
his  first  land  in  Stratford  March  18,  1679-80.  He  married 
here  and  had  one  son.  His  wife,  who  was  widow  of  John 
Peat,  died  in  1694,  and  he  in  1695. 

This  Brooks  family  became  quite  numerous  in  the  west 
em  part  of  the  town,  in  Stratfield  Society. 


Biographical  Sketches.  255 

William  Hoberts  became  a  land  owner  and  inhabitant 
of  this  town  in  1668.  His  family,  consisting  of  one  daughter 
and  two  sons,  seems  to  have  left  the  town  about  the  year  1700. 

3enjamin  Leivis  was  first  in  New  Haven,  from  which 
place  he  removed  to  Wallingford  and  thence  to  Stratford, 
where  he  purchased  his  first  land  March  i,  1679,  a  house  and 
lot  bounded  west  with  the  Congregational  burying  place,  and 
east  on  Main  street.  This  has  been  a  numerous,  successful 
and  influential  family — several  descendants  still  residing  in 
the  town. 

Rev,  Zechariah  Walker*,  son  of  Robert  of  Boston,  was 
preaching  at  Jamaica,  L.  I.,  from  1663  to  1668.  He  was  or- 
dained pastor  over  the  second  church  in  Stratford  May  5, 
1670;  w^ent  with  the  company  to  Woodbury,  whither  he  re- 
moved his  family  in  1678.  He,  after  a  laborious  and  suc- 
cessful pastorate  at  that  place,  died  January  20,  1699-1700. 

The  coming  of  this  man  to  Stratford  was  of  great  honor, 
for  although  he  soon  removed  to  Woodbury,  yet,  through  his 
being  here  for  a  time,  probably,  his  brothers  became  inhabit- 
ants here  and  their  descendants,  some  of  them,  were  among 
the  most  noted  persons  in  the  State. 

Hobert  JSassett,  son  of  John  the  first,  was  in  New  Haven 
with  his  fathar  in  1643.  He  was  a  shoemaker,  and  served  the 
plantation  as  drummer  a  number  of  years.  He  removed  to, 
and  was  an  inhabitant  at  Stamford,  in  March,  1653. 

While  in  Stamford  Robert  Bassett  had  a  difficulty  with 
the  civil  authority,  which  made  a  great  commotion,  with  con- 
siderable remarks  against  himself. 

The  difficulty  arose  out  of  the  proposition  to  go  to  war 
against  the  Dutch,  in  1653  ;  and  in  this  matter  Roger  Ludlow 
and  several  others  were  involved.     What  were  the  facts? 

In  the  spring  of  1653,  while  the  Commissioners  of  the 
United  Colonies  were  in  session  at  Boston,  they  decided  that 
500  soldiers  should  be  raised  for  an  expedition  against  the 
Dutch  at  New  Amsterdam,  and  proportioned  the  soldiers  to 
be  drafted,  to  the  Colonies  as  follows:  Massachusetts,  333; 
Plymouth,  60;  Connecticut,  65  ;  New  Haven,  42.' 


'  Conn.  Col.  Rec,  i.  241. 


256  History  of  Stratford. 

Upon  the  receipt  of  this  action,  Connecticut  proportioned 
her  number  among  her  plantations:  "  Windsor,  12;  Pequett, 
5;  Mattabezek,  i;  Norwalk,  i;  Hartford,  15;  Wethersfield, 
8  ;  Farmington,  3  ;  Seabrook  5  ;  Fairfield,  8  ;  Stratford,  6." 
The  order  of  the  General  Court,  May  21,  1653,  was,  that  these 
soldiers  should  "be  forthwith  impressed,  to  be  at  a  day's 
warning,  or  call,  as  also  that  suitable  provisions  and  amuni- 
tion  shall  be  forthwith  prepared." 

The  colony  of  New  Haven  took  favorable  action  in  re- 
gard to  the  war  and  sent  commissioners  special  to  urge  upon 
Massachusetts  the  necessity  of  united  and  energetic  action  ; 
the  42  soldiers  were  proportioned,  and  in  June  of  that  year 
Stamford,  then  under  the  jurisdiction  ot  New  Haven,  reported 
her  soldiers  raised  and  under  pay,  and  that  they  were  put  to 
the  service  of  watching  for  the  protection  of  the  town  until 
ordered  forward. 

Immediatel}'  after  the  act  of  the  Commissioners  inaugu- 
ratingthe  war,  Massachusetts  as  a  colony  declined  to  be  gov- 
erned by  that  act,  pretending  that  the  Commissioners  had  not 
power  to  such  an  extent. 

Roger  Ludlow  was  one  of  the  Commissioners  when  the 
expedition  was  decided  upon,  and  the  trouble  which  arose 
out  of  this  proposed  expedition,  in  addition  to  some  other 
matters,  is  said  to  have  led  him  to  leave  the  country  in  dis- 
gust; and  it  is  not  much  wonder;  for,  after  the  soldiers  had 
been  in  arms  drilling  and  wasting  their  time  some  months  at 
a  heavy  cost  to  the  plantations  along  the  Sound,  and  the 
Dutch,  meanwhile  making  their  trespasses  at  Greenwich  and 
threatening  Stamford  and  Norwalk,  the  expedition  was  de- 
layed by  Connecticut  and  New  Haven  until  late  in  the 
autumn  of  that  vear,  in  cons^equence  of  the  inaction  of  Massa- 
chusetts. Then  it  was  that  Stamford  men,  with  other  planta- 
tions, proposed  to  go  against  the  Dutch,  without  Massachu- 
setts. 

It  was  at  this  point  that  Robert  Bassett  was  brought  be- 
fore the  agents  sent  to  Stamford  from  New  Haven  to  settle 
these  difficulties,  charged  as  the  leader  of  the  disturbances. 

The  particular  items  in  this  matter  are  revealed  in  the 
record  of  the  New  Haven  Court,  November  22,  1653  : 


Coj/iiHotions  in  Stamford,  257 

"  The  Governor  acquainted  the  court  with  a  letter  he 
had  received  which  had  been  sent  to  Robert  Bassett  without 
date  or  name  subscribed,  which  is  to  stir  up  to  stand  for  the 
State  of  England,  as  they  pretend,  and  to  stand  for  their  lib- 
erties, that  they  may  all  have  their  votes  and  shake  off  the 
yoke  of  government  they  have  been  under  in  this  jurisdiction  ; 
also  with  a  letter  from  the  town  of  Stamford,  making  com- 
plaints of  their  rates  and  other  grievances  as  they  pretend; 
also  another  writing  from  Stamford,  stirring  up  to  raise  volun- 
teers to  go  against  the  Dutch,  and  that  themselves  will  send 
forth  ten  men  well  furnished  for  the  war;  also  a  letter  from 
Mr.  Ludlow,  informing  of  a  meeting  they  have  had  at  Fairfield, 
at  which  they  have  concluded  to  go  against  the  Dutch,  and 
have  chosen  him  for  their  chief,  and  he  hath  accepted  it;  all 
which  writings  were  read  to  the  Court,  after  which  the  Court 
considered  whether  they  were  called  at  this  time  to  send  forth 
men  against  the  Dutch,  and  after  much  debate  and  consultation 
had  with  most  of  the  elders  in  the  jurisdiction,  the  issue  was, 
which  the  Court  by  vote  declared,  that  considering  the  haz- 
ards and  danger  attending  such  a  design,  especially  now,  it 
being  so  near  winter,  and  the  want  of  suitable  vessels  and  the 
like,  they  see  not  themselves  called  to  vote  for  a  present  war, 
but  to  suspend  a  full  issue  till  Connecticut  jurisdiction  be 
acquainted  with  it  and  give  notice  what  they  will  do;  but  if 
they  agree  to  carry  it  on  now,  then  this  Court  agrees  to  join 
with  them  and  to  meet  again  to  consider  and  order,  as  the 
case  may  require."* 

It  may  be  seen  that  all  the  above  items  enumerated  were 
in  harmony  with  the  laws  and  usage  of  the  times  and  the  pro- 
ceedings of  the  General  Courts  except  the  opposition  of 
Stamford  men  to  the  law  of  New  Haven  Colony  that  none 
should  vote  but  members  of  the  church;  and  this  they — the 
Stamford  men — claim.ed  a  violation  of  the  English  Constitu- 
tion. 

These  plantations,  west  of  Milford,  had  raised  the  num- 
ber of  soldiers  proportioned  to  them,  and  kept  them  in  read- 
iness at  a  day's  call,  nothing  more,  except  they  now  proposed 
to  raise  and  equip  more  than   the  number  called  for.     The 

8  New  Haven  Col.  Rec,  ii.  47-4S. 


258  History  of  Stratford. 

nomination  or  choice  of  Mr.  Ludlow  at  Fairfield  was  in  har- 
mony with  both,  the  Connecticut  and  New  Haven  Courts. 
Twenty  years  later  the  General  Court  refused  twice  to  con- 
firm John  Beardsley  of  Stratford  as  lieutenant  until  every 
voter  of  the  town  had  had  an  opportunity  to  vote  in  his  nom- 
ination. 

During  this  delay  of  the  expedition,  Stamford,  having 
promptly  equiped  its  soldiers  at  considerable  expense,  seeing 
that  the  whole  expense  was  likely  to  fall  on  that  town,  if  the 
war  did  not  go  on,  demanded  that  those  expenses,'  even  some 
damage  to  the  meeting  house  (probably  in  consequence  of  the 
soldiers  having  occupied  it),  should  be  borne  by  the  Colon}' 
of  New  Haven;  "and  that  they  might  have  twelve  men  sent 
them  at  the  jurisdiction  charge  to  lie  there  all  winter  for  their 
defence."  "  Defence  "  against  the  Dutch,  whose  trespasses 
and  depredations  had  been  going  on  all  summer,  and  for 
years  ;  and  this  request  was  according  to  the  pledge  of  the 
New  Haven  Colony,  to  protect  the  plantations  under  its  jur- 
isdiction. 

Under  these  circumstances  Mr.  Goodyear  and  Mr.  New- 
man were  sent  by  New  Haven  Court  to  quiet  matters  at 
Stamford,  but  finding  much  more  commotion  than  they  ex- 
pected, they  called  the  whole  town  together;  and  at  this 
meeting  Robert  Bassett  and  John  Chapman  were  the  chief 
speakers  against  the  proceedings  of  the  New  Haven  Court, 
and  in  consequence  of  it  Robert  Bassett  was  summoned  before 
the  New  Haven  Court  to  answer.  On  his  way  to  Court  he 
said:  "  This  is  the  thing  that  troubles  me,  that  we  have  not 
our  vote  in  our  jurisdiction  [New  Haven]  as  others  have,  and 
instanced  Connecticut  jurisdiction." 

Connecticut  Colony  never  had  any  law  excluding  per- 
sons from  voting  because  they  were  not  members  of  the 
churches,  but  New  Haven  Colony  always  had. 

Here,  then,  in  Stamford,  in  the  person  of  Robert  Bassett, 
was  the  second  contest  held  in  New  England  in  favor  q>{  civil 
liberty  against  cJutrch  dictation  and  control ;  the  first  having 
taken  place  in  Massachusetts  with  Roger  Williams,  who  fled 
to  Rhode  Island. 

^  New  Haven  Col.  Rec,  i.  48. 


Commotions  in  Stamford.  259 

In  this  conflict  Robert  Bassett  made  one  speech  worthy 
of  the  American  Revolution  which  occurred  one  hundred 
and  twenty  years  later,  and  sounds  very  much  like  Patrick 
Henry  and  other  of  his  associates.  In  a  town  meeting  in 
Stamford  March  7,  1653,  after  he  had  been  once  before  the 
Court  at  New  Haven  to  answer  in  this  matter,  the  record 
says :'" 

"  Robert  Bassett  stood  up  and  asked  what  the  meetinp- 
was  for,  Richard  Law,  the  constable,  answered  there  was  a 
general  court  to  be  at  New  Haven,  and  deputies  were  sent  to 
go  thither ;  Robert  Bassett  replied,  they  would  obey  no 
authority  but  that  which  was  from  the  State  of  England  ;  the 
constable  answered,  this  authority  is  the  authority  of  Eno-- 
land  ;  that  he  denied  and  said,  then  let  us  have  English  laws, 
for  England  does  not  prohibit  us  from  our  votes  and  liber- 
ties, and  here  we  are  cut  off  from  all  appeals  to  England,  and 
we  can  have  no  justice  here.  Further,  he  said,  thev  were 
made  asses  of,  and  their  backs  were  almost  broke,  and  it  is 
time  for  them  to  look  to  themselves  and  to  throw  their  bur- 
den off,  for  they  shall  be  made  very  fools.  And  he  spake 
against  the  justice  of  the  authority  of  this  jurisdiction;  a 
reply  being  by  some  in  defence  thereof,  he  said,  is  that  author- 
ity just,  that  makes  what  laws  they  please,  executes  them  as 
they  please,  calls  for  rates  when  they  please,  and  never  so 
much  as  give  them  a  reason?"  Francis  Bell  told  him  that 
this  should  be  declared  at  the  Court;  he  answered,  yes,  it 
was  his  mind  it  should  be,  and  therefore  saith  he  I  will  say  it 
again,  is  that  authority  just  that  makes  what  laws  the}^  please, 
executes  them  as' they  please,  calls  for  rates  when  they  please 
and  never  so  much  as  give  them  a  reason." 

For  these  things  Robert  Bassett  was  imprisoned  nearly 
two  months,  then  again  brought  before  the  Court,  and  under 
the  pressure  of  the  courts,  prisons  and  public  sentiment 
largely  against  him,  he  confessed,  not  only  that  he  had  done 
these  things,  with  one  exception,  but  that  he  had  done  wrong 
and  the  Court  released  him  on  bonds  of  "  one  hundred 
pounds  sterling." 

Three   other  men  as  leaders  in  this  contest  for  the  right 

'"  New  Haven  Col.  Rec,  i.  59. 


26o  History  of  Stratford. 

to  vote,  were  arrested,  tried,  fined  and  placed  under  bonds  of 
fidelity  to  the  New  Haven  Court. 

Roger  Zindloiv's  part  in  this  matter  seems  to  have  been 
perfectly  honorable  and  loyal  so  far  as  he  acted  in  it ;  and 
this  contrary  to  the  generally  received  opinion  of  him.  So 
far  as  any  and  all  records  show,  no  soldiers  were  raised  in 
Fairfield  but  those  ordered  to  be  raised  by  Connecticut  Gen- 
eral Court.  The  vote  to  nominate  him  as  their  chief  or  cap- 
tain, by  the  town,  was  in  perfect  keeping  with  the  usage  of 
the  Court ;  and  all  of  these  things  were  done  while  the  New 
Haven  Court  itself  was  preparing  for  the  war  and  urging 
Massachusetts  to  fulfill  her  engagements  in  the  same  direc- 
tion. That  Ludlow,  Fairfield  and  Stamford  had  no  idea  of 
going  to  war  without  New  Haven  and  Connecticut  is  evi- 
denced by  the  fact  that  as  soon  as  the  report  of  the  proposed 
additional  volunteers  was  offered,  the  New  Haven  Court  at 
once — November  22,  1653, — took  counsel  as  to  "  whether  they 
were  called  at  this  time  to  send  forth  men  against  the  Dutch, 
[that  is,  without  Massachusetts],  and  after  much  debate  and 
consultation  had  with  most  of  the  elders  in  the  jurisdiction," 
the  decision  was  against  it,  but  even  then  they  voted  that  if 
Connecticut  would  go,  New  Haven  would. 

Immediately  upon  this  decision  Fairfield  and  Stamford 
acquiesced,  without  a  word  of  complaint,  except  as  to  paying 
the  bill  of  expenses  caused  by  raising  the  soldiers  and  keep- 
ing them  all  summer,  as  ordered  by  the  Court ;  and  the  ques- 
tion as  to  the  right  of  voting. 

Such,  in  brief,  were  the  doings  in  this  matter,  and  such 
the  result. 

The  particular  offence,  as  claimed  by  the  New  Haven 
authorities,  was,  that  the  New  Haven  government  being  a 
government  of  God,  any  person  opposing  it  as  a  government, 
sinned  against  God,  his  own  soul,  and  the  authority,  a  claim 
as  arbitrary  and  self-conceited  as  Arch  Bishop  Laud,  of  Eng- 
land, ever  proclaimed  or  acted  upon. 

The  above  items  are  taken  from  the  New  Haven  records, 
they  being  the  only  authority  as  to  the  trial  of  these  persons. 

Robert  Bassett  came  to  Stratford  and  purchased  his  first 
land  here  November  10,  1681  ;  and  the  next  February  he  pur- 


Biographical  Sketches.  261 

chased  a  home  lot  of  John  Wells,  and  the  next  year  he  built  a 
house  on  this  lot,  placing  a  stone  over  the  mantel  piece  in  the 
cellar  with  the  following  letters  and  figures:  "  R.  B.  1683." 
These  were  cut  in  large  size.  When  that  house  was  torn 
down  by  John  McEwen  and  another  built  on  the  same  site  in 
1723,  or  soon  after,  this  stone  was  placed  in  the  cellar  wall, 
where  it  may  still  be  seen,  the  house  having  been  owned  and 
occupied  many  years  by  the  late  Nathan  B.  McEwen. 

Robert  Bassett  was  a  peaceable,  acceptable  inhabitant  in 
Stratford;  was  quite  prosperous  in  worldly  things,  especially 
in  possessing  lands. 

It  was  his  grand-son  Samuel,  son  of  Robert,  Jr.,  who  set- 
tled in  Derby  in  1716  and  became  one  of  the  most  prominent 
citizens  of  that  town. 

No  near  relation  existed  between  this  Robert  Bassett 
and  the  Goody  Bassett  executed  at  Stratford  in  1651,  for  the 
wills  of  both  his  father  and  mother,  John  and  Mary  Bassett, 
were  dated  one  and  two  years  after  the  execution. 

Arthur  ^erry  came  to  Stratford  and  married  Anna, 
only  daughter  of  Joshua  Judson,  about  1675.  He  had  a  large 
family,  but  most  of  his  children  removed  early  from  the  town. 
It  is  possible  that  he  traded  somewhat  as  a  merchant,  for 
there  is  a  due  bill  recorded,  signed  by  him  in  1678,  and  se- 
cured by  sixteen  acres  of  land,  to  Henry  Powning  of  Boston, 
which  bill  was  to  be  paid  in  money  or  merchantable  provis- 
ion, at  Boston.  It  is  difficult  to  imagine  the  reason  or  cause 
of  such  a  debt,  unless  he  was  a  trader  in  some  way. 

Satnuel\Blagge  came  from  New  York  to  Stratford  with 
a  family  about  1685,  and  continued  here  as  a  merchant  ten  or 
twelve  years.  He  had  a  number  of  children,  several  sons,  but 
the  name  disappears  from  the  town  after  about  fifty  years. 

Richard  JSlacklach  from  Guilford,  came  to  Stratford, 
probably  in  the  spring  of  1686,  and  established  himself 
as  a  merchant,  and  thus  continued  about  thirty  years.  He 
was 'successful,  and  became  very  prominent  as  a  business 
man ;  bought  considerable  land,  leased  the  Stratford  ferry 
some  years,  interested  himself  in  public  matters  ;  was  the  first 
one   to   build  a  box   pew  in  the  meeting  house,  which  he  did 


262  History  of  Stratford. 

about  1710,  at  his  own  expense,  upon  a  vote  of  permission  by 
the  town. 

Upon  his  first  coming  here  the  town  passed  the  follow- 
ing: "  May  6,  1686.  It  was  voted  and  granted  unto  Mr. 
Richard  Blacklach  and  Mr.  Daniel  Shilton  to  build  each  of 
them  a  warehouse  and  wharf  in  some  convenient  place  where 
it  is  judged  most  suitable  by  the  selectmen  of  the  town,  pro- 
vided the  proprietors  of  Stratford  forever  have  free  wharfage." 

Daniel  Shelton  having  received  permission  in  May, 
1686,  to  build  a  ware  house  and  wharf,  as  well  as  Richard 
Blacklach,  he  went  forward  with  much  success  as  a  merchant, 
about  twenty  years,  when  he  had  not  only  married  a  fine  3^oung 
lady,  but  changed  his  business  to  farming  and  bu3ang  and 
selling  land.  After  some  years  he  removed  to  Ripton,  where 
he  died.  A  further  account  of  him  will  be  found  in  the  his- 
tory of  the  town  of  Huntington  in  this  book. 

Joseph  CurtisSf  son  of  the  first  John,  was  among  the 
most  prominent  citizens  of  Stratford  for  many  years.  He 
was  town  clerk  fifty  successive  years,  and  did  the  work  in  a 
creditable  manner,  to  himself  and  the  town.  He  always 
wrote  the  name  Curtiss  with  two  esses,  and  another  name  he 
always  wrote  Blakeman  and  never  Blackman. 

Mr.  Curtiss  was  elected  an  Assistant,  an  office  now  called 
Senator,  of  the  State,  first  in  May,  1698,  and  elected  after 
that  22  successive  years,  making  in  all  23  years.  He  was 
several  years  Judge  of  the  County  Court ;  and  was  appointed 
on  several  state  committees  of  importance;  one  in  1710  with 
Hon.  Nathan  Gold  and  Peter  Burr  with  a  committee  of  New 
York  State  to  locate  the  boundary  line  between  these  States, 
as  settled  by  the  authorities  in  1700. 

He  is  reported  to  have  secured  the  slip  of  paper  and  coat  of 
arms  referred  to  in  this  book  on  page  125,  which  paper  was  an 
exact  copy  of  the  church  record  at  Roxbury,  Massachusetts, 
and  he  had  the  opportunity  to  know  whether  he  belonged 
to  that  family  or  not.  He  was  cotemporary  with  his  father, 
John,  thirty  years,  and  with  his  uncle  William  fifty  years,  and 
therefore  he  knew  whether  Thomas,  Philip  and  Mary  Curtiss 
of  Roxbury,  Massachusetts,  were  his  uncles  and  aunt,  or  not. 


Biographical  Sketches.  263 

Further,  it  is  possible  that  this  slip  of  paper  was  not  secure 
until  about  1760,  thirty  years  after  Joseph  Curtiss  died,  but 
there  were  living  then  from  twenty  to  fifty  persons  in  Strat- 
ford, if  not  many  more,  who  knew  what  William  and  John 
Curtiss  had  told  as  to  the  family  in  Massachusetts. 

The  same  is  true  in  regard  to  several  families  of  Stratford, 
who  made  records  one  way  and  another  about  1760,  when  a 
number  of  persons  obtained  samples  of  the  coat-of-arms  be- 
longing to  their  family  in  England. 

Joseph  Curtiss,  in  1727  declined  to  serve  longer  as  town 
clerk  and  another  was  appointed,  and  soon  after  he  departed 
this  life.  For  many  years  his  descendants  gloried  in  the 
honorable  title  applied  to  him  frequently  while  living — "the 
Worshipful  Joseph  Curtiss." 

Capt.  William  Curtis^  sketched  somewhat  on  pages 
125-6,  was  the  most  prominent  military  man  in  Stratford  until 
1700.  Next  to  him  were  Capt.  Stephen  Burritt  and  Lieut. 
Joseph  Judson,  but  both  of  these  were  younger,  not  less  noted. 
He  served  the  town  in  many  offices,  on  many  committees  ; 
and  for  eighteen  years  he  was  representative  with  only  one 
or  two  exceptions. 

A  List  of  the  proprietors  of  all  common  or  undivided 
lands  in  the  township  was  recorded  in  1699,  and  is  valuable 
as  showing  who  were  proprietors  and  what  their  relative 
proportioned  interest  was.  The  list  does  not  show  how 
many  acres  each  owned  but  simply  his  proportion  ;  that  is,  as 
often  as  Jere  Judson  had  48  acres,  Joseph  Hawley  had  14, 
Jonathan  Smith  15,  and  so  to  the  end  of  the  list."  Also,  it 
does  not  show  the  relative  wealth  of  the  families  named. 

"  "A  record  of  each  and  every  particular  proprietor's  Rights  in  future  com- 
monage in  Stratford  adjusted  by  the  Committee  Chosen  and  appointed  for  that 
work  and  by  them  ordered  to  be  Recorded  lor  the  future  benefit  and  peace  of  the 
town,  January  13,  1699,  by  which  Rule  all  future  Divisions  are  to  be  laid  out. 

Mr.  Jere  Judson,  sen 48      acres. 

Joseph  Hawley 14  " 

Jonathan  Smith 15  " 

Eben""  Booth iSj/^       " 

John  Booth i8>^ 

Ephraim  Booth's  heirs 14  " 


Samuel  Judson 24^^  acres. 

Jacob  Walker 12  " 

Isaac  Judson's  heirs 12  " 

Abraham  Kimberly 6  " 

Mr.  Samuel  Blagg 6  " 

Joseph  Blakeman 6  " 


264 


History  of  Stratford. 


Various  Items   Worth  Recording. 

"At  about  the  latter  end  of  July,  167 1,  there  being  four 
Indians  complained  of  for  being  drunk  and  disorderly,  they 
were  brought  before  ye  authority  in  ye  Town  and  there  fined 
tenn  shillings  apiece. 

Item.  Ye  charges  in  apprehending  them  and  keeping 
them  in  Custody  till  a  hearing  and  ye  tryall,  five  and  twenty 
shillings.  This  entered  for  memoranda.  Jno.  Minor,  re- 
corder. To  Left[enant]  6^  To  ye  Constable  12^  To  Inter- 
preter 7^" 


John  Blakeman,  deceased.. 20       : 

Daniel  Foot 6 

Samuel  Galpin,  deceased--.i2 

Samuel  Mil  M 

Benj"  Nicolls i9>^ 

Jonathan  Nicolls 8>^ 

Josiah  Nicolls,  sen 17 

John  Hawley 21 

Mr.  Samuel  Hawley 39 

Ephraim  Hawley 21 

Eben'  Hawley's  heirs 5>^ 

Samuel  Beacher 6 

Benj"  Lewis 24 

John  Wilcoxson 39^ 

Timothy  Titharton i8>^ 

Joseph  Booth 6 

Daniel  Curtiss 6 

Daniel  Titharton 14 

Eben""  Blakeman 6 

Samuel  Titharton. I5>^ 

Jonathan  Curtiss 14 

Nicolas  Huse 6 

Jon.  Bostick,  deceased ig^^ 

Benj"  Sherman    6 

Joseph  VVatkins — 10 

James  Phippeny 6 

Mr.  D.  Mitchell,  deceased  -.47 

Abraham  Mitchell 6 

Nathaniel  Sherman 6 

Samuel  Beardslee,  sen 14 

John  Hurd,  senr's  heirs 36 

Henery  Summers 14 

Samuel  Wells i6>^ 

and  8  acres  6  miles  distant 


John  Peat 7 

Jacob  Weaklin 18 

Edmon  Sherman's  heirs 12 

John  Hurd,  junr 6 

Capt.  Jon.  Beardslee 22 

Zechariah  Fairchild.. 20 

Capt.  James  Judson -32j^ 

Mr.  John  Judson 343^ 

John  Curtiss,  sen .  -.12^ 

Benj"  Curtiss g^^ 

Lieut.  Israel  Curtiss 14 

Richard  Butler's  heirs 22 

Caleb  Nicholls,  deceased 24 

Abraham  Nicolls 6 

Joseph  Fairechild 4 

Mist.  Katharine  Judson 18 

Sergt.  Samuel  Fairechild 14 

Edward  Hinman     18 

John  Gilbert 6 

Isaac  Stiles 6 

Arthur  Perry 12^ 

Mr.  Benj"  Blakeman 14 

Mrs.  Jane  Blakeman iS^ 

Isaac  Bennit 6 

Robert  Rose 12 

Francis  Griffin. 7 

Hugh  Griffin 7 

Thomas  Griffin 6 

James  Blakeman iS 

Capt.  John  Minor 14 

John  Wheeler 15 

Joshua  Curtiss 14 

Samuel  Gregory 14 

Samuel  Stiles 20 


List  of  Proprietors. 


265 


Four  pounds  and  a  half,  money,  for  Indians  to  pav,  who 
probably  had  not  a  penny  in  possession,  was  a  costh-  drunk, 
but  white  people  can  throw  such  a  spree  all  into  the  shade. 

Selling  their  services  for  a  passage  to  America. 

"  Be  it  known  to  all  men  by  these  presents  that  1,  Andrew 
Alexander  now  of  new  east  Jersey  in  America  have  bargained 
and  sold  and  do  hereby  sell  and  alienate  unto  Andrew  Winton 
of  Fairfield  in  New  England,  his  heirs  and  assigns,  two  servants 
called  Duncan  Garnoch  and  Margaret  his  wife  lately  come 
out   of  Scotland,  which  are  indebted  to  me    for   indenture; 


John  Brooks  - 6  acres. 

Robert  Lane .14 

John  Burroughs 6  " 

John  Porter 15  ' 

Isaac  Knell 35^ 

John  Johnson 6 

Mr.  Jonath.   Pitman 20  " 

Daniel  VVeaklin lo]^ 

John  Sherwood. 28  "' 

Robert  Basset .6  " 

Deacon  Wells 31  " 

Samll   Peat,  sen' 14  " 

Joseph  Beardslee --19K  " 

Daniel  Beardslee ..2)^% 

Robert  Walker 12 

Sam"  Peat,  jun*^ C  " 

John  Beach 12  " 

and  8  acres  within  5  miles 

George  Searles 6  " 

Robert  Clarke 28 

Nathaniel  Beach 6^  " 

Serg'  Eben"^  Curtiss t2>^ 

Zechariah  Curtiss 15^  " 

Benj"  Beach 14  " 

Sergt.  Daniel  Picket 12  " 

John  Picket's  heirs 12  " 

Nathaniel  Porter 6  " 

John  Peacock's  heirs 14  " 

Jonas  Tomlinson 14  " 

M'^  Samuel  Wheeler,  deceased  271^  " 

Moses  Wheeler 3i>^ 

M''  Sam'  Sherman,  senr 17^  " 

Matthew  Sherman's  heirs 12  " 


Lieut.  John  Hubbel's  heirs  .18 

Mr.  Zecheriah  Walker 30 

Mr.  Elizer  Kimberly 12 

Mr.  Alex''"'  Bryan 14 

John  Hurd  Woodbcry 28 

Mr.  Samuel  Preston 22 

Ambrose  Tompson  and        \ 

John  Tompson ) 

Francis  Hall,  deceased 18 

Mr.  Daniel  Shelton 28 

Mr.  Richard  Blacklack 50^ 

Mr.  Joseph  Curtiss 34 

Mr.  Ephraim  Stiles 30 

Mr.  Samuel  Sherman,  jun...20 

Capt.  Stephen  Burritt 20 

Mr.  Israel  Chance)- 32 

Mr.  John  Wells 30 

Benj"  Peat,  senr 8 

Deacon  Tim.  Wilco.xson  — 29^ 

Daniel  Brinsmead's  heirs 28^/ 

Cifpt.  W°'  Curtiss 26 

Josiah  Curtiss 6 

Lieut.  Thomas  Knowles 12 

Lieu' Agur  Tomlinson 14 

Ensign  John  Coe 21 

James  Clarke,  senr 14 

Sam"  Uffoott 35 

John  Birdsey,  senr 21 

John  Birdse_v,  junr 12 

John  Burritt 19 

James  Weaklin 20 J4 

Samuel  Beers  in  Right  of  his 
fartherjohn  Beers, deceased  6 


266  History  of  Stratford. 

and  assigned  by  George  Tomson  to  John  Swinton,  by  John 
Swinton  to  Mr.  Francis  Scott,  by  Mr.  Scott  to  Mr.  George 
Alexander,  and  b}''  Mr.  George  Alexander  to  me  the  said 
Andrew  Alexander  by  facture  and  his  full  power  whereby  I 
the  said  Andrew  Alexander  do  dispose  and  sell  the  two  ser- 
vants, my  full  power,  title  and  right  as  is  above  expressed  to 
the  said  Andrew  Winton  his  heirs  and  asigns  and  obliged  me 
to  warrant  the  said  Andrew  Winton  at  the  house  of  the  fore- 
named  persons  that  they  shall  not  molest  nor  trouble  the  said 
Duncan  or  his  master  Andrew  Winton  through  my  seal  of 
this  indenture  being  made  at  Edinburgh  the  29  day  of  May 
1684,  which  remains  for  the  space  of  four  years  after  their 
arrival  at  east  Jersey  being  the  first  of  November,  1684,  and 
from  that  time  they  are  to  serve  the  said  Andrew  according  to 
the  time  of  said  indenture,  and  I  oblige  also  me  to  warrant  this 
indenture  from  the  above  named  persons,  George  Tomson,  Mr. 
Francis  Scott,  John  Swinton  and  the  said  George  Alexander. 

In  witness  hereof  1  have  written  and  subscribed  obliga- 
tory with  my  hand  before  these  witnesses,  Josiah  Harvey, 
Thomas  Murrin  indweller  in  Fairfield." 

Ye  13*^  April,  1684.  Andrew  Alexander. 

Signed  in  presence  of  us  ) 

Josiah  Harvey,  Thomas  Murrin.  f 

"  These  may  certify  whom  it  shall  or  may  concern  that  I 
Andrew  Winton  doth  discharge  and  set  at  liberty  to  their 
own  will  and  pleasure  the  within  mentioned  Dunkin  Gardner 
and  Margaret  Gardner  of  and  from  the  within  servitude  and 
time  within  expressed  and  from  all  dues,  debts  and  demands, 
as  witness  my  hand  this  2^  day  of  July,  Anoque  Dom.  1685." 

A  Ladder  Company. 

1686.  "  It  was  voted  that  every  householder  in  Stratford 
shall  provide  a  suitable  lather  to  his  house  that  will  reach  the 
top  of  his  house  at  least  within  —  feet  of  the  top,  and  what- 
soever householder  shall  neglect  providing  a  suitable  lather 
as  aforesaid,  above  one  month  from  this  date,  shall  forfeit  five 
shillings,  the  one  half  to  the  complainer,  the  other  half  to  the 
town  treasurer." 


Items  from  the   Tozvn  Records.  267 

ModlUif  the  French  girl.  "  This  indenture  made  the  24"' 
of  June,  1662,  witnesseth  that  we  the  townsmen  of  Stratford 
upon  good  and  serious  considerations  moving  us  thereunto 
doe  bind  out  one  Modlin  a  little  girl  about  six  years  of  ao-e, 
that  formerly  did  belong  to  a  Frenchman  that  was  in  neces- 
sity upon  the  town  of  Stratford  ;  we  say,  to  John  Minor  of 
Stratford,  to  him,  his  heirs  and  assigns,  till  the  aforesaid  girl 
shall  attayne  the  age  of  twenty-one  years  ;  we  say  we  bind 
her  with  her  father's  consent;  also  a  lawful  apprentice  to  the 
aforesaid  John  Minor  till  the  aforesaid  term  of  tyme  shall  be 
fully  and  completely  ended. 

The  aforesaid  John  Minor  engages  to  provide  her  with 
apparel  and  diet  and  bedding  as  may  be  suitable  for  such  an 
apprentice. 

That  this  is  our  act  and  deed,  and  witnessed  by  subscrib- 
ing the  day  and  date  above  written. 

Richard  Booth,         John  Brinsmade,  \ 
William  Curtis,         Caleb  Nichols,     v  Townsmen." 
Jeremiah  Judson.  ) 

^*  Memoranda,  that  upon  the  29*^  day  of  September, 
1679,  Sergt.  Jeremiah  Judson,  constable,  by  order  of  the 
selectmen  was  sent  and  forewarned  Phillip  Denman  and  his 
mate  Collins  out  of  the  town  or  from  settling  or  abiding  in 
any  part  of  our  bounds. 

And  upon  the  12*^  of  November,  1679,  Phillip  Denman 
and  Daniel  Collins  by  the  townsmen,  were  warned  as  above." 

Herders  were  employed  to  take  care  of  the  cattle  which 
were  pastured  in  the  woods.  It  was  employment  without  as 
much  amusement,  even  as  working  in  the  harvest  field 
afforded,  and  hence  men  sometimes  played  truants. 

"February  18,  1662.  Samuel  Fayrechild  and  Robert  Lane, 
Cow  keepers  for  the  year  1663,  being  detected  of  unfaithful- 
ness in  keeping  the  heard,  the  saved  Samuel  and  Robert  doe 
owne  they  did  leave  the  heard  in  the  woods  and  come  home 
several  days.  This  was  owned  in  a  public  town  meeting 
before  Mr.  Sharman,  February  18,  1662.  Mr.  Sharman  hath 
adjudged  the  above  said  Robert  Lane  and  Samuel  Fayrchild 
to  pay  to  the  townsmen  twenty  shillings  use." 


268  History  of  Stratford. 

Town  Soundavies  were  intelligible  to  those  who  estab- 
lished them,  but  are  now  a  little  indefinite  and  amusing.  The 
following  is  a  sample. 

"An  agreement  of  ye  agents  of  ye  two  towns  of  Stratford 
and  Fairfield  this  24*''  of  Aprill  1679,  about  ye  bound  between 
ye  two  towns  from  ye  Cheritree  Southerly  to  ye  Sea  as  itt 
used  to  bee,  and  northerly  from  ye  Cherytree  to  a  stone 
whereabouts  a  walnut  tree  growed,  and  from  thence  to  a 
rock  by  Henry  Summer's  fence,  from  thence  to  a  tree  near 
ye  path  marked  of  ould  with  a  cross  south  and  north,  from 
thence  to  a  heap  of  stones  nearer  ye  path  upon  ye  hill  of 
rocks  in  sight  of  ye  rode,  and  from  thence  to  the  next  marked 
bound  and  so  to  Continue  ye  ould  marked  bound  to  ye  extent 
of  our  twelve  miles.  That  this  is  our  agreement  wee  attest 
by  subscribing  our  names,  Joseph  Hawley,  Jehu  Burr, 
Francis  Hall,  John  Wheeler,  Samuel  Morehouse." 

This  cherry  tree  stood  in  what  is  now  Park  Avenue  near 
the  junction  of  that  and  Fairfield  Avenue, 


CHAPTER  XL 


PUSHING   INTO  THE  WILDERNESS. 


ROM  cultivated  fields  to  the  wilderness  was 

M^    the  change  in  the  lives  of  the  first  settlers 

P  when    they    came    to    Stratford,   and    their 


children,  while  yet  some  of  the  fathers  were 
living,  pushed  into  the  wilderness  with  a 
courage  and  heroism  equal  to  that  which  the 
fathers  themselves  had  shown.  The  spirit 
of  enterprise  sent  the  planters  to  Stratford, 
as  well  as  to  all  New  England,  and  when 
once  these  planters  had  secured  the  proprie- 
torship in  something  near  75,000  acres  of 
land,  called  Stratford  township,  there  was 
no  diminution  of  the  spirit  of  enterprise  ; 
and  following  them,  their  sons  and  daugh- 
ters moved  forward  in  the  laborious  work  of 
settling  a  great  country  in  the  rights  and  privileges  of  freedom. 
These  men  took  great  care  to  secure  the  right  to  the  soil 
by  fair,  impartial,  and  even  generous  purchase  from  the  native 
owners.  This  done,  they  proceeded  to  divide,  fairl}',  and 
even  benevolently  the  domain  thus  equitably  obtained. 

When  the  company  took  possession  of  this  territory  they 
evidently  believed  that  the  Connecticut  Colony  had  secured 
the  right  of  soil  as  well  as  title  to  it,  and  proceeded  upon  that 
understanding  to  divide  the  same  to  themselves  and  new  set- 
tlers as  they  came  in.  But  after  twelve  or  fifteen  years, 
when  the  settlement  had  assumed  formidable  proportions,  the 
Indians  began  to  clamor  for  pay  for  the  land  which  lay  north 
of  an  east  and  west  line  about  six  miles  from  the  Sound,  to 
which  the  inhabitants  agreed,  and  hence  the  several  different 
purchases  made,  as  heretofore  represented  by  the  Indian 
deeds,  on  page  22,  and  following. 


270  History  of  Stratford. 

Ansantavvay,"  the  chief  of  Milford,  presenting  a  claim,  it 
was  payed  in  1658,  and  then  followed  several  others.  Bray 
Rossiter,  of  Guilford,  secured  100  acres  in  payment  of  a  debt. 

In  1661  Joseph  Judson  made  a  purchase  of  a  large  tract 
known  as  the  Mohegan  Hills,  lying  between  the  two  bran- 
ches of  the  Farmill  river,  containing  about  5,000  acres.  In 
1673  the  townsmen  applied  to  the  General  Court  to  settle  the 
differences  between  the  town  and  Joseph  Judson  as  to  the 
ownership  of  this  land.  The  Court  appointed  a  time  for 
hearmg  the  claims  in  the  matter,  but  it  seems  to  have  been 
amicably  settled  without  the  help  of  the  Court ;  probably 
about  as  the  town  had  agreed  before,^  and  a  division  of  this 
tract  was  some  years  later  made  among  the  proprietors, 
Joseph  Judson  retaining  such  a  proportion  as  satisfied  him 
for  the  outlay  in  the  purchase. 

Another  purchase  was  made  in  1661,  "a  large  tract  of 
land  lying  west  from  the  Farmill  river  at  Woronoke,"  it  being 
made  by  Joseph  Judson,  but  probably  in  behalf  of  the  town. 

The  tract  of  land  between  the  Nearmill  and  Farmill 
rivers  was  purchased  in  December,  1661,  by  Mr.  Samuel 
Sherman,  John  Hurd  and  Caleb  Nichols — townsmen  for  the 
town,  and  all  proprietors  had  their  proportion  of  it,  in  after 
years. 

On  the  22d  of  April,  1662,  was  received  a  deed  for  the  ter- 
ritory of  a  considerable  part  of  what  is  now  the  townships  of 
Trumbull,  Monroe  and  Easton,  "  lying  west  of  the  land  which 
the  town  of  Stratford  had  previously  purchased,"  or  west  of 


^  The  frame  of  a  house  spoken  of  in  a  foot  note  on  page  12  of  this  book  as  being 
at  Milford  when  the  whites  first  came,  was  the  frame  of  Ansantaway's  large  wig- 
wam. In  the  summer  the  old  chief  occupied  this  tent,  covering  it  with  bark  and 
matting.  The  matting  he  took  off  and  carried  with  him  to  his  residence  at  Pau- 
gasset  for  the  winter. 

°  "The  Town  uppon  y"  6th  December,  1672,  sufficient  consideration  moving 
thereunto  doe  give  grant  and  allow  to  Leif  Joseph  Judson  the  peacable  improve- 
ment of  so  much  land,  good  and  bad  altogether  lying  at  y"  place  commonly  called 
y«  Mohegin  Hills,  ye  hop-garden,  meadow  and  lowland  on  both  sides  y®  East 
Spraine  ofy®  Far  Mill  Riveras  high  on  that  Sprayne  as  this  accommodation  reach- 
eth,  as  is  the  proportion  of  an  eight  acre  meadowed  inhabitant  to  y*  whole  bounds, 
with  this  proviso  y*  it  shall  not  be  expected  to  be  all  laid  out  at  present  but  suc- 
cessively as  other  proprietors." 


Purchase  of  Territory.  271 

the  Pequonnock  river,  extending  to  Fairfield  line  and  from  a 
line  crossing  the  township  east  and  west  about  at  the  Trum- 
bull Church,  or  possibly  a  little  further  south,  north  to  New- 
town.    This  was  the  Long  Hill  purchase. 

The  last  large  tract  was  bought  May  25,  1671,  called  the 
White  Hills  purchase,  and  the  agreement  with  the  Indians 
was,  that  this  purchase  should  cover  "  all  lands  within  the 
bounds  of  Stratford,"  and  no  reservations  whatever  were 
made— not  even  the  usual  "  hunting  and  fishing." 

There  was  no  exceptions,  not  even  the  reservations  at 
Golden  Hill  or  Coram,  which  had  in  all  other  deeds  been 
made,  and  there  is  reason  for  supposing  that  the  inhabitants 
believed  these  reservations  were  included,  so  that  when  the 
Indians  died  or  deserted  them,  there  would  be  no  more  pur- 
chasing of  Indian  claims.  This  is  evident  from  the  amount 
paid — ^^50-14-6 — and  the  specific  terms  of  the  deed  in  which 
the  boundaries  of  the  territory  included  are  definitely  given ; 
— "  Stratford  river  on  the  east,  Fairfield  on  the  west,  and  from 
the  sea  twelve  miles  northward,  as  it  is  now  settled  by  the 
Court;  .  .  .  with  all  rights,  titles,  privileges,  and  appertenan- 
ces  thereunto  belonging  or  in  any  manner  of  ways  apper- 
taining, which  we  do  freely  and  absolutely  resign  and  make 
over  unto  the  aforesaid  inhabitants." 

A  tax  was  levied  on  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  to  raise 
this  purchase  money  and  the  record  of  it  specifies  that  it  was 
for  the  "  White  Hills  purchase,  together  with  the  expenses, 
both  to  English  and  Indians,  in  and  to  the  sale  of  all  land 
within  the  bounds  of  Stratford."  In  another  record,  as  to  the 
expenses  of  this  transaction,  it  is  said  :  "all  the  charges  and 
expense  of  the  White  Hills  and  the  confirmation  of  lands 
within  the  bounds  of  Stratford."' 

^  "  A  memorandum  of  all  the  Charges  and  Expenses  about  3-e  purchase  of  ye 
White  Hills  and  ye  Confirmation  of  all  lands  within  ye  Bounds  of  Stratford  : 

To  Mr.  Richard  Bryan  for  cloth  coats,  .  .  .        ;i{^i6-oo-oo 

Mr.  Alexander  Bryan  for  goods  to  ye  Indians  for  ye  same 

land,  .......  2-11-00 

Mr.  Hawley  for  goods  to  ye  Indians  for  ye  White  Hills  pur- 
chase, .......  3-10-00 

Mr.  Hawley  for  entertainment  of  ye  Indians  at  y'  time  with 

his  own  time,  ......  i-oo-oo 


272 


History  of  Stratford. 


This  tax  list  is  interesting,  not  only  as  showing  the  pro- 
portion of  each  man's  proprietorship — not  each  man's  wealth 
— but  the  number  of,  and  who  were  the  inhabitants  of  the 
town  at  the  time,  it  being  just  two  years  before  the  Wood- 
bur}^  company  removed. 

It  is  further  evident  that  the  inhabitants  supposed  they 
settled  all  claims  from  the  Indians,  on  the  reservations, 
from  the  fact  that  the  town  voted,  February  8,  1674,  to  lay 
out  Golden  Hill  "  by  way  of  division  to  every  proprietor 
according  to  his  proportion,"  and  appointed  a  committee  to 
do  the  work;  and  in  1677,  this  reservation  was  divided  to  the 
proprietors  of  the  town,  then  numbering  just  100,  and  they 
"  drew  lots"  to  effect  an  impartial  distribution. 

This  is  not  all,  for  in  the  settlement  of  the  question  of 
the  support  or  location  of  the  Indians  in  1659,  on  the  80 
acres  on  Golden  Hill,  the  Court  directed,  "that  in  case  these 
Indians  shall  wholly,  at  any  time,  relinquish  and  desert  Gold 
Hill,  that  then  it  shall  remain  to  Stratford  plantation,  they 
repaying  to  Fairfield  the  one-half  of  that  which  they  re- 
ceived in  consideration  of  the  said  land.  They  had  received 
from  Fairfield  twenty  pounds  and  therefore  should  have  paid 
ten  pounds  only. 

The  next  year,  1678,  the  Indians — there  being  a  few 
left — made  complaint,  or  some  whites  for  them,  to  the  General 
Court,  and  that  authority  prohibited  the  Stratford  men  from 
taking  or  using  any  of  the  80  acres  or  reservation.     Thus  the 


Mr.  Fayrechild  for  his  entertainment  of  ye  Indians  at  ye 
same  time  with  his  own  time,        .... 

Ensign  Judson  for  his  time  about  that  purchase, 

Thos.  Uffoot  for  expenses  to  ye  Indians, 

John  Minor  for  interpreting,  and  his  time  about  Pequonnuck 
Indians  in  order  to  what  was  done  at  ye  General  Court, 
Surveying  whole  Bounds  of  ye  town  May,  '71,  . 

To  Mr.  East  for  trading  cloth, 

To  Mr.  Bryan  for  goods  upon  ye  same  account, 

To  Mr.  Hawley  for  one  coat  upon  that  account, 

To  Mr.  Benjamin  Black  for  goods  to  pay  ye  Indians, 

To  Mr.  Henman  credit  for  his  time, 
[Records  efTaced] 


£  o-io-oo 

0-18-00 

•  o- I 0-00 


8-oS-oS 
7-13-00 
1-12-06 
I -00-00 
2-10-00 
0-05-00 
1-16-00 
3-13-06 
2-06-00" 


Extendiug  the  Settlement.  273 

matter  was  left  nearly  one  hundred  years,  until  1765,  when  70 
acres  of  this  land  cost  the  town  of  Stratford  nearly  one  hun- 
dred pounds,  a  part  of  which  was  placed  as  a  fund  for  the 
support  of  the  three  Indian  claimants,  then  the  only  remain- 
ing ones  known. 

The  equity  of  this  cost  is  doubtful,  since  the  land  had,  in 
fact,  been  paid  for  one  hundred  years  before,  as  all  the  people 
of  Stratford  understood  the  matter;  but  it  is  probable  that 
some  persons  outside  of  the  town  of  Stratford  feared  that 
these  Indians  might  need  support  from  the  state,  and  if  a 
fund  could  be  raised  by  Stratford  paying  twice,  or  thrice,  for 
this  land  it  would  save  other  people  from  bearing  the  ex- 
pense. 

From  this  time — 1671 — foward  the  proprietors  proceeded 
to  divide  their  entire  territory,  except  the  two  Indian  reser- 
vations, and  clear  and  improve  the  same  with  great  rapidity, 
securing  abundant  remuneration.  The  soil  was  rich,  the  pro- 
duce abundant,  and  although  money  was  scarce,  nobody 
suffered  for  want  of  food,  unless  they  deserved  it,  because  too 
lazy  to  work;  but  now  days  it  is  not  so,  for  often  hard-work- 
ing persons  do  suffer  because  of  want. 

During  all  this  time,  and  the  work  of  extending  the  pur- 
chased territory,  most  of  the  inhabitants  were  residing  in  the 
village  of  Stratford,  within  a  distance  of  two  miles  from  the 
meeting-house.* 

In  the  list  of  the  inhabitants  for  March,'  1668,  there 
were  recorded  five  "  outlivers,"  or  persons  living  beyond  the 
two  mile  limits. 

These  were  John  Wheeler,  Obadiah  Wheeler  and  Hope 
Washburn,  at  Oronoke,  and  Theophilus  Sherman  and  Mat- 
thew Sherman,  at  the  east  end  of  Old  Mill  Green. 

It  is  quite  certain  that  the  three  families  were  at  Oro- 
noke, for  Hope  Washburn  sold,  in  1668,  to  Samuel  Mills,  a 

^  January,  16S5.  Whereas,  several  town  acts  have  been  passed  for  granting 
lands  to  the  proprietors,  but  not  to  come  within  two  miles  of  the  town,  and  there 
being  no  particular  place  stated  where  to  begin  the  measure  for  the  two  miles,  it 
is,  therefore,  voted  that  the  meeting-house  shall  be  the  place  itated  to  begin  at  for 
the  future," 

^  See  page  179  of  this  book. 


274  History  of  Stratford. 

new  man  in  the  town,  three  acres  of  land,  and  in  1670,  Samuel 
Mills  sold  his  "  house,  barn  and  home  lot  lying  at  Woronoke," 
to  Hugh  Makie. 

On  the  24th  of  June,  1678,  Nathaniel  Foot,  another  new 
man,  received  liberty  from  the  town  to  settle  at  Oronoke. 

At  that  time  there  were  probably  scattering  settlers  along 
the  main  road  from  Stratford  village  northward  as  far  as 
Peck's  Mills,  and  a  few  at  Oronoke,  and  six  years  later — Feb- 
ruary, 1684, — an  agreement  was  made  by  James  Blakeman, 
with  a  committee  of  the  town,  to  build  "a  corn  mill  at  the 
mouth  of  the  Nearmill  river,  and  he  doth  engage  to  grind 
their  wheat  and  rye  for  a  sixteenth  part,  and  their  corn  for  a 
twelfth  part,  and  all  malt  for  a  thirtieth  part,  provided  there 
is  brought  five  bushels  at  a  time.  He  also  engageth  to  bring 
the  black  brook  to  run  into  the  Nearmill  river  to  feed  it,  if 
it  may  be  done  with  three  pounds  charges. 

"  For  which  the  committee  gave  the  stream  and  15  acres 
of  land  to  build  on,  as  near  the  mill  as  may  be." 

James  Blakeman,  in  1660,  was  the  miller,  and  owned  the 
property  at  the  tide  mill  near  the  eagle's  nest,  and  in  1663  he 
sold  the  mill  property  at  Old  Mill  Green  to  Mr.  Samuel  Sher- 
man, having  conducted  it,  probably,  three  or  four  yjears ;  and 
hence  the  town  knew  the  man  the}-  trusted  to  build  a  new 
mill  at  the  place  now  called  Peck's  Mills. 

In  1676  the  town  gave  liberty  to  James  Blakeman  to 
build  a  saw  mill  at  the  mouth  of  Farmill  river,  which  was, 
probably,  the  first  mill  there. 

FequonnocW  was  the  Indian  name  applied  by  the 
English  to  the  territory  where  the  city  of  Bridgeport  now 
stands.  The  township  of  Stratford  was  bounded  on  the  west 
by  the  Fairfield  line,  and  that  line  was  to  be  the  center  of  a 
highway,  and  this  road  to  be  eight  rods  wide,  for  in  some  of 
the  deeds  of  land  given  by  the  town,  it  specified  carefully 
that  four  rods  on  the  Stratford  side  should  be  reserved  for  a 
highway,  and  the  same  reservation  was  made  by  the  town  of 
Fairfield  on  its  side  of  the  line.     It  is  a  misfortune  that  that 

'  This  spelling  has  become  established  by  use   in  the  localit)'  and  hence  is 
here  continued. 


Pequonnock  Fields.  275 

highway,  now  the  magnificent  Park  Avenue  of  Bridgeport, 
had  not  been  retained  132  feet  wide. 

As  the  Indian  name  Pequonnock  indicates,  there  was  a 
large  cleared  field  or  fields  in  the  western  and  northern  parts 
of  this  territory  when  the  English  first  came  here.  The 
cleared  land  southwest  of  Golden  Hill  was  called  Pequon- 
nock field,  and  was  divided  by  the  boundary  line  between 
Fairfield  and  Stratford,  and  that  part  of  it  belonging  to 
Stratford  was  fenced,  in  one  enclosure,  and  still  called 
Pequonnock  field,  and  was  used  for  raising  grain.  In  1657  it 
was  laid  out  to  the  proprietors  in  such  a  manner  that  each 
proprietor's  proportion  is  said  to  have  been  "two-thirds  of 
a  division,  and  in  William  Beardsley's  case  and  others, 
amounted  to  eighteen  acres  for  each. 

The  Indian  reservation  contained  80  acres  la3ang  in 
nearly  a  square  plot,  the  boundary  line  passing  from  the  river 
west  nearly  on  the  present  Elm  street  to  Courtland  street,  or 
a  little  further  west  and  thence  northward  about  150  rods, 
thence  east  crossing  Main  street  about  where  now  Washing- 
ton avenue  crosses  it. 

North  of  this  reservation  were  two  plains,  called  fre- 
quently the  upper  and  lower  plains,  but  the  upper  one  was 
more  frequently  called  the  Calf-pens  plain,  because  the  cattle 
were  pastured  in  that  region  and  the  calves  putin  pens  while 
young.  These  two  plains  were  early — from  1657  to  1665 — 
divided  into  plots  for  meadow  and  farming,  and  in  several  of 
the  deeds  occurs  the  name  "Ireland's  Brook" — now  degraded 
to  Island  Brook — but  whence  the  name  is  not  known,  indicat- 
ing that  the  first  settlers  may  have  located  in  that  vicinity. 

The  first  settlers  west  of  Pequonnock  river,  in  Stratford, 
were  Henry  Summers,  Sen.,  and  his  two  sons  Henr}-  and 
Samuel,  and  Samuel  Gregory;  and  they  seem  to  have  come 
here  in  the  year  1665,  and  some  years  later  Samuel  Gregory's 
house  stood  near  the  junction  of  the  present  Washington  and 
Park  avenues. 

Soon  after  these  came  John  Beardsley  and  his  brother 
Samuel  Beardsley,  and  Henry  Summers,  Sen.,  removed  to 
Milford,  but  his  two  sons  remained  here  on  the  homestead,  it 
being  divided  to  them. 


276  History  of  Stratford. 

Slowly  the  settlement  increased,  spreading  northward 
along  what  was  afterwards  known  far  and  near  as  Toilsome 
Hill  road,  the  land  having  been  laid  out  for  the  distance  of 
three  miles  at  one  time,  which  probably  reached  nearly  to  the 
long  hill  purchase.  The  name  Toilsome  Hill,  arose  from  the 
steepness  of  several  portions  of  it,  and  the  winding  of  the 
road  in  order  to  effect  the  ascent.  When  the  height  is 
reached  it  affords  a  beautiful  and  extensive  view  over  the 
Sound  and  along  the  Long  Island  coast. 

When  the  settlers  first  made  their  dwellings  here  there 
were  several  hundred  Indians  resident  on  the  reservation,  for 
it  is  said  by  Dea.  Isaac  Sherman  in  his  manuscript  notes,  that 
the  wigwams  numbered  at  least  one  hundred  when  the  whites 
began  to  settle  here,  that  is,  about  1670.  There  may  have 
been  three  or  four  families  here  as  early  as  1665. 

Gradually  the  settlement  grew  and  prospered,  the  inhab- 
itants attending  church  at  Stratford,  a  distance  of  three  miles, 
nearly  thirty  years,  when  in  1695  the  ecclesiastical  society  of 
Stratfield  was  organized  and  a  church  established. 

Old  JMill  Green  was  a  flourishing  and  an  aristocratic 
part  of  the  town  of  Stratford  from  about  the  year  1700  until 
after  1800.  It  is  at  the  present  time  a  beautiful  part  of  the 
city  of  Bridgeport,  but  was  a  wild  wilderness  country  when 
first  traveled  by  white  men.  The  land  was  a  plain,  and  rich, 
and  hence  the  trees  were  large  and  tall. 

The  first  white  persons  who  traveled  through  the  forests 
here  were  in  pursuit  of  the  Pequots  who  fled  from  their 
burned  forts  near  Norwich,  Connecticut,  and  who  doubtless 
were  conducted  by  friendly  Indians  along  an  Indian  path  in 
the  summer  of  1637.  This  Indian  path  was  continued,  being 
used  by  the  English  at  Stratford  to  reach  their  fields  at 
Pequonnock,  about  forty  years  before  it  was  made  a  legal 
highway;  the  path  crossing  the  Pequonnock  river  about 
where  the  Old  Mill  Green  road  does  now. 

In  1679  the  General  Court  ordered  certain  roads  to  be 
constructed  in  the  Colony,  as  "  Country  roads  or  King's 
highways;"*  and  such  ways  were  for  more  than  a  hundred 

*  "Maj-,  1679.     This  Court  orders  that  the  present  roads  from  plantation  to 


Old  Mill  Green.  277 

years  known  by  these  names.  The  town  act  establishing  this 
as  a  highway,  was  passed  in  1685,  in  the  following  words: 
"All  the  uplands  and  marshes  lying  southward  of  the  road 
leading  to   Fairfield,   between   the  physicall   spring  and   the 

uppermost  cartway  over Brook  shall  be  left  for  a  per- 

petual  common,"  and  twenty  rods  in  breadth  shall  be  left  for 
a  road  to  Fairfield  bounds." 

The  "physical  spring"  is  that  lately  called  the  sulphur 
springs,  about  which  some  considerable  excitement  was 
raised  a  few  years  since,  but  no  successful  effort  has  been 
made  to  make  a  medical  resort. 

The  intention  of  the  above  vote,  doubtless,  was  to  have 
the  highway  twenty  rods  wide  from  its  commencement  to 
Fairfield  line,  and  it  was  probably  so  laid  out  in  1687,  ''^s  they 
were  that  year  required  to  do  it  by  the  Court;  but  some 
years  later  the  proprietors  of  the  town  sold  much  of  the  land 
in  the  wide  highways  and  reduced  their  width.  It  is  also 
said  that  Theophilus  Nichols,  a  little  after  1700,  then  living 
at  Old  Mill  Green,  was  largely  influential  in  preserving  the 
green  at  its  present  width,  which  is  twelve  rods  at  the  west 
end  and  fifteen  at  the  school  house.  The  road  was  continued 
in  Fairfield  at  an  unusual  width  as  it  still  remains.  It  has 
been  known  in  name  as  the  Old  King's  highway  just  two 
hundred  years,  but  is  in  danger  of  losing  its  monarchical  title 
for  one  more  in  harmony  with  the  government  of  the  country 
in  which  it  is  located. 

This  Old  Mill  Green  is  the  part  of  the  Old  King's  high- 
way from  Mill  brook,  westward  to  the  Pequonnock  river,  and 
was  so  called  from  the  mill  which  was  built  on  Mill  brook  in 
1654,  by  John  Hurd,  Sen.,  and  Thomas  Sherwood,  Sen.,  and 
by  the  time  there  were  such  a  number  of  settlers  along  this 

plantation  shall  be  reputed  the  country  roads  or  King's  highway,  and  so  to  remain 
until  the  Court  do  see  good  reason  to  make  alteration  of  the  same.  And  whereas, 
each  plantation  is  by  law  required  once  a  3-ear  to  work  a  day  in  clearing  the  brush, 
it  is  by  this  Court  recommended  to  the  townsmen  of  the  several  plantations  to 
improve  their  inhabitants  in  clearing  the  common  roads,  in  the  first  place,  that  lie 
between  town  and  town,  until  the  said  roads  are  cleared  at  least  one  rod  wide." 
Coll.  Rec,  iii.  30. 

'^  This  included  a  large  part  of  Clapboar  Hill. 

19 


278  History   of  Stratford. 

road  as  to  form  a  community  of  social  life,  the  first  mill  had 
become  old,  and  hence  the  name,  Old  Mill  Hill  and  Old  Mill 
Green. 

The  old  mill  was  called  a  corn  mill,  but  all  kinds  of  grain 
were  ground  by  it.  It  had  several  owners.  Thomas  Sher- 
wood, who  was  partner  in  building  it,  soon  sold  his  share  to 
John  Hurd,  who  sold  it  to  Alexander  Bryan  of  Milford,  and 
he  to  James  Blakeman,  who  sold  half  of  it  to  his  brother, 
Samuel  Blakeman,  in  1662,  who  settled  here,  probably  in  the 
house,  or  built  him  a  house  on  the  south  side  of  the  highway 
near  the  brook,  as  this  land  with  quite  a  number  of  acres, 
belonged  to  the  mill  property.  Here  he  died  in  1668,  and  his 
widow  afterwards  married  Jacob  Walker.  She  had  only  two 
children  living,  both  daughters,  one  five  years  of  age  and  the 
other,  one,  when  her  husband  died,  but  had  considerable 
property.  Her  mother-in-law,  Mrs.  Jane  Blakeman,  resided 
with  her  in  March,  1668-9,  and  hence  she  is  recorded  that 
year  as  an  "  outliver.'"" 

James  Blakeman  sold  his  half  of  the  old  mill  Dec.  4,  1663, 
with  considerable  land,  to  Samuel  Sherman,  Sen.,  who  soon 
purchased  more  land  here,  and  placed  his  three  sons,  Edward, 
Matthew  and  Samuel  as  residents  in  this  vicinity.  In  1680 
Edward  and  Matthew  were  living  on  the  east  side  of  the 
brook,  north  of  the  highway,  and  Samuel  west  of  the  brook, 
south  of  the  highway. 

Various  mills  have  been  in  use  at  this  old  mill  place,  the 
first  one  standing  probably  on  the  north  side  of  the  highway. 
For  some  years  before  1800,  a  bark  mill  and  tannery  were  in 
operation  here.     The  last  was  a  wool  carding  mill  in  1818." 

'"  See  page  179  of  this  book. 

'^  From  the  Republican  Farmer,  Oct.  17,  1818. 

"WOOL  CARDING." 
The  subscribers  have  their  machine  in  complete  operation.  Wool  brought  to 
the  machine  will  meet  with  immediate  despatch,  and  wool  left  at  Burritt's  and 
Sherman's,  Bridgeport  and  at  Daniel  DeForest's,  Stratford,  will  be  attended  to 
once  or  twice  a  week.  The  subscribers  feel  thankful  for  past  favors  and  solicit  a 
continuance  of  them. 

B.  &  M.  SlLLIMAN  &  Co. 

Old  Mill,  8th  June,  1818." 


Old  Mill  Green. 


279 


The  point  of  land  south  of  Old  Mill  Green,  reaching  to 
the  Sound,  lying  between  Mill  brook  on  the  east,  and  the 
Pequonnock  river  west  was  known  from  about  1650,  for  two 
hundred  years,  as  New  Pasture  field,  and  the  southern  end 
of  it  New  Pasture  point.  It  was  fenced  into  one  field  for  a 
pasture,  but  not  long  after  became  a  field  for  raising  grain,  in 
which  case  the  cattle  were  excluded  by  the  fence  which  had 
before  kept  them  in.  When  used  as  a  pasture  it  may  have 
been  much  smaller,  the  fence  crossing  the  neck  further  south, 
but  later,  the  fence  ran  on  the  south  side  of  the  green,  appa- 
rently, and  was  divided  anew  in  1692,  into  46  sections  in  pro- 
portion to  the  number  of  acres  each  person  owned  within  the 
inclosure,'"  but  these  owners  did  not  all  nor  half  of  them, 
reside  at  the  green. 

The  first  movement  made,  that  finally  resulted  in  a  mill 


'■^  "  A  record  of  the  general  fence  for  the  new  pasture  from  y®  mill  brook  to 
Paquanock  river  being  just  eleven  foott  to  one  acre  of  land ;  the  first  lot 
begining  at  y^  s"*  mill  brook,  and  being  measured  by  a  pole  eleven  foott  long 
which  is  for  one  Acre  of  land — first  lott  Daniell  Mitchell  for  22  acres  22  pole. 


1  Daniell  Mitchell 22 

2  Ebenezer  Booth 24^ 

3  Nathaniel  Sherman 21 

4  Benjamin  Sherman 21 

5  John  Bostick -..04 

6  Stephen  and  John  Burritt.ii 

7  Samuel  Sherman  05 

8  Ebenezer  Blakeman 06 

q  Thomas  Knowles 04 

10  Ebenezer  Hubbell 10^ 

11  Widow  Rayner .12 

12  Samuel  Peat -.07 

13  Samuel  Galpin -09 

14  John  Wells -02^ 

15  Jonathan  Nicolls 06 

16  Mr.  Samuel  Sherman,  sen.  13^^ 

17  Daniell  Pickett 03^^ 

18  Deacon  Wilcockson 05 

19  James  Judson 03 

20  John  Brooks 04 

21  John  Pickett 031^ 

22  Thomas  Pickett 03 

23  Ambross  Thompson 20 

Recorded  April  28,  1692." 


pole. 


24  John  Hubbell ..06 

25  The  Hawleys 36 

26  Agur  Tomlinson 11 

27  Daniel  Brinsmead 07^ 

28  Paul   Brinsmead io|^ 

29  John  Hurd 18 

30  Joseph  Curtiss 04^ 

31  Isaac  Hurd.   03 

32  Benjn  and  Hannah  Nicollso7^ 

33  William  Piglee  [Pixlee]..i5 

34  Charles  Dugles I2j^ 

35  Capt.  Curtiss 12 

36  John  Birdsey 04 

37  Joseph  Blakeman 06 

38  Joseph  Watkins .13 

39  Nicolas  Huse 10 

40  Joseph  Booth 04 

41  Weaklins,  Dil  and  James. 05^ 

42  Benjamin  Curtiss 04^^ 

43  Thomas  Wells 08 

44  John  Coe 03 

45  Ephraim  Booth 04 

46  Thomas  Pickett .03 


pole. 


28o  History  of  Stratford. 

on  the  Pequonnock  river  a  little  way  above  the  old  King's 
highway,  began  in  May,  1691,  when  the  town  granted  liberty 
to  Matthew  Sherwood,  John  and  Matthew  Sherwood,  Jr., 
"to  set  up  a  gristmill  and  sawmill  on  Pequonnock  river 
above  the  road  where  it  may  be  thought  most  convenient;" 
but  the  mill  was  not  built  until  a  number  of  years  after  that 
time.     The  next  grant  was  to  John  Seeley  in  1697. 

The  river  at  this  place  was  without  a  bridge,  at  least, 
until  the  date  of  the  following  town  vote  : 

"Third  Tuesday,  Dec.  1736.  Sergt.  Richard  NicoUs, 
Nathaniel  Sherman  and  Peter  Pixlee  were  chosen  a  commit- 
tee to  endeavor  that  a  cart  bridge  be  built  over  Pequonnock 
river  in  the  Grand  Country  Road  at  the  town's  charge,  pro- 
vided that  particular  persons  do  appear  to  build  the  butments, 
in  the  whole,  thirty  feet  free  of  any  town  charge." 

The  committee  to  take  the  oversight  of  the  New  pasture 
field  in  1718,  consisted  of  Capt.  John  Hawley,  Mr.  Benjamin 
Sherman  and  Sergt.  Richard  Nichols,  and  the  pound  keeper 
was  John  Hurd,  all  residing  at  Old  Mill  Green. 

The  large  rude  mile-stone  standing  on  this  green,  was 
set  there  by  the  direction  of  Benjamin  Franklin,  while  he  was 
Colonial  Postmaster,  between  the  years  1753  and  1774,  a  most 
interesting  monument  of  the  days  when  public  improvements 
began  at  a  great  venture  as  well  as  enterprise.  Mau}- 
of  these  stones  are  still  standing  along  this  ancient  highway 
between  New  York  and  New  Haven. 

The  beginning  of  a  separate  school  in  this  locality  was 
inaugurated  by  a  town  vote  in  1717,  to  allow  them  "  their 
part  of  the  40  shillings  per  thousand  allowed  by  law  and  the 
appointment  of  Sergt.  John  Hurd,  and  Sergt.  Andrew  Patter- 
son, as  committee.  Thi«  seems  to  be  the  first  occurrence  of 
the  name  Pembroke,  spelled  then  Pembrook. 

OronoUe  began  to  be  settled  about  1665,  the  first  inhab- 
itants, John  Wheeler,  Obadiah  Wheeler  and  Hope  Washburn 
settled  at  Farmill  river,  and  a  little  way  south  of  it.  In  1666 
Samuel  Mills  settled  there,  and  in  1667  Ephraim  Stiles  and 
Samuel  Stiles  became  land  owners  there  and  soon  made  it 
their  place  of  residence. 


Prominent  Men  of  Oronoke.  281 

Other  inhabitants  soon  followed,  and  in  January,  1705-6, 
the  town  granted  Ephraim  Stiles  the  privilege  of  setting  up 
a  gristmill  at  Farmill  river,  a  little  below  Black  brook,  and 
granted  liberty  to  Lt.  Agur  Tomlinson  to  maintain  a  fulling- 
mill  there.  At  that  time  the  inhabitants  at  that  place  had 
become  quite  numerous,  and  it  was  an  influential  part  of  the 
town. 

General  David  Wooster  was  born  there  in  1710,  and  in 
the  Revolution  it  was  a  center  of  much  public  influence  and 
activity,  while  for  fifty  or  more  years  afterwards  some  of  the 
most  noted  families  of  the  town  resided  there.  It  is  still  a 
most  beautiful  locality,  even  from  Stratford  village  to  Farmill 
river;  the  residences  are  beautifully  located  along  the  river 
banks,  and  are  kept  in  fine  style,  so  that  a  five  mile  drive 
along  the  old  Oronoke  road  is  one  of  the  most  attractive  of 
which  the  town  can  boast. 

The  spirit  of  Education  began  to  be  fostered  at  that  place 
by  the  following  vote  : 

"January  11,  1716-17.  Voted,  that  the  farmers  at  Long 
hill,  Oronoke,  Putnee,  Mohegin  hill.  Trap  falls,  Fairchilds  and 
Nichols  lakes  and  Pambrook,  shall  have  the  use  of  their  part 
of  the  40  shillings  per  thousand  allowed  by  law  for  seven 
years  ensuing,  providing  they  educate  their  children  accor- 
ding to  law." 

Several  men  raised  at  this  place — including  what  is  now 
Oronoke  and  Putney  school  districts — were  graduated  at 
college  and  did  honor  to  the  world  and  their  day  and  gene- 
ration. One,  David  Wooster,  became  a  General  in  the  United 
States  army  ;  another,  Gideon  Tomlinson,  became  a  Governor 
of  the  State  and  then  a  Representative  and  also  a  Senator  in 
Congress;  another,  Nathan  Birdseye,  became  a  clergyman 
and  lived  to  be  over  one  hundred  years  of  age  ;  several  be- 
came officers  in  the  militia  and  served  in  the  French  War 
and  in  the  Revolution. 

"  May,  1727.  Upon  the  petition  to  Thomas  Gilbert  of 
Oronoque  in  the  township  of  Stratford,  for  liberty  to  set  up  a 
ferry  at  the  said  Oronoque,  about  four  miles  northward  of  the 
ferry  called  Stratford  ferry:  This  Court  grant  unto  the  said 
Thomas  Gilbert  the  liberty  or  privilege  of  setting  up  a  ferry 


282  History  of  Stratford. 

for  the  transportation  of  passengers  across  the  river  called 
Oronoque  River,  during-  the  pleasure  of  this  Court,  and  order 
that  the  fare  shall  be  the  same  with  the  fare  appointed  for 
Stratford  ferry."" 

In  1759  the  like  privilege  was  granted  by  the  same 
authority  to  Zechariah  Blakeman,  Jr. 

Division  of  the  common  lands  was  a  matter  of  great 
difficulty,  expense  and  dissatisfaction  in  Stratford,  which  con- 
tinued until  after  the  year  1800. 

Up  to  about  1670  persons  selected  their  lands  wherever 
they  desired,  subject  to  the  sanction  of  the  committee  or 
townsmen.  In  the  Spring  of  1680,  "the  town  agreed  to  lay 
out  all  lands  within  six  miles  of  the  town"  [meetinghouse], 
and  appointed  a  committee  to  do  it.  In  the  autumn  of  the 
same  year  "  the  town  voted  to  lay  out  one  hundred  or  one 
hundred  and  six  score  acres,  as  may  be  found  convenient,  at 
the  north  and  northwest  end  of  the  town,"  and  appointed  a 
committee  to  ascertain  "  what  land  might  be  convenient  for 
such  a  division." 

In  1687,  a  tract  of  land  within  two  miles  of  the  meeting 
house,  lying,  apparently,  north  of  the  Fairfield  road,  was 
ordered  to  be  laid  in  lots,  yet  kept  in  common,  "  in  a  general 
way  only  for  herbage  for  the  proper  use  and  benefit  of  the 
town  in  general  and  poor  of  the  place,  for  them  and  their 
heirs  forever;  timber,  wood,  clay  and  stone  to  be  free  for 
each  inhabitant,  to  be  taken  off  the  land  without  molestation 
from  any  person.  Also,  it  is  voted  that  the  land  lying  south- 
ward of  Fairfield  road  between  the  place  called  Ireland's 
Brook  and  Snake  Brook  hill,  shall  be  laid  out  and  improved 
in  the  same  way  and  manner. 

The  lots  north  of  the  Fairfield  road  were  laid  in  strips 
the  whole  length  of  the  tract,  and  hence  was  called  the 
"Slip,  or  pasture  division."  After  many  years  it  was  also 
called  the  Farm,  for  in  remeasuring  the  lots  in  171 1,  many  of 
them  are  said  to  be  bounded  on  the  "  Farm  Highway." 

The  acts  of  the  proprietors  of  common  lands  were  per- 
formed   in    the    town    meetings,    non-proprietors    not    being 

''  Col.  Rec,  vii.  102. 


Land  Divisions.  283 

allowed  to  vote  until  March,  1723-4,  when  the  proprietors 
met  according  to  notification  and  organized  into  a  separate 
body;  appointed  a  committee  to  ascertain  all  the  claimants 
of  these  lands  in  order  to  a  complete  adjustment  of  all  rights 
in  the  matter.  They  voted,  also,  to  lay  out  a  division  of  all 
their  undivided  lands  in  the  township,  six  miles  from  town,'^ 
with  the  allowance  of  sufficient  highways  and  commons;  and 
appointed  a  committee  to  do  it. 

This  placed  the  whole  north  end  of  the  township,  beyond 
six  miles,  into  one  plot  to  be  divided,  and  on  Mav  18,  1724, 
having  ascertained,  as  they  supposed,  the  names  of  all  par- 
ties, they  voted  to  divide  the  whole  plot  into  144  lots,  that 
being  the  whole  number  ;  drew  a  plan  of  every  lot  and  placed 
it  on  record  in  the  town  book.  In  this  plan  there  are  twelve 
ranges  of  lots,  each  range  160  rods  wide,  running  north  and 
south,  six  miles  long,  and  the  lots  running  east  and  west 
across  the  range  of  lots. 

The  peculiarity  of  this  proposition  is  that  they  voted  to 
have  "a  highway  twenty  rods  wide  between  each  range  of 
lots;"  with  cross  highways  in  every  range  eight  rods  wide. 
This  would  have  been  a  picturesque  township — eleven  high- 
ways, six  miles  long,  twenty  rods  wide,  within  the  distance  of 
about  ten  miles.  But  the  early  settlers  were  not  accustomed 
to  such  an  estimate  of  the  picturesque  as  to  throw  awa}^  440 
acres  of  land  in  half  a  township,  not  by  a  very  great  difTerence. 
What,  then,  was  the  idea  in  making  such  wide  highways? 
One  and  only  one  :   common  pasturage  for  sheep  and  cattle. 

But  this  plan  of  this  great  "  North  Division  "  was  not 
carried  into  effect,  although  the  lots  were  actually  drawn  for 
144  proprietors,  on  the  i8th  of  May,  1724,  by  Capt.  Edmund 
Lewis;  for  it  was  soon  found  that  the  number  of  proprietors 
was  considerably  larger  than  had  been  obtained,  and  that 
other  obstacles  were  more  effectual  against  it  than  had  been 
supposed,  especially  that  a  considerable  portion  of  this  land 
had  been  already  taken  up  and  some  of.  it  occupied  by  actual 
settlers. 

Thus   the    matter   stood    until   Jan.,    1732-3,    when  "the 


'-  The  word  town  was  often  used  to  designate  the  village. 


284 


History  of  Stratford. 


proprietors  voted  to  lay  out  first  the  highways  in  the  land 
six  miles  distant  from  the  old  meeting  house,"  these  high- 
ways "  running  nbrtherly  and  southerly  from  the  end  of  six 
miles  to  the  northerly  part  of  Stratford  bounds,  as  wide  as  by 
said  committee  may  be  thought  needful,"  and  the  cross  high- 
ways the  same.  In  this  final  draft  there  were  199  claimants, 
and  Capt.  Edmund  Lewis  drew  the  lots." 


'•^  "  At  a  Proprietors  meeting  of  y^  proprietors  of  Common  undivided  Land 
in  Stratford  held  by  adjournment  on  the  last  Monday  of  November  A.  D.  1738. 

Here  followeth  an  account  of  y^  draught  of  y"  Lots  voted  to  be  drawn  at  the 
proprietors  meeting  October  3  Monday  1738." 

I    35  Timothy  Titharton. 


1  Nathan  Hawley. 

2  Heirs  of  Samuel  Wheeler. 

3  Elisebeth  Curtiss. 

4  Heirs  of  Benj.  Blakeman. 

5  Zachariah  Curtiss,  Jr. 

6  Nathan  Beach. 

7  James  Booth. 

8  Heirs  of  W"'  Jeans. 

9  Jonathan  Beardslee. 

10  Sarah  Beach. 

11  Heirs  of  Joseph  Fairchild. 

12  Israel  Beardslee. 

13  Capt.  Richard  Hubbell, 

14  Samuel  French,  Joiner. 

15  Eben.  Hurd. 

16  Capt.  John  Coe. 

17  William  Standard  and  wife. 

18  Nathan  Curtis  and  Eunice  his  wife. 

19  Heirs  of  Isaac  Stiles. 

20  David  Hubbell. 

21  Samuel  Hall. 

22  John  Oatman. 

23  Ephraim  Clark. 

24  Nathaniel  Hawley. 

25  Samuel  DeForest. 

26  Capt.  David  Sherman. 

27  Daniel  Shelton's  heirs. 

28  Jonadab  Bassett. 

29  Jose  Seele. 

30  Samuel  Blagge. 

31  Elnathan  Wheeler. 

32  Dea.  Ephraim  Judson. 

33  Wid.  Joanna  Hawley. 

34  James  Fairchild. 


36  Zach.  Beardslee. 

37  Thaddeus  Gregory. 

38  Thomas  Beardslee. 

39  Zach.  Booth. 

40  Joseph  Nichols,  Jr. 

41  Robert  Walker. 

42  Benjamin  Lewis. 

43  Mr.  Eph""  Curtiss  and  wife. 

44  Heirs  of  Jose  Blakeman. 

45  Jonathan  Curtiss. 

46  Caleb  Beardslee. 

47  Tim.  Wheler. 

48  Ephraim  Bennett. 

49  John  Curtiss. 

50  Heirs  of  Jose  Beardslee. 

51  Samuel  Uffoot. 

52  Ens.  Jonas  Wooster. 

53  Enoch  Gregory. 

54  Heirs  of  David  Wakelin. 

55  Zachariah  Totnlinson. 

56  Samuel  French,  Jr. 

57  James  Hubbell. 

58  Heirs  of  Daniel  Beardslee,  Stratfield. 

59  Josiah  Gilbert. 

60  Heirs  of  Abel  Curtiss. 

61  David  Sherman,  Jr. 

62  Mary  and  Jeremiah  Judson. 

63  Samuel  Hawley  and  wife. 

64  Heirs  of  Arthur  Perry. 

65  Jose  Hawley. 

66  John  Fairchild. 

67  Joseph  Booth. 

68  Daniel  Hyde. 


Proprietors  of  Coviuwji  Lands. 


285 


Sequestered  lands,  so  called,  were  laid  out  at  various 
times  for  pasture  lands,  and  when  the  plan  ot  wide  hii^hways 
failed  at  the  north  end  of  the  town,  they  then  set  apart  sev- 
eral hundred  acres  for  the  purpose  of  pasturage  for  sheep. 

"  March,  1734-5.  Voted  that  all  the  common  lands 
within  two  miles  distance  from  the  old  society  meeting-house 
shall   be,  and  is,  sequestered  a  perpetual   common  for  the  use 


69  William  Peat, 

70  Mrs.  Theophilus  Nichols. 

71  Zachariah  Blakeman. 

72  Benjamin  Burton. 

73  Heirs  of  Timothy  Fairchild. 

74  Nathaniel  Sherman. 

75  Daniel  Brinsmade. 

76  Enos  Sherman. 

77  John  Levensvvorth. 
7S  Nath'  Wakelee. 

79  Edward  Lacee  and  wife. 

80  John  Clark,  Jr. 

81  Gideon  Hawle3r's  heirs. 

82  John  Thompson. 

83  Josiah  Beardslee. 

84  Richard  Nichols. 

85  Matthew  Curtiss. 

86  Ebenezer  Beach. 

87  Daniel  Curtiss. 

88  Nathan  Bennett, 

89  Mr.  John  Edwards. 

90  Ens.  Samuel  Gregory. 

91  Robert  McEwen. 

92  Heirs  of  John  Cluckstone. 

93  Heirs  of  Marcy  Rose. 

94  Nathan  Wheeler. 

95  Stephen  Burroughs. 

96  Heirs  of  James  Selee. 

97  Hezekiah  Gold. 

98  Thomas  Gilbert. 

99  Comfort  wife  of  David  Latten. 

100  James  Levensworth. 
loi  Jonathan  Nichols. 

102  Henry  Hawley. 

103  Heirs  of  Capt.  John  Wells. 

104  Stiles  Curtiss. 

105  Heirs  of  Jacob  Wakelee. 

106  William  Fanton. 

107  Heirs  of  Nathan  Fairchild. 


108  John  Hubbell. 

109  Nathan  Curtiss  and  wife, 
no  David  Beardslee. 

111  Edward  Lacee. 

112  John  Nichols. 

113  Heirs  of  Nat.  Shearman. 

114  Capt.  Jose  Judson. 

115  Seign''  Lewis. 

116  Daniel  Porter. 

117  Heirs  of  Nathan  Porter. 

118  John  Patterson. 

119  Charles  Burritt. 

120  Capt.  Jose  Nichols. 

121  Thomas  Latten. 

122  Daniel  Pickett. 

123  Capt.  James  Judson. 

124  Thomas  Wells  and  wife. 

125  Daniel  Hawley. 

126  James  Laboree. 

127  Benjamin  Booth. 

128  Capt.  James  1  ewis. 

129  Heirs  of  Thomas  Knowles. 

130  Jonathan  Nichols. 

131  Samuel  Osborn's  heirs. 

132  Mr.  Samuel  Cook, 

133  Heirs  of  Mr.  Joseph  Blacklach. 

134  Robert  Walker,  Jr. 

135  Jose  Birdsey. 

136  Jose  Beardslee. 

137  Ebenezer  Blackman. 
T3S   Nathan  Blackman. 

139  Heirs  of  Samuel  Judson. 

140  Ebenezer  Thompson. 

141  Mr.  Jedidiah  Mills. 

142  Joseph  Burritt. 

143  Heirs  of  Thomas  Hawley. 

144  Zachariah  Curtiss,  sen. 

145  Jose  Lewis. 

146  Ephraim  Watkins. 


286 


History  of  Stratford. 


and  benefit  of  the  proprietors  according  to  their  propriety,  as 
formerly  fixed  by  the  selectmen  in  1689;  and  also  100  acres 
in  Bear  Swamp  Rocks,  100  acres  near  Broad  Bridge.  Voted 
that  800  acres  of  ruff  land  be  surveyed,  and  is  sequestered  .  ,  . 
in  the  parish  of  Ripton  for  a  perpetual  common  ...  at  the 
places  hereafter  named:  by  the  Farmill  river,  at  Corum 
burying  place,  Knell's  Rocks,  Quimbie's  Hill,  about  Moose 
hill,  by  Barn  hill,  north  by  Bagburn,  by  the  Great  river  south 
of  Pine  Swamp  on  both  sides  the  east  Sprain  of  the  far  mill 
river. 

"  Voted  that  three  hundred  acres  of  Ruff  land  are  sequest- 
ered in  the  parish  of  Unity — by  Turkey  meadow  Sprains,  by 
saw  mill,  by  Butternut  swamp,  by  Walker's  hill  west  of 
Daniel's  Farm. 

"  Voted  that  300  acres  in  the  parish  of  Stratfield — at  the 
place  below  Ox  hill,  west  of  Rocky  hill  near  Canoe  brook. 


147  David  Booth. 

14S  John  Willcockson  and  wife. 

149  Capt.  David  Judson  and  wife. 

150  Nathan  Beardsley  of  Stratfield. 

151  Ens.  Samuel  Fairchild. 

152  Joseph  Wells. 

153  Peter  Pixlee. 

154  John  Hawle}\ 

155  Zach.  Clark. 

156  Benjamin  Beach. 

157  Nathan  Wheeler . 

158  Heirs  of  John  Bostwick. 

159  Heirs  of  George  Searls. 

160  Ens.  John  Porter. 

161  Peter  Curtiss. 

162  Robert  Wells. 

163  Heirs  of  Jose  Beach. 

164  James  Sherman. 

165  Jonathan  Wakelee  and  wife. 

166  David  and  Sarah  Wells. 

167  William  Curtiss. 

168  Timo.  Sherman. 

169  Heirs  of  Jacob  Walker. 

170  Ebenezer  Gregor}'. 

171  James  Wakelee. 

172  John  Beardslee's  heirs. 

173  Heirs  of  Thomas  Sherwood. 

Town  Acts,  B.  i.  78. 


174  Capt.  Abraham  Wooster. 

175  Sarah,  Jon.  Clark's  wife. 

176  Heirs  of  Samuel  Summers. 

177  Samuel  Sherman. 

178  Heirs  of  John  Blackman. 

179  Lt.  Abel  Birdsey. 

180  Zechariah  Brinsmade. 

181  Eben.  Curtis. 

182  Joshua  Judson's  heirs. 

183  Heirs  of  Theoph.  Sherman. 

184  Joseph  Curtiss. 

185  Edmund  Lewis,  Esq. 

186  Sarah  Everitt. 

187  Ambrose  Thompson,  Jr. 

188  Andrew  Patterson. 
1S9  Tonas  Curtiss. 

190  William  Patterson, 
igi  Abram  Nichols,  Jr. 

192  John  Beardsle  of  Stratfield. 

193  William  Beach. 

194  Benjamin  Brooks. 

195  Daniel  Nichols. 

196  Judson  Burton. 

197  Heirs  of  Robert  Wells. 

198  Heirs  of  Eben.  Hawley. 

199  Elisha  Blagge. 


Names  of  Localities.  287 

"  The  whole  to  remain  common  until  the  proprietors 
agree  to  the  contrary." 

In  'October,  1738,  they  voted  that  the  sequestered  lands 
should  "  lie  in  common  for  the  use  of  the  proprietors  so  long 
as  the  neat  [net]  earnings  of  the  flock  or  flocks  of  sheep  in 
Stratford  going  and  feeding  thereon,  shall  be  paid  to  the  pro- 
prietors of  the  said  land." 

Local  names  are  mentioned  in  laying  out  highways,  in 
deeds  of  land,  in  wills,  and  divisions  of  land. 

"January,  1691.  Richard  Blacklach  hath  a  parcel  of 
land  in  the  woods  at  Ocquanquage,  bounded  on  the  south 
with  the  west  sprain  of  the  Farmill  river,  on  the  east  with  a 
highway  that  runs  on  the  easterly  side  of  Ocquanquage 
plains,  on  the  west  with  a  rock  at  the  southwest  corner,  and 
on  the  west  with  a  high  hill."  And  in  March,  1723,  a  high- 
way laid  out  "  the  whole  length  of  Ocquanquage  plain,  on 
the  easterly  side  of  it,  beginning  by  the  side  of  the  west  sprain 
of  the  Farmill  river,  northward,  full  16  rods  wide,  then  east 
full   18  rods  wide." 

"  In  June,  1727,  a  highway  was  recorded  as  lying  "  upon 
Pissepunk  hill  ;  and  about  1710,  John  Pickett  had  land  laid  to 
him  'lying  on  the  southwesterly  side  of  Pissepunk  brook.'" 
Pissepunk  is  an  Indian  name.  "  It  doubtless  came  from  an 
Indian  'hot  house,'  somewhere  on  or  near  this  hill.  'This 
hot  house  is  a  kind  of  little  cell  or  cave,  six  or  eight  feet  over, 
round,  made  on  the  side  of  the  hill,  commonly  by  some  rivu- 
let or  brook ;  into  this  frequently  the  men  enter  alter  they 
have  exceedingly  heated  it  with  store  of  wood,  laid  upon  an 
heap  of  stones  in  the  middle.'"' 

"  1676.  Thomas  Clark  hath  4  acres  near  the  nearmill 
river  commonly  called  Scutt's  spring." 

"April,  1711.  A  lot  of  land  was  laid  to  Josiah  Curtiss 
lying  on  Wigwam  hill." 

About  1714,  land  was  laid  to  John  Hurd  "  on  the  plain 
called  Weeping  plain,  part  on  both  sides  of  the  west  sprain  of 
the  Farmill  river,  on  the  west  side  of  the  Hundred  hills  .  .  . 

'■'  J.  H.  Trumbull's  Indian  Names. 


288  History  of  Stratford. 

lying  on  the  west  side  of  the  hundred  hills  on  the  east  side  of 
a  swamp  called  weeping  plain  swamp." 

April,  1714,  "  a  lot  of  land,  originally  laid  out  to  Mr. 
Samuel  Sherman,  sen.,  55  acres,  at  a  place  called  tilesom, 
bounded  southwest  with  highway  between  Fairfield  and 
Stratford."  This  "  Tilesom  "  was  afterwards  written  and 
pronounced  Toilsome. 

"  1714,  one  piece  of  land  southward  of  Castle  hill." 
In  February,  1691-2,  Robert  Bassett  bought  land  on  Tur- 
key Hill  at  Coram;  and  the  next  June  he  had  laid  out  "  100 
acres,  by  way  of  division,  lying  in  the  woods  on  the  east  of 
Paquannock  river  against  Mount  Moriah,  bounded  on  the 
west  with  that  sprain  of  Paquannock  river  that  runs  east  of 
Rock-house  Hill  and  a  great  plain  on  the  east  side  of  Paquan- 
nock river  that  lyeth  southward  of  the  sprain  of  said  river." 

Tanneries  for  making  leather  were  not  numerous  dur- 
ing the  first  fifty  years  of  plantation  life  at  Stratford.  No 
record  of  any  has  been  seen  before  1690,  except  the  name 
Tanner's  brook  in  the  northern  part  of  Stratford  village, 
which  name  implies  that  some  tanning  enterprise  may  have 
been  conducted  upon  it  at  a  very  early  period,  as  the  name 
occurs  early,  about  1660. 

The  following  are  town  records  on  this  subject  : 

"  January  20,  1691.  The  town,  by  vote,  gave  unto  Joseph 
Booth  three  rods  square  of  land  for  a  tan-yard,  lying  on  both 
sides  the  run  of  water  near  his  dwelling  house  to  be  for  him 
the  said  Booth,  his  heirs  and  assigns,  so  long  as  they  shall 
keep  and  maintain  the  trade  of  tanning." 

"January  13,  1696.  Mr.  Ephraim  Stiles  requested  the 
town  that  they  would  be  pleased  to  grant  him  about  forty 
feet  of  ground  at  VVoronock,  lying  between  the  home  that 
was  Hope  Washborn's,  and  the  house  belonging  to  the  heirs 
of  James  Blakeman,  in  order  for  the  setting  up  of  tan-fats, 
and  the  town  granted  his  request." 

Another  enterprise,  the  first  of  the  kind  that  has  been 
seen  as  recorded  in  the  town  books  explains  itself. 

Wolves  were  a  great  annoyance  and  an  expensive  crea- 
ture   in    the    vicinitv    of    Stratford.       Premiums    of    various 


A   Great   Wolf  Hunt.  289 

amounts  were  offered  by  the  town,  at  different  times,  in  addi- 
tion to  the  premiums  offered  by  the  Colony  or  county  ;  yet 
the  animals  rather  increased  than  diminished. 

In  1687  the  premium  stood  at  thirty-two  shillings  for 
each  one  killed,  and  that  figure  seeming  too  expensive,  it  was 
reduced  to  twelve  shillings. 

Thus  it  seems  to  have  stood  a  number  of  years,  when  the 
creatures  so  increased  that  a  monster  wolf  hunt  was  organized. 

"  April  17,  1693.  Voted  that  all  persons  ratable  should 
be  allowed  for  man  and  horse  in  this  service  of  destroying 
wolves,  three  shillings  per  day  out  of  the  town  treasury." 

"  It  was  voted  and  agreed  that  the  next  Thursday  shall 
be  the  day  to  goe  upon  this  business  of  killing  wolves,  if  the 
weather  permit,  or  the  next  fair  day  ;  all  persons  to  be  ready 
by  seven  of  the  clock  in  the  morning,  and  meet  upon  the  hill 
at  the  meeting-house,  by  the  beat  of  the  drum. 

"  The  town,  by  vote,  made  choice  of  Captain  Burritt, 
Lieut.  Beardslee,  Ens.  Judson,  Mr.  Samuel  Sherman  [Jr.], 
Ephraim  Stiles,  Daniel  Beardslee,  Daniel  Curtiss,  Ebenezer 
Curtiss,  Sergt.  Knowles,  Joseph  Curtiss,  Benjamin  Curtiss, 
Lieut.  Tomlinson,  Nathaniel  Sherman  and  Joseph  Curtiss  to 
be  overseers  of  this  affayre,  and  authorized  them  with  full 
power  to  order,  dispose  and  direct  all  and  every  person  that 
shall  goe  upon  this  work  from  time  to  time,  and  all  persons 
are  to  observe  and  attend  their  directions." 

How  much  this  expedition  cost  the  town,  or  how  many 
wolves  were  killed,  has  not  been  ascertained,  but  it  must  have 
been  such  an  imposing,  formidable  war-like  demonstration  as 
to  indicate  considerable  vengeance  on  the  wolves.  By  another 
vote  in  1696,  when  each  person  was  to  receive  only  six  pence 
every  time  he  went  out  in  a  certain  expedition,  the  cost  to 
the  town  was  fourteen  pound,  nineteen  shillings  and  *six 
pence. 

Hence,  the  expense  of  killing  wolves,  and  the  value  of 
the  creatures  destroyed  by  the  wolves,  was  quite  an  item  of 
yearly  loss  to  the  toiling  citizens  of  those  early  days. 

Between  1690  and  1700,  specially,  and  largely  thereafter 
for  many  years,  town  meetings  were  held  frequently,  trans- 
actions of  much   importance  in   the   settlement  of  the   town- 


290 


History  of  Stratford. 


ship  enacted  and  a  list  of  officers  elected."  The  business  of 
the  town  meetings  occupied  so  much  time  that  often  the. 
meeting  was  adjourned  to  a  second  day. 

The  town  clerks,  in  recording  the  proceedings  of  the  meet- 
ings, were  very  careful  to  give  the  title  to  every  man's  name 
as  regularly  as  the  name  occurred.  The  list  of  town  officers 
was,  at  first,  very  short,  but  it  had  the  energy  of  increase  to 
marvelous  proportions.  When  the  law  giving  ecclesiastical 
societies  separate  offices  and  officers,  the  town  list  was  some- 
what shortened,  but  if  there  was  more  than  one  such  society 
within  a  township,  the  list  was  kept  about  the  same.  In 
Stratford,  for  some  years,  there  were  four  Congregational 
societies  and  three,  if  not  four,  Episcopal. 

A  Toivn-hoiise  for  the  accommodation  of  the  town 
meetings  was  built  between  the  years  1752  and  1758;  for  the 
town  meeting  of  December,  1758  was  held  in  the  new  town 
house. 

The  movement  began  January,  1749-50.  "Voted  to 
build  a  town  house,  and  that  the  same  shall  not,  any  part 
thereof,  be  used  for  a  school  house,  under  any  pretence  what- 
soever, and  to  set  the  house  upon  the  hill  just  south  of  Tan- 
ner's brook,  called  the  Smith  shop  hill  ;  the  house  to  be  45 
feet  long,  32  feet  wide,  and  ten  feet  between  joints. 

"  Voted  the  same  to  be  furnished  with  seats  and  chim- 
ney."    This  they  proposed  to  build  by  subscription,  but  they 


^°  Election  at  town  meeting  December  29,  1675. 


"John  Minor,     )  n^   ^^^ki^^ 
■'  >  Constables 

3n.  ) 


1 


Jehiel  Preston, 

Thomas  Uffoot, 

John  Wells,  i 

Sergt.  John  Curtiss,  V  townsmen. 

Henry  VVakelyn,        i 

John  Pickett,  sen.,    J 

John  Minor,  recorder. 

Sergt.  John  Curtiss,  town  treasurer. 

Thomas  Favrechild,  )  u  , 

-  '  f  Haywardens. 

h,\\.  Knowles,  ) 

Robert  Lane,  ) 

Benjamin  Beach,  ) 


■  fence  viewers. 


Edward  Hinman,  packer. 
John  Peak,  Jr.,  marshal. 
Nathaniel  Parker,  )  surveyors  of  high- 
James  Clark,  )  ways. 
Mr.  Hawley,  ordinary  keeper. 
John  Pickett,  Jr.,  sealer  of  weights  and 

measures. 
James  Clark,  pound  keeper. 
John  Peck,  custom  master. 
Robert  Rose,  cryer. 
Capt.    Curtiss,    Mr.     Mitchell,    Jehiel 

Preston  and  John   Minor  to  audit 

the  town's  accounts." 


A    Town  House.  291 

also  voted  a  tax  for  the  same  purpose,  and,  although  they 
appointed  a  committee  to  do  the  work,  yet  it  was  delayed. 

In  1752  they  appointed  a  committee,  consisting  of  one 
man  from  each  society  in  the^town,  to  consult  about  the  best 
way  to  build  the  town  house  ;  and  the  town  meeting  was  held 
in  it  in  December,  1758. 

Previous  to  this  the  town  meeting  is  mentioned  several 
times  as  having  been  held  in  the  school  house. 

A  I*est-Jioiise  was  voted  to  be  built  in  December,  1760. 
The  year  previous  to  this  Daniel  Nichols  had  the  small-pox 
and  the  town  voted  him  four  pounds,  if  he  recovered  of  his 
distemper. 


CHAPTER  XII. 


BEGINNING  THE  EIGHTEENTH 
CENTURY. 

REAT  was  the  spirit  of  enterprise  in  Strat- 
^g^ford  when  the  eighteenth  century  was  intro- 
duced by  the  opening  of  the  year  1701. 
Sixty-one  years  had  passed  since  the  first 
seventeen  families  established  the  plantation 
as  new  settlers  in  the  wilderness.  At  the 
end  of  the  first  age,  of  thirty  years,  many  of 
the  persons  in  these  lamilies,  and  of  all  the 
families  that  came  before  1650,  had  passed 
away,  and  only  a  few  dwellings — perhaps 
a  half  dozen — had  been  extended  beyond 
the  limits  of  the  village  of  Stratford;  while 
the  families  had  reached  the  number  of  a 
little  over  one  hundred,  in  1677;  the  pro- 
prietors of  the  township  being  just  one  hun- 
dred. 

During  the  second  age,  thirty  years,  great  progress  had 
been  made  in  laying  out  the  lands  northward  into  the  wilder- 
ness preparatory  to  their  occupancy  by  resident  farmers  ; 
and  quite  a  number  of  the  young  men  had  established  their 
homes  on  these  farms.  The  monotony  and  loneliness  of  their 
locations  were  greatly  relieved  by  the  animation  of  the  nat- 
ural scenery  and  the  spirit  of  enterprise  and  progress  in  the 
further  settlement  of  the  country.  The  woods  were  full  of 
birds  and  animals — quite  too  much  so,  as  to  wolves  and  bears 
— and  the  courage  and  ambition  of  the  young  people  were 
exercised,  equally,  with  any  succeeding  age. 

In  1699,  the  proprietors  or  owners  of  the  undivided  land, 
numbered  one  hundred  and  forty-three,  and  the  families,  about 
two  hundred. 


First  Merchants.  293 

An  ecclesiastical  society  and  a  church  had  been  organ- 
ized at  Pequonnock,  called  Stratfield,  which  at  first  included 
twelve  or  fourteen  of  the  Stratford  families,  and  those  all 
residing  west  of  the  Pequonnock  river. 

There  may  have  been  three  or  four  families  residing  in 
what  is  now  Huntington,  but  it  is  doubtful  if  there  were 
more  than  two  who  were  located  at  Shelton,  unless  there 
were  others  in  the  southeastern  corner  of  that  town. 

There  were  about  a  dozen  families  in  the  vicinity  of 
Oronoke,  and  as  many  more  along  Old  Mill  Green  and  on 
Old  Mill  hill. 

Such  was  the  field  of  operations,  the  center  or  headquar- 
ters being  at  Stratford  village,  which  had  become  a  place  of 
considerable  mercantile  business  and  social  enterprise.  The 
meeting-house  had  been  removed  from  the  harbor  and  a  new 
one  built  on  Watch-house  Hill.  Two  ware-houses  had  been 
built,  one  by  Richard  Blackleach,  the  other  by  Daniel  Shelton,' 
perhaps  one  of  them  on  the  site  of  the  old  meeting-house  at 
the  harbor,  for  one  was  built  there  very  early,  the  stone  base- 
ment story  of  which  is  the  foundation  of  the  barn  now  stand- 
ing upon  it.  The  merchandise  consisted  largely  of  grains, 
beef  and  pork  and  live  horses;  the  last  for  the  West  Indies, 
the  others  for  Boston  and  New  York,  There  was  no  trade 
in  articles  of  wood,  for  in  1690  the  town,  by  vote,  forbid 
the  transportation  of  any  timber  for  clapboards,  pipe  staves, 
hoops,  heading,  rails  or  building  lumber,  from  the  place, 
because  of  its  scarcity. 

It  has  been  difficult  to  ascertain  in  what  hands  the  mer- 
cantile business  was  held  previous  to  this  time,  except  that, 
from  the  first,  or  about  1650,  until  1680,  or  near  that  time, 
Joseph  Hawley  and  Isaac  Nichols,  sen.,  had  some,  consider- 
able, probably  the  leading  part  in  such  trade.  Joseph  Haw- 
ley built  vessels,  here  and  at  Derby,  and  also  sold  foreign 
cloths  and  other  mercantile  goods.  He  was  also,  some  of  the 
time,  the  ordinary,  or  tavern  keeper,  and  in   those  days,  and 

'  "  May  6,  16S6.  Voted  and  granted  unto  Mr.  Richard  Blacklach  and  Mr. 
Daniel  Shilton  to  build  each  of  them  a  warehouse  in  some  convenient  place  where 
it  may  be  judged  most  suitable. by  the  selectmen  of  the  town  and  the  wharfe  pre- 
sented them  as  proprietors  of  Stratford,  for  ever,  free  wharfage." 


2Q4  History  of  Stratford. 

many  years  later,  not  only  liquors  were  sold,  but  teas,  sugar, 
molasses,  indigo,  logwood,  nails  of  all  kinds,  made  in  Eng- 
land and  at  home,  at  such  places  of  public  entertainment. 
Isaac  Nichols,  sen.,  seems,  from  certain  records,  to  have  con- 
ducted a  like  business,  later,  perhaps  after  Mr.  Hawley  re- 
tired. 

Alexander  Bryan^  of  Milford,  was  the  great  merchant 
for  the  whole  region  of  country,  and  his  son  Richard  with 
him  for  more  than  half  a  century.  They  bought  and  sold 
land  in  almost,  or  quite,  every  town  from  New  London  to 
New  York.  They  furnished  goods  to  pay  the  Indians  for 
nearly  all  the  townships  in  the  region.  Their  vessels  traded, 
not  only  at  home,  but  in  foreign  ports,  England,  Holland  and 
Spain.  Their  bills  passed  in  exchange,  in  all  parts  of  the 
country,  and  particularly  in  England.  It  is  doubtful  if  there 
was  another  merchant,  out  of  Boston,  on  the  American  coast, 
that  did  as  large  a  business  as  Alexander  Bryan  from  1639 
to  1670. 

Isaac  Nichols,  sen.,  as  seen  by  the  records,  obtained  con- 
siderable supplies  from  Alexander  Bryan,  and  hence  the  in- 
formation as  to  his  mercantile  business. 

Samuel  Blagge,  from  New  York,  Richard  Blacklach, 
from  Guilford,  and  Daniel  Shelton  from  England,  came  to 
Stratford,  as  merchants,  about  1686;  Samuel  Blagge,  per- 
haps, several  years  earlier  than  the  other  two. 

The  farmers  of  Stratford  resided  in  the  village,  and  went 
out  to  their  farms,  from  one  to  three  miles,  in  the  true  oriental 
style,  to  do  the  work  of  the  farm.  In  the  morning  they  were 
seen  going  out  with  their  teams,  man}^  of  them  to  the  south, 
to  the  Old  Field,  and  the  Great  Neck,  all  of  which  was  put 
into  one  great  field,  about  1693,  the  fence  crossing  from  the 
rocks  on  Little  Neck,  west  to  mill  brook,  and  all  the  land 
south  of  it,  being  in  the  field.  The  Old  Field,  at  first  did  not 
include  the  Great  Neck.  Other  of  the  farmers  went  to  the 
New  Field,  joining  the  village  on  the  southwest,  between  it 
and  the  swamp.  Then  there  was  a  field  called  Nesingpaws, 
on  the  west  side  of  Mill  brook,  as  called  in  the  deeds  about 
1700,  and  after,  or  west  of  the  swamp  extending  to  Bruce's 
Brook;  and   from   this    field,   or    Bruce's    Brook   to   the    old 


Grants  of  Mill  Privileges.  295 

yellow  mill,  was  the  Far-field;  then  the  Newpasture  field 
south  of  Old  Mill  Green,  and  Pequonnock  field  south  of 
Golden  Hill.  There  was  also  a  common  field — not  very 
large — at  Oronoke,  besides  what  was  called  the  great  meadow 
at  that  place. 


Gristmills^  Sawmills,  and  Fullingmills. 

As  the  families  settled  back  into  the  wilderness,  they 
needed  mills  of  various  kinds  to  facilitate  the  work  and  com- 
fort of  life.  To  build  a  small  saw  mill  was  an  enterprise  of 
venture,  requiring  much  energy  and  considerable  money,  as 
then  money  was  estimated.  The  town  owned  all  the  mill- 
sites,  as  well  as  the  land  around  them,  and  therefore  none  of 
them  could  be  used  without  a  grant  from  the  town.  At  first, 
besides  granting  the  privilege  of  the  mill,  the  town  gave  to 
the  person  who  should  build  a  gristmill  several  acres  of  land, 
upon  condition  that  the  party  "should  grind  the  town's 
corn,"  for  a  sixteenth  or  twelfth  or  an  eighth  part  of  the 
grain  brought  to  the  mill. 

At  this  time,  1700,  there  had  been  two  gristmills  and  two 
fulling  mills  built,  and  soon  after  several  other  mills  were 
erected,  as  the  following  records  show  : 

"  January  26,  1702-3,  the  town  granted  liberty  to  Eben- 
ezer  Curtiss,  James  Lewis  and  Edmund  Lewis,  to  erect  a 
sawmill  near  Misha  hill." 

"  December  25,  1704,  Benjamin  Sherman,  John  Williams, 
and  John  Seeley  were  granted  liberty  to  erect  a  gristmill 
upon  Pequonnock  river  at  the  narrows  below  Essay's  pond." 
Upon  securing  this  site  they  were  to  sign  certain  articles  of 
agreement  with  the  selectmen. 

"January  11,  1705-6,  the  town  granted  liberty  to  Mr. 
Ephrain-.  Stiles  to  set  up  a  gristmill  at  Farmill  river,  a  little 
below  Black  brook,  near  the  place  called  the  Plum-trees." 
At  the  same  time  the  town  granted  full  liberty  to  Lt.  Tomlin- 
son  to  maintain  his  fulling  mill  on  Farmill  river. 

"February  14,  1721-2,  Mr.  John  Edwards  requested  lib- 
erty to  "  erect  a  fulling  mill  upon  the  river  on  the  west  side 
of  Ox  hill,"  and  in  1724  Mr.  Edwards  and   Lt.  Richard  Hub- 


2q6  History  of  Stratford. 

bell,  erected  a  fulling  mill  at  the  same  place,  then  called  Jack- 
son's river,  it  being  near  Fairfield  line. 

"  December  5,  1725.  Upon  the  request  of  Zechariah 
Beardslee,  Charles  Lane  and  Ephraim  Judson,  to  erect  a  saw- 
mill  and  make  a  dam  for  said  mill  at  the  south  corner  of 
Acquanquedy  plain  on  the  west  sprain  of  the  Farmill  river, 
the  town  grants  their  request,  with  this  proviso,  that  they 
satisfy  for  all  damage  that  their  dam  may  cause  in  any  par- 
ticular person's  land." 

"December  29,  1725.  Liberty  was  granted  Captain 
Josiah  Curtiss  and  Mr.  John  Willcoxson,  Jr.,  to  erect  a  saw- 
mill on  the  halfway  river,"  at  the  north  end  of  the  town. 

Ecclesiastical  Progress  and  Prosperity. 

The  Rev.  Israel  Chauncey  died  at  Stratford  March  14, 
1702-3,  in  the  39th  year  of  his  ministry,  and  the  59th  year  of 
his  age;  which  appears  to  have  been  an  unexpected  event 
without  forewarning,  as  he  was  not  aged,  or  in  any  way  en- 
feebled. He  had  been  a  successful,  faithful  minister,  and 
seems  to  have  been  very  acceptable  in  the  parish,  his  salary 
having  been  increased  at  several  times,  being  the  highest,  and 
standing  at  ;^i  12,  and  his  yearly  allowance  of  wood,  at  his 
decease. 

Two  candidates  for  the  supply  of  the  pulpit  were  soon 
secured;  Mr.  Nathaniel  Hubbard,  of  the  class  of  Harvard, 
1698,  and  Mr.  Joseph  Morgan.  Upon  this  the  town  came 
together  on  May  7,  1703,  and  voted  to  buy  a  house  "of  Dan- 
iel Shelton  for  ;^ioo  cash,  for  the  minister  in  Stratford,"  but 
"after  the  vote  was  recorded,  Isaac  Knell,  Joseph  Fairchild, 
Edward  Hinman,  Samuel  Peat,  sen.,  and  Timothy  Titharton, 
did  protest  against  buying  Mr.  Shelton's  house."  This  is  the 
first  intimation  of  trouble  that  the  records  afford,  nor  is  there 
any  reason  stated  for  the  opposition. 

The  next  proceeding,  at  the  same  meeting,  was  to  apply 
for  Mr.  Reed  to  preach,  and  "  Nathaniel  Sherman  was  by  vote 
chosen  as  agent  for  the  town,  forthwith  with  all  convenient 
speed  to  go  to  Hartford  and  endeavor,  by  all  lawful  means, 
the  obtaining  of  Mr.  Reed  for  the  work  above  said."      Mr. 


Mr.  Reed's   Ministry.  297 

Reed  was  secured  and  preached,  and  the  August  following 
the  town  voted  him  "  ^40  pay  in  provision  and  £6  for  fire- 
wood for  half  a  year,  and  Mr.  Nathaniel  Sherman,  Sergt. 
John  Hawley,  Mr,  Jeremiah  Judson,  were  appointed  a  com- 
mittee to  "  take  care  of  transporting  Mr.  Reed's  family  from 
Hartford,  and  providing  a  suitable  habitation  for  him."  The 
next  February — 8,  1703-4 — on  a  proposition  for  settling  a 
minister,  Mr.  Reed  received  96  votes;  Mr.  Hubbard,  18;  and 
Mr.  Morgan,  15. 

Mr.  Reed  continued  to  preach  regularly  until  November 
14,  1704,  when  he  received  70  votes,  and  there  were  "  14 
votes  to  the  contrary,"  On  the  24th  of  April,  1705,  "there 
being  some  persons  dissatisfied  with  the  former  vote," 
another  was  taken,  and  Mr.  Reed  received  ^"j,  for  settlement, 
there  being  "43  otherwise,"  and  32  not  voting.  The  last 
vote  taken  to  settle  him  was  on  September  25,  1706,  in  which 
the  whole  number  of  votes  was  much  smaller,  he  having  63 
votes. 

Very  soon,  following  this  last  vote,  perhaps  before,  some 
talk  was  indulged  in  by  the  public,  which  Mr.  Reed  resented 
and  demanded  inquiry,  and  hence  the  following  action  by  the 
town : 

"  November  20,  1706.  Whereas,  the  Revd.  Elders  in 
their  advice  to  the  town  of  Stratford,  recommended  to  take 
all  suitable  care  to  purge  and  vindicate  Mr.  Reed  from  such 
scurrilous  and  abusive  reflections  (if  any  be)  that  such  senti- 
ments may  reasonably  be  supposed  to  being  upon  him;  and 
Mr.  Reed  in  order  thereto,  having  laid  before  the  town  his 
request  that  the  town  would  be  pleased  to  call  a  Council  of 
Elders  to  hear  what  shall  be  proper  to  lay  before  them  in 
order  for  a  clearing  of  his  name  from  those  abusive  reflec- 
tions that  he  is  apprehensive  have  been  put  upon  him." 

In  harmony  with  this  request  choice  was  made  of  the 
"  Revds.  Mr.  Andrews,  Mr.  Pierpont,  Mr.  Webb  and  Mr. 
Chauncey,  by  the  town,  to  be  a  committee  for  that  end  ;"  and 
a  day  of  fasting  and  prayer  was  appointed. 

No  indication  as  to  what  was  said  offensive  to  Mr.  Reed 
or  to  his  parish,  has  been  found,  except  the  intimation  that  he 
had  made  overtures  to  join  the  Episcopal  Church  ;  but  what- 


298  History  of  Stratford. 

ever  it  was,  it  is  certain  that  he  declared  the  matter  to  be 
"  scurrilous  and  abusive  reflections." 

It  has  been  represented,  also,  that  Mr,  Reed  was  unkindly 
and  almost  uncivilly  treated  by  his  parish,  in  an  effort  to 
deprive  him  of  his  salary  ;  and  that  they  were  countenanced 
in  it  by  the  neighboring  ministers.  This  is  a  wholly  gratui- 
tous reflection,  since  his  salary  was  continued  regularly  by 
town  vote  at  one  hundred  pounds  a  year — a  salary  nearly  equal 
to  that  of  the  preceding  minister,  and  also  to  that  of  Mr. 
Cutler,  who  followed  him,  and  this  salary  was  as  regularly 
paid,  probably,  as  that  of  any  minister  in  the  Colony  ;  as 
exhibited,  in  the  records  in  the  book  of  town  acts  for  those  cur- 
rent years  of  his  service.^  Mr.  Reed  regularly  resigned  his 
ministerial  relations  to  the  town  on  the  27th  of  March,  1707^ 
and  a  full  settlement  was  made  with  him. 

Following  Mr,  Reed,  Mr,  Francis  Goodhue  was  a  candi- 
date, and  on  July  18,  1707,  he  had  41  votes  for  settlement, 
with  quite  a  number  of  persons  present  not  voting.  The 
meeting  was  adjourned  one  week  when  he  had  42  votes,  out 
83  cast,  and  the  town  voted  to  allow  him  one  hundred  pounds 
a  year  while  he  should  preach  here  ;  but  he  continued  only  a 
short  time  and  Mr.  James  Hale  preached  for  a  time  in  the 
latter  part  of  the  year  1707. 

The  next  candidate  for  settlement  seems  to  have  been  Mr. 
Azariah  Mather  who,  August  24,   1708,  had  a  vote  favorable 


■*  "April  I,  1708.     Then  upon  the  adjustment  of  accounts  with  Mr.  Reed,  wee 
find  as  foUoweth  : 

"  In  ye  year  1704,  ye  rate  fell  short  of  je  100"'*.     Mr.  Samuel 

Hawley  collector,  .....  /'00-17-91 

"  In  ye  year  1705,  ye  rate  fell  short  of  the  ioo"'s_  sundry  per- 
sons being  non-solvent,        .....  1-15-01 

"In  ye  year  1706  ye   rate  fell  short  of  ye   100"",  several  per- 
sons being  non-solvent,  allowed,  .  .  .  2-00-00 


4-12-2 


"  In  1702,  due  to  Mr.  Reed  to  a  quarter  of  3'e  year  25"",  agreed. 

"Of  which  sums  remains  due  from  ye  collector  to  Mr.  Reed,  14-15-10 

"Francis  GrifBn,  Dr.,  upon  arrears  of  his  rate  1700  yet  to 

see  pay'd  to  Mr.  Reed,  .  .  ;^3-oo-oi>^ 

"  Richard  Nicolls,  Dr.  upon  his  arrears  of  his  rate  1706,  y^i 

to  see  pay'd  to  Mr.  Reed,  .  .  7-12-6^." 


Mr.   Cutler  s  Settlement.  299 

"  not  one  vote  against  or  for  any  other  person,  but  the  vote 
was  so  small  that  nothing  was  done  further  until  January  fol- 
lowing, when  he  had  55  votes  in  favor,  and  38  for  others. 
The  next  June  they  voted  to  seek  for  a  stranger,  and  ap- 
pointed seven  prominent  men  to  obtain  one  ;  the  result  being 
that,  on  September  16,  1709,  action  of  the  town  was  taken 
"  for  the  continuance  of  Mr.  Cutler  amongst  us  in  the  work 
of  the  ministry  in  order  for  a  settlement,  of  103  in  favor  and 
none  against;"  and  he  was  offered  £'^0,  yearly  salary,  which 
was  less  than  they  had  paid,  during  several  years  previous, 
but  it  was  afterwards  raised. 

They  next  proposed  a  settlement,  and  September  30, 
1709,  "voted  to  give  Mr.  Cutler  a  home  lot  of  one  or  two 
acres,  to  build  a  house  on  it  of  forty-two  feet  in  length  and 
twenty  in  breadth,  a  girt  house,  two  story  high  with  a  suita- 
ble porch,  every  way  well  finished,  and  one  hundred  acres  of 
land  in  the  six-mile  division,  to  be  his  own,  his  heirs,  execu- 
tors forever,  provided  he  settle  with  us  and  continue  in  the 
work  of  the  ministry,  and  to  give  him  the  use  of  eight  acres 
pasture  and  four  or  five  of  meadow,  and  after  two  years  to 
pay  him  yearly  ^^140  country  pay  as  salary.  This  amount 
was  afterwards  changed  to  ^^"93-06-8,  current  mone3%  instead 
of  "  produce  at  fixed  prices."  "  All,  provided  his  disciplin- 
ing be  agreeable  with  the  way  of  the  Colony  or  country  at 
present  or  future." 

During  these  years  of  progress  from  1680,  the  meeting 
house,  from  which  the  old  bell  rang  out  a  cheerful  sound 
every  day  at  nine  o'clock  in  the  evening,^  became  crowded, 
and  on  January  22,  1700-1,  the  town  voted  that  there  should 
be  a  gallery  built  in  the  meeting  house,  and  a  committee  was 
appointed  to  proceed  with  the  work,  which  they  did,  for  the 
remaining  expense  of  it  was  ordered  paid  the  next  January. 
This  was  an  end  gallery,  for  in  1715  "two  side  galleries " 
were  built  "  at  the  charge  of  the  town,"'  and  on  March  2, 

*  "Dec.  29,  1691.  The  present  townsmen  by  vote  were  impowered  to  hire 
some  suitable  person  or  persons  to  sweep  the  meeting  house  and  ring  the  bell  on 
all  public  days  and  at  nine  of  the  clock  every  evening. 

*  "January,  1715-16.  The  committee  of  the  Meetinghouse  gallery  then  agreed 
and  bargained  with  Josiah  Hubbell  and  Israel  Burritt  to  build  the  flank  galleries 


300  History  of  Stratford. 

1718,  they  "voted  that  the  seats  of  each  gallery  shall  be 
seated,  the  west  side  gallery  with  married  men,  the  east  gal- 
lery with  married  women,  and  antiant  bachelors  and  antiant 
maides  the  second  seats." 

In  May,  1713,  the  town  voted  liberty  to  Doctor  Laboree 
to  "erect  and  build  a  pew  on  the  south  side  of  the  west  door 
of  the  meeting  house  at  his  own  expense."  A  few  years 
previous  to  this,  Richard  Blackleach  had  made  a  pew  for  his 
family  in  this  house,  and  these  probably  were  all  the  pews 
then  in  the  house  ;  the  other  seats  were  high  backed  slips 
like  other  meeting  houses  at  that  day. 

In  171 5,  "liberty  was  granted  to  the  farmers  to  erect 
suitable  shelter  for  their  horses  on  all  public  days  at  some 
convenient  place,  with  the  advice  of  the  selectmen." 

The  Rev.  Timothy  Cutler  had  preached  in  Stratford  just 
ten  years,  when  the  trustees  of  Yale- College  invited  him  to 
become  Rector  of  that  institution,  and  Stratford  reluctantly 
consented  to  the  change.  The  town,  in  response  to  the 
desire  of  the  trustees,  communicated  to  it,  July  31,  1719,  ap- 
pointed a  committee  to  hear  the  propositions  which  might  be 
made,  and  adjourned  to  a  specified  day,  to  hear  the  report ; 
which  was  communicated  at  the  time  and  action  taken  : 

"At  "a  town  meeting  in  Stratford,  September  7,  1719, 
several  proposals  presented  by  the  Rev.  Trustees  Respecting 
Mr.  Cutler's  Remove  from  us  to  the  Great  work  of  a  Rector 
of  Yale  College  being  laid  before  the  town  for  further 
thought  and  consideration,  and  the  town  seriously  cpnsider- 
ing  thereof  did  unanimously  signify  their  great  grief  and 
sorrow  Respecting  Mr.  Cutler's  Remove  from  us  who  under 
God  hath  been  the  happy  instrument  of  uniting  us  in  love 
and  peace  after  so  many  years  of  contention.  However,  if 
the  Rev"^  Mr.  Cutler  and  Trustees  are  fully  satisfied  that  Mr. 
Cutler  hath  a  warrantable  Call  of  God  to  Remove  from  us, 
we  desire  passively  to  submit  to  Divine  providence. 

"And  as  to  the  proposals  made  by  the  Rev'^  Trustees, 
the  town  for  peace  and  to  maintain  their  good  affections  to 

of  the  meeting  house — both  the  joiner's  and  the  carpenter's  work  to  be  done  well 
according  to  rule,  and  finish  the  said  gallery  by  the  first  of  June  next,  and  for  their 
labor  the  committee  promises  to  pay  them  thirt3--three  pounds  in  money." 


Mr.   Cutler  s  Dismission. 


301 


Mr.  Cutler  Do  allow  to  him  the  hundred  acres  of  woodland 
to  be  his  own  according  to  his  desire  ;  the  said  Mr.  Cutler 
returning  the  house  and  home  lott  which  he  received  of  the 
town,  to  the  town  again  in  the  capacity  it  now  is,  with  all 
betterments,  fences,  &c. — always  provided  that  the  Rev. 
Trustees  or  General  Court  allow  to  the  town  of  Stratford 
one  hundred  pounds  money  for  and  towards  the  charge  of 
settling  another  minister  among  us. 

Test,  Jos.  CURTISS,  Town  Clerk." 

Mr.  Cutler  went  to  Yale  College,  but  there  was  much 
trouble  in  settling  money  matters  between  him  and  the  town 
of  Stratford,  for  one  or  two  years  afterward. 

The  trouble  anticipated  by  a  town  vote  in  settling  an- 
other minister,  when  they  consented  to  allow  Mr.  Cutler  to 
remove,  was  more  than  realized.  They  soon  found  a  candi- 
date, Mr.  Samuel  Russell,  and  took  a  vote  on  his  settlement, 
October  i,  1719,  but  the  numbers  present  being  small,  the 
matter  was  deferred,  although  there  were  no  votes  against 
him.  The  next  March — 1720 — the  vote  stood  83  for  him  and 
41  against  and  8  scattering.  In  the  April  following  a  council 
was  called  for  advice,  and  the  next  month  the  matter  went  to 
the  General  Court,  who  advised  a  delegated  council  from  all 
the  ministerial  assemblies  of  the  State,  if  Stratford  would  pay 
the  expense.  This  created  much  greater  excitement  and 
difficulty,  and  many  names  were  entered  on  the  records  as 
protesting  against  making  any  expense  in  that  way.  Trouble 
increased  during  two  years,  Mr.  Russell  continuing  to  preach, 
until  quite  a  number  of  inhabitants  recorded  their  names  as 
refusing  to  pay  to  his  support,  November  2,  1721,  when  it 
was  concluded  to  seek  another  candidate. 

The  next  February  they  held  a  day  of  fasting  and  prayer 
in  view  of  their  trouble  in  calling  a  minister,  and  they  soon 
after  found  a  preacher  upon  whom  they  could  fully  unite,  as 
seen  by  the  town  record  : 

"April  16,  1722.  Whereas,  the  society  at  a  lawful  meet- 
ing March  i,  1721-2,  by  a  unanimous  vote  called  Mr.  Heze- 
kiah  Gold  to  the  work  of  the  ministry  in  Stratford  in  order 
for  a  settlement  among  us,  and  having  ever  since  sat  under 
his  ministry   with  great  satisfaction  and  delight;  and  for  his 


302  History  of  Stratford. 

incouragement  to  settle  with  us  in  the  work  of  the  ministry, 
it  was  this  day  voted  and  granted  to  allow  him  130  pounds 
per  annum  as  his  yearly  salary  in  money  so  long  as  the  pub- 
lic good  requires  his  labors  among  us.  And  for  his  settlement 
to  give  him  the  town  house  [probably  the  one  built  for  Mr. 
Cutler]  and  home  lot  of  one  acre  and  a  half  to  be  his  own 
forever,  provided  he  settles  with  us  and  continue  with  us  in 
the  work  till  death;  also  the  barn  and  half  the  land  adjoining 
to  the  home  lot." 

To  this  he  made  the  following  reply  : 

"  To  ye  old  Society  and  Church  of  Christ  in  Stratford, 
to  whom  Grace  and  Peace  be  multiplied  from  God  our  father 
and  from  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  Dearly  beloved,  these  may 
inform  you  of  my  greatful  and  thankful  acceptance  of  your 
generous  and  honorable  proposals  for  my  incouragement  in 
ye  great  work  of  ye  ministry  among  you  in  which  I  purpose 
to  continue  as  God  in  his  providence  shall  permit,  your  faith- 
ful servant  in  Christ  during  life.  Hez.    Gold." 

Stratford  April  23,  1722. 

May  8,  1722.  The  Society  appointed  the  tirst  Wednesday 
in  June  next  to  be  the  day  for  the  ordination  of  Mr.  Gold. 

Jan.  6,  1723-4.  Mr.  Gold's  request  of  the  town,  "  liberty 
to  erect  a  pew  at  some  convenient  place  in  the  meeting  house 
for  his  family  "  was  granted.  A  few  years  later  his  salary 
was  fixed  at  one  hundred  and  fifty  pounds  a  year  and  so  con- 
tinued many  years,  but  when  the  inflation  of  State  bills  went 
on  a  few  years,  his  salary — about  1750 — was  considerably 
over  two  hundred  pounds  old  tenor. 

It  is  during  the  transactions  for  securing  and  settling 
Mr.  Gold,  that  the  distinction  between  the  acts  of  the  town 
and  the  ecclesiastical  society,  are  first  noticed  on  the  records. 
The  General  Court  in  1717  passed  an  act  defining  the  powers 
and  jurisdiction  of  such  a  society;'  and  in  1723  added  the  liq- 
erty  for  each  society  in  every  town  to  have  its  own  clerk. 

''  An  Act  for    the  better  Ordering  and  Regulating  Parishes  or  Societies,  and  for  their 

Supporting  the  Ministry  and  Schools  there. 

That  the  settled  and  approved  inhabitants  in  each  respective  parish  or  society 
within  this  Colony,  shall  annually  meet  together  in  December,  at  some  time  and 
place,  according  to  the  notice  thereof  to  be  given  them  at  least  five  days  before 


Dr.  Outers  Ministry.  303 

During  Mr.  Cutler's  pastorate,  in  1717,  when  harmony 
and  prosperity  prevailed  throughout  the  township,  the  move- 
ment began,  which  resulted  in  the  organization  of  the  parish 
or  society  of  Ripton,  of  which  a  careful  and  full  account  will 
be  given  further  on  in  this  book  in  the  history  of  the  town  of 
Huntington. 

Timothy  Cutler^  J).  I),,  son  of  Major  John  Cutler,  of 
Charlestown,  Massachusetts,  was  born  June  i,  1684,  and  was 
graduated  at  Harvard  College  in  1701.  A  call  was  extended 
to  him  by  the  Stratford  Church  September  16,  1709,  and  near 
or  in  the  following  December  he  was  ordained  pastor  of  this 
Church  and  congregation. 

He  served  the  parish  acceptably  ten  years,  but  without 
any  marked  success,  except  as  a  pleasing  and  entertaining 
preacher.  He  was  held  in  high  esteem  by  the  parish,  was 
"  reputed  as  a  man  of  profound  and  general  learning,"  but  his 
letter   of   resignation,  herewith    printed,  if   such   it  may'  be 

such  meeting,  by  the  committee  for  ordering  the  affairs  of  the  societ}-,  or  for  want 
of  such  committee,  by  the  clerk  of  the  same.  And  the  said  inhabitants  thus  met 
and  convened  together  are  hereby  fully  impowered  by  their  major  vote,  to  choose 
a  clerk  for  their  society,  and  three  or  more  discreet,  able  inhabitants  to  be  a  com- 
mittee to  order  the  affairs  of  the  society  for  the  year  ensuing.  And  also  the  said 
inhabitants  assembled  as  above,  or  the  major  part  of  them,  shall  have  power  to 
grant  and  levy  such  rates  and  taxes  on  the  inhabitants  for  the  advancing  such  sum 
or  sums  of  money  for  the  support  of  the  ministry  and  school  there,  as  the  law 
directs,  and  to  appoint  a  collector  or  collectors  for  gathering  thereof,  who  are 
hereby  ordered  and  impowered  to  proceed  in  collecting  the  same,  according  to  the 
direction  of  the  law  to  collectors  chosen  for  gathering  the  town  and  minister's 
rates.  And  in  case  the  collector  or  collectors  shall  not  perform  the  trust  hereby 
committed  to  him  or  them,  he  or  they  shall  be  accountable  for  such  arrearages  by 
him  or  them  neglected  to  be  gathered,  to  the  committee  of  such  society,  who  are 
impowered  to  demand  or  distrain  for  the  same,  according  to  the  direction  of  said 
law. 

To  this  was  added,  in  October,  1723,  "That  where  there  are  more  societies 
than  one  in  any  town  in  this  governmnent,  every  such  society  are  enabled,  and 
they  hereby  have  full  power,  to  choose  their  own  clerk."     Col.  Records,  vi.  33. 

'  Mr.  Cutler's  resignation  was  as  follows,  dated  September  14,  1719: 
"  Brethren  and  Friends  : 

I  hope  I  have,  with  seriousness  and  solemnity  considered  the  invitation  made 
to  me  for  a  removal  from  you  to  the  Collegiate  School  at  New  Haven,  and  can 
look  upon  it  as  nothing  less  than  a  call  of  providence  which  I  am  obliged  to  obey. 

I  do,  therefore,  by  these  lines,  give  you  this  signification,  giving  you  my  hearty 


304  History  of  Stratford. 

called,  does  not  sustain  the  reputation  thus  given  him.  A 
brief  letter  of  this  description,  in  which  the  pronoun  of  the 
first  person  nominative  occurs  nine  times,  and  six  times  in  the 
possessive,  is  doubtless  a  literary  production,  but  not  of  a 
very  highly  cultivated  style;  and,  instead  of  resigning  his 
office,  he  discharges  the  parish  from  further  service  to  him, 
in  these  words,  "  and  discharging  you  from  the  date  of  this 
letter  forever." 

In  the  summer  of  1719  he  accepted  the  presidency  of 
Yale  College,  which  office  he  discharged  acceptably  three 
years,  when,  professing  a  preference  for  the  Church  of  Eng- 
land and  renouncing  his  connection  with  the  churches  of  the 
Colony,  he,  upon  request,  resigned  the  presidency  of  the  Col- 
lege ;  went  to  England  in  1723,  where  he  was  ordained  priest 
and  honored  with  the  title  of  D.  D.,  by  Oxford  University  ; 
returned  to  America  and  became  pastor  of  Christ  Church 
in  Boston.     He  died  in  that  city  in  1765,  aged  82  years. 

Mev,  He^ekiah  Gold,  son  of  Hon.  Nathan  Gold,  Jr.,  of 
Fairfield,  was  born  in  1794;  graduated  at  Harvard  College  in 
1719,  and  was  ordained  pastor  of  the  Stratford  Church  on  the 
first  Wednesday  in  June,  1722.  Within  the  first  year  of  his 
ministry  his  labors  were  honored  by  the  accession  of  sixty 
persons  to  membership  of  his  Church  ;  and  from  that  time 
forward  a  good  degree   of  prosperity  attended   his  ministra- 


thanks  for  all  that  respect  and  kindness  I  have  found  with  you  and  praying  God  abun- 
dantly to  reward  you  for  it — and  discharging  you  from  the  date  of  this  letter  for- 
ever— and  praying  you  to  apply  yourselves  with  all  convenient  speed  to  the  set- 
tling of  another  minister  with  you. 

I  intend,  if  it  be  not  unacceptable  to  you,  to  visit  you  and  take  my  farewell  of 
you  as  soon  as  I  can  conveniently  in  some  Lord's  day  after  my  return  from  Boston, 
where  I  am  now  going,  if  it  please  God.  V/hen  I  am  bodily  absent  from  you  my 
affections  shall  persevere  towards  you  and  my  hearty  desires  and  prayers  shall  be 
to  God  for  you,  that  he  would  preserve  you  in  his  favour  and  in  peace  among 
yourselves;  direct  your  endeavours  for  the  settlement  of  another  to  break  the 
bread  of  life  with  you  and  make  your  way  prosperous,  and  abundantly  make  up 
my  removal  from  you  by  his  gifts  and  his  painful  and  successful  endeavours  for 
the  good  of  your  souls  and  your  children  after  you.  Thus,  I  leave  you  to  the  care 
of  the  Great  Shepherd  of  the  sheep  always  remaining  an  earnest  well-wisher  to 
your  souls  and  all  your  concerns. 

Timothy  Cutler." 


M7'.    Gold's   Ministry.  305 

tions.  From  173 1  to  1746,  260  persons  became  members  of 
his  church  ;  amonof  whom  were  the  Rev.  Nathan  Birdseye, 
who  died  in  1818,  in  his  104th  year,  and  David  Wooster,  after- 
wards General  in  the  army  of  the  Revolution. 

Mr.  Gold  was  dismissed  from  the  pastorate  of  the  Strat- 
ford parish  July  3,  1752,  and  died  in  1761.' 

Mr.  Gold  was  placed  in  unusual  circumstances  in  his 
ministry  from  1740,  to  his  dismission.  From  the  beginning  of 
his  labors  his  zeal  and  spirit  was  in  harmony  with  the  gospel  idea 
of  saving  sinners  as  well  as  to  teach  the  church,  and  hence 
many  were  converted  and  added  to  the  church.  When  in 
1735  an  unusual  religious  interest  was  developed  under  the 
Rev.  Jonathan  Edwards,  at  Northampton,  Mass.,  it  was  in 
harmony  with  Mr.  Gold's  labors  as  much,  probably,  as  those 
of  any  minister  in  Connecticut  ;  and  it  was  the  same  when  the 
Rev.  George  Whitefield  of  England  came. 

The  Rev.  Benjamin  L.  Swan  made  the  following  notes 
concerning  the  Rev.  George  Whitefield's  visit  to  Stratford. 

"  Mr.  Whitefield  preached  here  Monda}^  afternoon  Octo- 
ber 27,  1740,  on  his  way  from  New  Haven,  where  he  preached 
on  Sunday  the  26th,  and  on  the  three  days  preceding.  He 
records  an  interview  at  New  Haven  with  the  Rev.  Jedediah 
Mills  of  Ripton  parish  in  Stratford,  whom  he  calls  a  '  dear 
man  of  God.     My  soul  was  much  united  to  him.' 

"  That  Mr.  Gold,  then  pastor  in  Stratford,  was  cordially 
interested  in  the  work  of  grace  attending  Mr.  VVhitefield's 
preaching,  is  evident  from  his  signature  to  the  testimony  of 
of  the  Fairfield  County  ministers  in  favor  of  the  revival,  given 
in  October,  1743.  Of  the  eleven  signers  of  that  paper,  there 
were  of  ministers  in  Stratford,  Mr.  Cook,  of  Stratfield,  Mr. 
Gold  of  Stratford,  and  Mr.  Mills  of  Ripton. 

"  The  sermon  by  Mr.  Whitefield  was  heard  by  Mrs. 
Ann,  wife  of  John  Brooks,  grand-daughter  of  post-master 
Daniel  Brooks,  who,  herself,  narrated  the  matter  to  Miss 
Polly  Tomlinson,  who  related  it  to  me  in  1859,  and  she  was 
so  much  interested  that,  with  her  infant  in  her  arms,  she  went 
to  Fairfield  to  hear  him  again  the  same  day. 


Manual  of  the  Stratford  Congregational  Church  9. 


2o6  History  of  Stratford. 

"  Mrs.  Brooks  was  probably  a  subject  of  grace  on  that 
occasion,  for  in  the  January  following,  she  united  with  the 
church. 

"  Mr.  Whitefield  certainly  had  access  to  the  Church,  but 
a  tradition  preserved  by  Mrs.  Victory  Wetmore — daughter- 
in-law  of  the  Rev.  Izrahiah  Wetmore,  and  given  me  by  her  in 
1859,  represents  a  Mrs.  Burritt  who  lived  on  the  wood  end 
road  below  Main  street,  as  being  in  the  yard  of  her  dwelling, 
farther  down,  than  any  house  now  stands,  and  a  mile  nearly 
from  the  Meeting  House  Hill,  where  she  distinctly  heard  Mr. 
Whitfield  name  his  text  from  Zechariah  ix.  12  :  '  Turn  ye  to 
the  stronghold  ye  prisoners  of  hope  ;'  and  repeated  it  to  her 
husband  on  his  return  home.  Hence,  it  is  probable  that  this 
sermon  was  delivered  in  the  open  air. 

"  Mr.  Whitefield,  after  preaching,  was  the  guest  of  Mr. 
Gold,  who  lived  on  the  spot  now  occupied  by  Captain  Ster- 
ling's house. 

"  Dr.  Johnson  is  said  to  have  called  on  Mr.  Whitefield 
here,  and  desired  some  account  of  his  principles,  but  he 
declined  any  discussion,  saying  he  had  already  announced  his 
principles  in  his  sermon,  and  speedily  departed  for   Fairfield. 

"  Mrs.  Wetmore  relates  that  a  daughter  of  Mr.  Jeremiah 
Green,  who  lived  on  Old  Mill  road,  just  beyond  the  railroad 
crossing,  heard  Whitfield  preach,  was  convicted,  and  in  the 
overwhelming  excitement  of  her  mind,  swooned  and  fell  into 
a  sort  of  trance,  or  insensible  state,  which  lasted  one  or  two 
days." 

In  the  winter  following,  Mr.  Gold's  settlement  in  Strat- 
ford a  movement  commenced,  which  resulted  in  securing  a 
parsonage  for  the  first  society,  for  the  use  of  the  minister. 
The  deed  for  the  property  so  purchased  was  dated  February 
8,  1722-3,  and  was  in  consideration  of  ^^"67.  The  money  was 
secured  by  voluntary  subscription,  the  largest  amount  paid 
by  one  person  being  £\.  los.,  there  being  123  subscribers  to 
the  fund.* 

^  "  Stratford,  November,  1722.  We,  the  subscribers  hereunto  being  desirous 
to  propagate  the  gospel  by  the  Presbj-terian  ministry  among  us  ;  and  in  order  there- 
unto, being  sensible  that  it  may  be  of  great  service  to  purchase  a  parsonage  lot, 
and  sequester  it  forever  to  remain  a  parsonage  lot  for  the  use  of  a  Presbyterian 


Mr.    Gold's   Ministry.  307 

A  New  lleeting  house  was  built  during  Mr.  Gold's 
ministry  according  to  the  following  directions  of  the  society  : 

"Second  Monday,  February,  1742-3.  Voted  that  it  was 
necessary  to  build  a  meeting  house  for  said  society  for  the 
carrying  on  the  public  worship,  by  more  than  two-thirds  of 
voters  present. 

"  Voted,  that  Captain  Theophilus  Nichols,  Mr.  Robert 
Walker,  Jr.,  Sergeant  Daniel  Porter,  make  application  to  the 
General  Assembly  in  May  next  to  appoint  a  committee  to 
affix  a  place  where  the  said  society  shall  erect  their  meeting 
house." 

"  February  21,  1742-3.  Voted  that  the  meeting  house 
shall  be  sixty  feet  in  length,  forty  feet  in  width,  and  the  posts 
twenty-six  feet  in  length. 

"  Voted  that  the  society  will  build  a  steeple,  130  feet 
high. 

"June  27,  1743.  Voted  that  Capt.  David  Judson,  Lt. 
John  Wilcockson  and  Sergt.  Daniel  Porter  shall  be  the  com- 
mittee for  building  and  furnishing  the  meeting-house  on  the 
place  appointed  by  said  society  by  the  General  Assembly  in 
May  last." 

The  location  of  this  house  was  a  few  rods  west  of  the  old 
one,  on  the  public  green,  where  the  academy  afterwards 
stood,  and  was  the  one  burned  by  lightning  in  1785. 

3Ir,  Gold's  J>'is^>tiS8fOH  was  a  serious  matter,  although 
it  had  been  sought  by  some  parties  in  the  church  and  par- 
ish several  years. 

Mrs.  Nancy  Wells,  widow  of  John  Wells,  and  previously 
of  Doctor  Ezra  Curtis,  was  the  daughter  of  Samuel  Uffbrd, 
and  born  in  1772.  She  was  living  in  1862,  in  her  89th  year, 
and  gave  to  the  Rev.  B.  L.  Swan  some  ministerial  reminis- 
cences. "She  was  a  grand-daughter  of  the  Rev.  HezekiahGold, 
but  was  born  under  Rev.  Izrahiah  Wetmore's  ministry  and 
baptized  by  him.  She  said  Mr.  Gold's  first  wife  was  a  Rug- 
gles,  of  Guilford,  who  died,  and  Mr.  Gold  married  the  widow 


ministry  in  Stratford  for  the  benefit  of  succeeding  generations  ;  do  freely  give  the 
particular  sums  prefixed  to  our  names  for  the  purchasing  of  Captain  David  Bos- 
tick's  lot,  called  Harvey's  lot,  for  the  use  aforesaid,  and  for  no  other." 


3oS  History  of  Stratford. 

of  John  Prynn,  who  came  from  the  West  Indies  to  Stratford, 
where  he  resided  some  years  [and  died  November  23,  1751, 
^.  51].  He  brought  some  negroes  with  him  and  practiced 
the  breeding  of  them  for  sale. 

"  He  and  his  wife  were  Episcopal  Church  people  of  ver}' 
high  pretentions. 

"  After  Mr.  Gold  married  the  widow  Prynn,  he  was  com- 
pelled to  wait  on  her  to  the  door  of  the  Episcopal  Church  ; 
and  after  his  own  service  in  the  Congregational  Church  was 
out  to  return  thither  and  receive  her  at  the  door,  into  his  car- 
riage again. 

"  This  marriage  and  her  conduct  offended  many  in  Mr. 
Gold's  church — among  them  Colonel  Robert  Walker — a  man 
who  came  to  Stratford  as  a  weaver,  but  married  Rebecca 
Lewis  of  Old  Mill  Green,  who  had  property,  and  he  soon 
rose  to  be  Justice  of  the  Peace,  then  Judge  of  the  County 
Court,  and  became  an  influential  man. 

"  Through  his  instrumentality  Mr.  Gold  was  dismissed 
from  the  service  of  his  church,  and  Mr.  Wetmore  became 
pastor.  He  was  a  young  man,  and  married  Colonel  Walker's 
daughter.  Mrs.  Wells'  remembrance  of  Mr.  Wetmore  was 
very  distinct.  He  was  very  tall,  with  colorless,  inexpressive 
e3'es,  red  and  close  curling  hair — the  homeliest  man,  she  said, 
she  ever  saw.  He  was  the  tallest  man,  except  one,  in  the 
place. 

"  Mrs.  Wells  remembered  well  when  wooden  trenchers 
and  wooden  tea-cups  and  saucers  were  used. 

"  A  Miss  Tomlinson  living  at  the  same  time  with  Mrs. 
Nancy  Wells,  said  that  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Gold,  and  the 
aversion  of  a  party  to  his  evangelical  preaching — in  which 
party  Colonel  Walker  was  prominent,  were,  together,  the 
occasion  of  his  being  dismissed.  She  said,  also,  that  this  dis- 
mission caused  the  elderly  Mr.  Hezekiah  DeForest,  and 
others,  to  remove  from  Stratford  to  Huntington,  New  Haven, 
and  other  places." 

There  is  an  error  in  the  above  statement  concerning  the 
Walker  family.  Hon.  Robert  Walker,  whose  daughter  Mr. 
Wetmore  married,  was  born  in  Stratford,  in  1705,  and  was  not 
a  weaver.     It  was  his  great  uncle,  Jacob  Walker,  brother  of 


The  Great  Revival.  -09 

the  Rev.  Zechariah,  who  married  the  widow  Elizabeth  Blake- 
man  and  who  may  have  been  a  weaver,  but  became  a  large 
farmer  in  Stratford. 

The  excitement  in  Stratford,  as  well  as  throughout  New 
England,  was  very  great,  for  several  years  following  Mr. 
Whitfield's  preaching.  That  preaching  was  very  severe  as  to 
true  conversion.  Those  persons,  members  of  any  and  all 
churches,  who  had  not  experienced  definite  and  remarkable 
exercises  at  the  time  of  their  professed  conversion  were  rep- 
resented as  never  having  been  converted,  and  as  having  no 
assurance  of  heaven.  Mr.  Gold,  who  had  had  an  unusual 
revival  for  those  days,  soon  after  his  settlement  here,  the 
spirit  of  which  still  continued,  received  Mr.  Whitfield  as  a 
brother  minister,  and  favored  the  public  interest  taken  in  the 
revival  of  religious  interests  in  New  England  in  1741,  2  and 
3.  This  season  of  unusual  religious  interest  has  since  been 
termed  "  The  Great  Awakening."  Many  persons  became 
greatly  interested  in  religion  in  the  specific  form  of  a  wonder- 
ful, or  miraculous  conversion,  claiming  that  it  was  directly 
accomplished  by  the  invisible  power  of  God  ;  and  that  this 
power  was  exerted  upon  those  only  who  were  the  elect. 
Hence,  in  this  movement,  there  was  the  revival  of  the  Cal- 
vinistic  doctrines.  There  grew  out  of  it,  also,  a  strong 
sentiment  against  the  union  of  church  and  state  as  it  then 
existed  in  New  England  ;  and  hence  there  were  two  parties 
in  the  Congregational  Churches,  which  resulted  a  few  years 
later  in  the  organization  of  what  were  called  New  Light 
Churches,  but  these  churches  called  themselves  Strict  Con- 
gregational Churches. 

There  was  another  influence  which  affected  Mr.  Gold's 
parish  very  seriously.  The  Rev.  Richardson  Miner,  settled 
pastor  at  Unity  (now  Trumbull),  was  a  very  successful  phy- 
sician as  well  as  pastor,  and  practiced  throughout  Stratford, 
and  largely  in  Stratford  village,  and  hence  attained  a  large 
popular  influence.  He,  it  is  said,  and  with  corroborating  evi- 
dences, held  more  to  the  old  ways  of  religious  life  than  Mr. 
Gold,  and  hence,  a  movement  sprang  up  about  1742  and  3,  to 
have  Mr.  Gold  dismissed  and  Mr.  Miner  called  to  Stratford; 
but  when,  in  1744,  Mr.  Miner  joined  the  Episcopal  Church, 
21 


2IO  History  of  Stratford. 

there  was  great  disappointment  and  great  excitement  in  this 
region  of  country,  and  quite  a  number  of  influential  families 
withdrew  from  the  Congregational  communion  and  united 
with  the  Episcopal  Church.  The  same  was  true  in  several 
adjoining  parishes. 

In  the  parish  of  Stratfield,  although  there  was  an  Epis- 
copal Church  at  Fairfield,  some  persons  in  1751,  under  the 
New  Light  teachings,  objecting  to  the  levying  of  taxes  to 
support  the  gospel,  withdrew  and  organized  a  Baptist  Church 
at  Stratfield. 

Some  further  notice  of  Mr.  Gold's  controversy  with  the 
Rev.  Samuel  Johnson,  D.D.,  may  be  found  in  the  next  chapter 
of  this  book,  in  the  biographical  sketch  of  Dr.  Johnson. 


Presbyterians  in  Stratford. 

As  far  as  has  been  ascertained  by  careful  search,  Presby- 
terians have  existed  in  Stratford  only  in  the  name  as  applied 
to  Congregationalists,  after  the  establishment  of  the  Saybrook 
platform  of  ecclesiastical  government. 

When  in  October,  1666,  the  General  Court  of  the  Colony 
ordered  all  the  ministers  to  meet  in  convention  to  discuss  and 
settle  a  number  of  ecclesiastical  matters,  it  gave  the  name 
ynod  to  that  meeting,  but  this  term  was  so  unwelcome,  as 
being  a  Presbyterian  name,  that  the  Court  changed  it  the 
next  May,  and  styled  the  meeting  "  an  assembly  of  the  min- 
isters of  this  Colony." 

The  order  of  the  Court  in  May,  1708,  in  decreeing  the 
delegated  convention  at  Saybrook  to  remedy  "  the  defects  of 
the  discipline  of  the  churches  of  this  government,"  used  no 
terms  that  were  Presbyterian  or  that  indicated  that  form  of 
government;''  nor  did  the  convention  itself,  except  in  the  title 

''  "May,  1708.  This  Assembly,  from  their  own  observation  and  from  the  complaint 
of  many  others,  being  made  sensible  of  the  defects  of  the  disciplme  of  the  churches 
of  this  government,  arising  from  the  want  of  more  explicit  asserting  the  rules  given 
for  that  end  in  the  holy  scriptures,  from  which  would  rise  a  firm  establishment 
amongst  us,  a  good  and  regular  issue  in  cases  subject  to  ecclesiastical  discipline, 
glory  to  Christ  our  head,  and  edification  to  his  members,  haih  seen  fit  to  ordain 
and    require,  and   it   is  by  authority  of  the   same  ordained  and  required,  that  the 


The  Saybrook  Platform. 


311 


given  to  the  Articles  of  Discipline,  in  which  it  said  the  minis- 
ters were  "  formerly  called  Presbyterian  and  Congrega- 
tional." 

In  1679,  the  Governor  of  the  Colony  and  his  Assistants, 
in  answer  to  inquiries  made  by  the  King's  Council  Chamber 
as  to  what  persuasion  in  religious  matters  is  most  prevalent," 
said  :  "  Our  people  in  this  Colony  are,  some  strict  Congrega- 
tional men,  others  more  large  Congregational  men,  and  some 
moderate  Presbyterians;  and  take  the  Congregational  men  of 
both  sorts  they  are  the  greatest  part  of  the  people  in  the 
Colony." 

Therefore,  there  were,  probably,  at  that  and  up  to  1708, 
a  few  "Moderate  Presbyterians"  in  the  Colony  of  Connec- 
ticut. 

The  result  of  these  conventions  was  the  formation  and 
adoption  of  the  Saybrook  platform,  or  system  of  church  gov- 
ernment. 

Upon  the  adoption  of  the  Saybrook  platform  in  1708  it 
became  the  custom  to  call  these  churches  Presbyterian,  which 
term  grew  more  and  more  acceptable  until  the  New  Light 
movement  began  in  1741,  when  the  name  became  objection- 
able ;  quite  a  number  of  churches  refusing  to  be  known  as 
Presbyterian. 

The  Consociations  established  by  the  Saybrook  Plat- 
form— being  composed  of  ministers  and  laymen — and  the 
authority  which  they  were  intended  to  exercise,  were  the 
only  principles  which  conformed  to  the  government  of  the 
Presbyterian   Church.      The   Halfway  Covenant,   which  was 

ministers  of  the  churches  in  the  several  counties  of  this  government  shall  meet 
together  at  their  respective  countie  towns,  with  such  messengers  as  the  churches  to 
which  they  belong  shall  see  cause  to  send  with  them,  on  the  last  Monday  in  June 
next,  there  to  consider  and  agree  upon  those  methods  and  rules  for  the  manage- 
ment of  ecclesiastical  discipline,  vvhiuh  b}'  them  shall  be  judged  agreeable  and 
conformable  to  the  word  of  God,  and  shall,  at  the  same  meeting,  appoint  two  or 
more  of  their  number  to  be  their  delegates,  who  shall  all  meet  together  at  Say- 
brook, at  the  next  Commencement  to  be  held  there,  where  they  shall  compare  the 
results  of  the  ministers  of  the  several  counties,  and  out  of  and  from  them  to  draw 
a  form  of  ecclesiastical  discipline,  which  by  two  or  more  persons  delegated  by 
them  shall  be  offered  to  this  Court  at  their  sessions  at  New  Haven  in  October 
next,  to  be  considered  of  and  confirmed  by  them,  and  that  the  expenses  of  the 
above  mentioned  meetings  be  defrayed  out  of  the  public  treasury  of  this  Colonie." 


312 


History  of  Stratford. 


only  confirmed,  not  instituted  by  that  Platform,  had  nothing 
Presbyterian  in  it,  but  was  clearly  in  harmony  with  the 
usages  of  the  Episcopal  Church,  in  as  much  as  it  opened  the 
way  for  the  baptism  of  all  children,  by  the  parents  becoming 
sponsors  for  their  own  children,  in  the  form  denominated 
owning  the  covenant. 

The  specific  object  of  the  Saybrook  convention  was  to 
establish  a  more  thorough  system  of  ecclesiastical  govern- 
ment; or  in  the  words  of  the  call  for  that  meeting,  to  remedy 
"  the  defects  of  the  discipline  of  the  churches  of  this  govern- 
ment." 

When  the  Consociations  were  organized  under  it,  in  the 
western  part  of  the  State,  at  least,  this  matter  was  carefully 
confirmed  and  authorized,  so  far  as  those  bodies  could  do  it.* 
This  was  the  action  taken  by  the  ministers  of  Fairfield  County, 
and  the  form  of  this  Consociation  government  was  strongly 
Presbyterian.* 

^"Sigillum      1        At  a  Consociation  or  meeting  of  the  Elders  and  Messengers 
Consocialionis     \  of  the  County  of  Fairfield  at  Stratfield  March  i6,  1708-g. 

Fairfieldensis.     I  The  Revd.  Mr.  John  Davenport  chosen  Moderator. 

Present  from  y'' 
Chh.  of  Fairfield 
The  Rev'  Mr.  Joseph  Webb 

Messenge'^ 
Deacon  John  Thomson 
Mr.  Samuel  Cobbet. 


1 


From  y"  Chh.  of  Stratford. 

Messenge''''. 
Joseph  Curtiss  Esqr. 
Mr.  Samuel  Sherman. 

From  y''  Chh.  of  Stratfield.  "" 
The  Revd.  Mr.  Charles 
Cauncey 

Messenger. 
Lieut.  James  Bennet. 


From  y«  Chh.  of  Stamford 
The  Revd.  Mr.  Jno.  Davenport. 

Messengers. 
Deacon  Sam"  Hoit 
Mr.  Jos.  Bishop. 


The  Revd.  Mr.  Charles  Chauncey  Scribe. 
After  Solemn  Seeking  of  God  for  divine  guid- 
I    ance,  direction  and  blessing  the  Councill  convened. 
[       The  Acts  of  y"  Councill  at  Saybrook,  September 
9,  1708  were  read  the  first  time  as  also  y''  general 
J    Assembly's  approbation  and  sanction  thereof,  Oc- 
tober 1708. 

Voted  in  Council  to  adjourn  till  8  of  y'  clock  in  y"* 
morning. 

The  Consociation  being  met  according  to  adjourn- 
ment, after  prayer  made  it  was  agreed 

Imps.     That  all  the  Chhs.  in  y«  County  of  Fairfield 
be  one  Consociation. 

2.  That  y^  Pastors  met  in  our  Consociation  have 
power  with  y"  Consent  of  the  Messengers  of  our 
Chhs.  chosen  and  attending.  Authoritatively  Judi- 
cially and  Decisively  to  determine  ecclesiastically 
affairs  brot  to  their  Cognizance  according  to  the 
Word  of  God  and  that  our  Pastors  with  the 
concurrence  and  consent  of  the  Messengers  of 
our  Chhes.  to  be  chosen  and  that  shall  attend 
upon  all  future  occasions,  have  like  Authorita- 
tive, Judicial  and  Decisive  power  of  Determin- 
ation of  affairs  ecclesiasticall,  and  that  in  further 


TJie  Fairfield  Consociation. 


313 


From  y^  Chh.  of  Danbur)'. 
The  Rev'  Mr.  Seth  Shove. 

Messengers. 
Lieut.  James  Beebee 
Mr,  James  Benedict. 


and  fuller  meetings  of  two  Consociations  together 
compliant  with  the  conclusions  of  y"  sd  Counciil  at 
Saybrook,  there  is  the  like  Authoritative,  Judicial! 
and  Decisive  power  of  Determination  of  Ecclesias- 
tical affairs  according  to  y«  word  of  God. 
3.  That  by  Elder  or  Elders  of  a  particular  Chh  in 
From  y"  Chh.  of  Norw.Tlk.  ]    said    Saybrook   conclusions   mentioned   in 

The  ReV  Mr.  Stephen  Buckingham,    j    Paragraph  y'  first  is  understood  only  in  y" 

Messenger.  f  teaching  Elder  or  teaching  Elders. 

Deacon  Zerubbabel  Hoit.  j        4.  That  in  y«  6"'  Paragraph  of  sd  Con- 

clusions we  do  not  hold  ourselves  obliged 


From  y"  Chh.  of  Woodbury. 
The  Revd.  Mr.  Anthony  Stoddard. 


in  our  practice  to  use  y"  phrase  of  y°  sentence 
of  Non  Communion  but  in  y^  stead  thereof 
Messengers.  |-  to  use  y«  phrase  of  y"  sentence  of  Excom- 

Deacon  John  Sherman,  munication  which  may  in  our  judgment  be 

Deacon  Matthew  Mitchell.  J    formally  applied   in   y«  Cases  expressed   in 

said  Paragraph. 
The  Counciil  adjourned  till  half  an  hour  past  two  oclock  in  y*'  afternoon. 

5.  That  to  3'^  orderly  begining  of  a  case  before  a  Counciil  of  our  Chhe=.  y"* 
aggrieved  member  shall  make  application  unto  y**  moderator  of  the  Counciil  or 
Consociation  for  y''  time  being  or  in  case  of  y**  moderator's  death  to  v*  free  Sen"^ 
Pastor  of  y^  Consociation  who  upon  his  desire  shall  receive  attested  copies  of  y® 
Chhs.  proceedings  with  y'=  aggrieved  member  from  their  minister  and  y«  sd.  Mod- 
erator with  the  two  free  senr.  Pastors  of  y^  Circuit  or  in  y*  Case  premised  of  y* 
death  of  y^  Moderator  y^  sd  2  senr.  pastors  of  y"  circuit  being  satisfied  there  is 
sufficient  cause  shall  warn  y"  convening  of  the  Consociation. 

6.  That  a  Cop}-  of  a  Warning  to  appear  before  y*  Counciil  the  time  an  J  place 
being  notified  being  read  in  the  hearing  or  left  in  y"  house  of  the  ordinary  abode  of 
a  scandalous  member  or  witness  concerning  the  case  depending  before  two  mem- 
bers of  the  designation  of  the  Scribe  for  y"'  time  being  and  signed  by  the  sd  Scribe 
be  adjudged  a  regular  notification. 

7.  That  a  copy  of  a  Warning  to  appear  before  y®  Pastor  or  Chh.  y**  place  and 
time  notified  being  read  in  y"  hearing  or  left  in  the  ordinary  abode  of  an  oflTending 
member  or  witness  needfull  in  the  case  before  two  members  appointed  by  the 
pastor  and  signed  by  him  shall  be  a  fair  notification  y*  neglect  whereof  unless 
upon  sufficient  reason  shall  be  reputed  a  scandalous  contempt  in  our  respective 
Chhes 

8.  That  all  persons  that  are  known  to  be  Baptized  shall  in  y"  places  where 
they  dwell  be  subject  to  y"  Censures  of  admonition  and  excommunication  in  case 
of  scandall  committed  and  obstinately  persisted  in. 

9.  That  the  Moderator  and  Scribe  now  chosen  be  accounted  to  stand  in  y« 
same  respective  capacities  for  y"  time  being  untill  a  new  regular  choice  be  made, 
and  so  for  the  future. 

10.  That  y«  Judgment  of  y"  Consociation  or  Counciil  be  executed  by  any 
Pastor  appointed  thereto  by  y"  Counciil  when  y*  Pastor  that  hath  already  dealt  in 
y*  case  hath  not  a  freedome  of  Conscience  to  execute  y"  same. 

The  above  Acts  and  Conclusions  of  the   present  Consociation  unanimously 

Voted  March  17,  1708-9. 

Signed  Charles  Chauncey,  Scribe. 

The  above  and  foregoing  is  a  true  Copy  of  the  Originall  Compared. 

pr.  Samuel  Cooke." 


CHAPTER  XIII. 


THE  EIGHTEENTH    CENTURY  CON- 
TINUED. 

ISTORY  in  church  matters  for  many  years 
in  Connecticut,  is  very  largely  the  history  of 
^^  the  people,  socially  and  politically.  There 
is  no  nation  in  which  religion  had  a  larger 
part  in  its  formation  than  the  American 
nation  of  the  United  States,  and  the  ecclesi- 
astical form  in  which  this  religious  influence 
and  teaching  were  prominently  and  success- 
fully propagated  for  nearly  one  hundred 
years,  was  Congregational.  VV^hether  right 
or  wrong,  better  or  worse,  or  whatever  the 
final  result,  this  is  historical  fact,  so  widely 
recorded  as  to  be  beyond  the  possibility  of 
change. 

It  is,  therefore,  proper,  in  the  further 
delineations  of  history,  to  recognize  the  religious  element,  in 
its  movings  and  effect,  in  such  a  degree  as  to  show  its  force 
in  the  formation  of  the  national  life  and  character.  In  local 
history  especially  is  this  true,  for  in  it  is  seen  more  directly 
the  democratic  elements  of  a  free  people. 

Some  notice  of  the  churches  in  Connecticut,  and  espe- 
cially as  developed  in  Stratford,  under  the  name  of  Congrega- 
tional and  Presbyterian  has  been  given,  as  constituting  largely 
the  settlement  and  organization  of  the  place. 

The  second  denomination  recognized  by  law  and  largely 
by  the  people  of  the  state,  was  the  Protestant  Episcopal,  at 
that  day  denominated  the  Church  of  England,  and  the  place 
of  its  first  organization  in  this  State  was  Stratford. 


Ecclesiastical  Relations.  315 

The  Episcopal  CJmrch  in  Stratford. 

Stratford  was  settled  by  persons  who  had  been  commu- 
nicants in  the  Church  of  England  to  the  time  of  their  sailing 
for  America.  The  Rev.  Adam  Blakeman  had  been  regularly 
ordained  in  that  church,  and  had  served  in  it  as  priest  for 
several  years  under  the  Bishop,  but  had  been  silenced  for 
non-conformity.  He  and  his  associates  dissented  from  sev- 
eral requirements  of  the  Bishop  ;  not  from  the  doctrines  or 
existing  ritual  of  the  Church  ;'  and  as  regular  members  of  that 
church  received  their  certificates  from  the  minister  of  the 
parish  where  they  had  resided  and  "  attestations  from  the 
Justice  of  the  Peace,"  according  to  the  order  of  the  govern- 
ment, upon  which  they  were  allowed  to  sail  as  emigrants  to 
America. 

They  came  to  America  with  no  other  name  than  dissent- 
ing members  of  the  Church  of  England,  and  as  such  were 
organized  into  a  local  body  and  called  the  "  Church  of  Christ 
in  Stratford." 

It  is  not  a  supposable  thing  that  these  persons,  although 
placed  in  church  organization,  without  the  approbation  of  a 
Bishop,  could  at  once  forget,  or  wholly  forsake  the  religious 
training  received,  or  their  affection  for  the  church  and  its 
usages,  from  which  they  were  separated.  Hence,  in  1666, 
when  some  questions  of  church  discipline  arose  there  were 
found  those  who  desired  to  maintain  and  be  governed  by 
rules  which  had  been  familiar  to  them  in  England. 

The  eight  persons  who  were  the  minority  in  the  division 
which  finally  went  to  Woodbury,  were  all  born  in  England, 
with  only  one  exception,  if  any,  and  four  of  them— Richard 
Butler,  Henry  Wakelyn,  Samuel  Sherman  and  Daniel  Tith- 
arton,  had  been,  probably,  communicants  in  the  Church  of 
England  before  coming  to  this  country.  They  desired,  when 
received    under    the    Halfway    Covenant,    to    be    examined 

'  Those  who  fled  from  England  to  this  country  were  compelled  to  do  so  or  ob- 
serve certain  rites  and  ceremonies  of  the  English  Church,  which  they  believed  un- 
scriptural,  and  therefore  wrong.  They  objected  to  the  cap  and  surplice,  the  ring 
in  marriage,  the  cross  in  baptism,  ihe  rite  of  confirmation,  kneeling  at  the  Lord's 
supper,  etc." — New  Haven  Historical  Society  Papers,  iii.  307. 


3i6  History  of  Stratford. 

alone  by  the  minister — or  minister  and  elder — and  to  be  al- 
lowed to  partake  of  the  Lord's  Supper,  and  their  children, 
when  baptized,  to  be  members  of  the  church  in  the  sense 
entertained  then  in  the  English  Church.  Hence,  this  church 
at  Woodbury  did  admit  the  halfway  covenant  members  to  the 
communion  for  many  years  after  its  organization. 

Nor  is  it  to  be  supposed  that  all  kindl}'  remembrances  and 
feelings  of  attachment  for  the  Episcopal  Church  had  died 
out  in  Stratford  at  the  year  1700,  while  their  numbers  had 
been  increased  frequently  by  emigrants  from  the  Church  of 
England,  yet  it  is  doubtful  if  before  1706  there  were  any  fam- 
ilies in  Stratford  who  stood  aloof  from  the  Congregational 
Church,  claiming  to  be  adherents  of  the  Episcopal  Church. 
This  is  a  conclusion,  after  careful  examination,  of  every  fam- 
ily name,  as  to  births,  baptisms,  civil  and  social  relations  and 
owners  of  property,  to  that  date.  It  has  been  claimed  that 
Daniel  Shelton  was  an  Episcopalian  from  1687,  onward,  but  if 
so,  he  was,  as  may  hereafter  be  seen,  a  very  good  "  pillar  "  in 
the  Congregational  Society  as  late  as  1717,  for  his  name  was 
the  first  on  the  petition  in  that  year  for  society  privileges  in 
Ripton  for  the  Congregational  Church. 

Isaac  Knell  has  been  represented  by  the  Rev.  Samuel 
Peters  as  an  Episcopalian  as  early  as  "about  1690,"  but  he 
was  a  Congregationalist  and  took  an  active  part  in  that  soci- 
ety's proceedings,  in  settling  a  minister  in  1698;  and  ten 
years  later  he  was  so  much  attached  to  Mr,  John  Reed  when 
he  had  closed  his  labors  in  Stratford,  that  the  following  deed 
is  found  in  the  land  records:  "July  13,  1708,  Isaac  Knell  and 
John  Clark  for  good  will  and  affection,"  deeded  to  "  Mr. 
John  Reed  for  the  space  of  ten  thousand  years,  the  day  of 
this  date  forward  ...  all  our  undivided  lands  in  Stratford." 
Mr.  Peters  calls  him  "  Mr.  Knell,"  but  there  was  no  other 
Mr.  Knell  than  Isaac,  in  the  town,  at  that  time  ;  and  he  died 
only  a  few  months  later — November  2,  1708.  He  was  a  prom- 
inent, active  man  in  the  town,  but  probably  was  never  an 
Episcopalian. 

Doctor  James  Laborie,  son  of  the  Rev.  James  Laborie, 
an  Episcopal  clergyman  and  a  physician,  was  born  in  1691, 
and  settled  in  Stratford  as  a   physician,  where,   in    1714,  he 


Tlie  Episcopal  Church.  317 

was  granted  liberty,  by  a  town  vote,  to  build  a  pew  in  the 
Congregational  meeting-house,  at  his  own  expense,  it  being 
the  second  pew  in  that  house,  the  other  scats  being  high-back 
slips. 

The  Episcopal  Church  was  introduced,  in  form,  into 
Connecticut  at  Stratford  in  the  summer  of  1706,  by  the  Rev. 
George  Muirson,  in  the. use  of  the  church  service,  preaching, 
and  the  baptism  of  "  about  twenty-four,  mostly  grown 
people.'"  His  visits,  as  a  missionary  for  the  Society  for  the 
Propagation  of  the  Gospel  in  foreign  parts,  stationed  at  Rye, 
N.  Y.,  were  repeated,  and  the  "churchmen  of  Stratford  were 
organized  into  a  parish,  with  Wardens  and  Vestrymen,  at  the 
visit  of  Mr.  Muirson,  in  April,  1707.'" 

"Mr.  Muirson  died  in  October,  1708,"  and  hence  "the 
parish,  with  about  thirty  communicants  and  a  respectable  num- 
ber of  families,  was  left  to  the  occasional  services  of  mission- 
aries who  chanced  to  visit  this  and  the  neighboring  towns. '"^ 

The  circumstances  in  Stratford  at  Mr.  Muirson's  intro- 
duction of  the  church  service  were  favorable  for  such  an  ob- 
ject. The  community  had  been  divided  in  sentiment,  as  to  the 
settlement  of  a  minister,  nearly  four  years.  Two  candidates 
had  preached,  some  months  each,  before  Mr.  Reed,  who  was 
called  on  probation  in  view  of  a  settlement,  with  much  enthu- 
siasm, by  about  a  two-thirds  majority  of  voters  in  the  town  ; 
became  a  resident  in  the  town,  and  held  a  fair  majority 
until  he  resigned.  The  votes  in  opposition  to  him,  at  any 
time,  were  very  few,  but  these,  with  those  in  favor  of  other 
candidates,  ranged  from  thirty  to  fifty  during  his  stay  in  the 
place.  It  was  during  his  fourth  year,  in  the  summer  of  1706, 
that  Mr.  Muirson  first  came  to  the  place  and  held  services, 
they  being  quite  opportune  under  the  unsettled  state  of  relig- 
ious sentiment  as  to  the  minister. 

The  same  trouble  occurred  again  just  before  the  Rev.  Sam- 
uel Johnson  was  appointed  missionar}^  to  Stratford.  The  divis- 
ion as  to  the  settlement  of  a  minister  after  Mr.  Cutler  left,  in 


1  Hist,  of  the  Church  in  Connecticut  by  Rev.  E.  E.  Beardsley,  D.D.,  i.  20. 

Ibid. 
^  Ibid,  i.  23. 


3i8  History  of  Stratford. 

lyig,  was  much  greater  than  when  Mr.  Reed  ministered  here, 
until  Mr.  Gold  became  a  candidate,  and  when  he  was  settled, 
there  were  some  apparently  who  were  ready  to  go  elsewhere 
as  soon  as  opportunity  favored,  but  the  greatest  accessions  of 
substantial  value  to  the  Episcopal  Church  occurred  between 
the  years  1740  and  1750. 

Another  missionary,  the  Rev.  Francis  Philips,  was  sent 
to  Stratford  in  1712,  who  remained  about  five  months  and  de- 
parted. 

In  the  spring  of  1714,  the  churchmen  of  Stratford  began 
the  work  of  building  a  church  edifice,  but  discouragements 
were  so  many  that  only  little  progress  was  made. 

The  next  missionary  who  visited  them  was  the  Rev. 
George  Pigot,  in  the  spring  of  1722,  he  having  been  recently 
sent  as  missionary  to  New  York.  After  his  visits  had  contin- 
ued about  one  year,  proceedings  were  revived  to  build  a 
church  and  the  first  important  item  was  to  secure  a  site  on 
which  to  place  it,  and  they  made  application  to  the  town 
for  a  certain  specified  locality. 

Very  much  has  been  said  about  the  persecution  they 
received  in  obtaining  a  site  and  erecting  a  house  of  wor- 
ship, and  it  is  probable  that  in  a  community  entertaining 
some  considerable  conflicting  religious  sentiments,  as  was 
the  case  in  Stratford  at  the  time,  some  persons  would  do 
things  of  such  a  character,  but  that  the  genei-al  public  senti- 
ment favored  such  proceedings  is  not  warranted  by  any  reli- 
able evidence,  and  is  also  refuted  by  the  following  town 
record  : 

"At  a  lawful  town  meeting  in  Stratford,  June  21,  1723, 
voted:  Whereas,  Mr.  George  Pigott  and  his  associates  peti- 
tioned the  town  of  Stratford  to  give  them  land  to  erect  a 
church  on  and  land  for  a  church  yard,  and  in  their  petition 
fixed  upon  two  certain  places,  the  one  by  Mr.  Gold's  house, 
and  the  other  on  the  north  side  of  the  Town's  meeting-house 
near  widow  Titharton's  land,  the  town  considering  their  pro- 
posals and  the  two  places  they  had  pitched  upon,  and  found 
them  clogged  with  great  difficulties,  and  that  it  would  be  as 
they  apprehend,  greatly  to  the  damage  of  the  town  in  general, 
to  build  on  either  of  those  places,  however  nominated  some 


The  Episcopal  CJuircJi.  319 

other  places  which,  as  they  thought,  might  be  convenient  for 
them  ;  yet,  notwithstanding,  they  went  and  purchased,  of 
John  Outman,  thirty-six  rods  of  land  of  his  lot  next  to  our 
meeting-house,  within  some  four  rods  of  said  house,  and  gave, 
as  appears  of  record,  thirty  pounds  for  the  same  where  they 
designed  to  erect  said  church  as  they  say,  which,  in  the  judg- 
ment of  all  thinking  persons,  may  be  very  inconvenient  and  a 
great  disturbance  to  each  society,  the  houses  being  so  near 
together,  if  erected  there;  the  town,  therefore,  propose  and 
offer  to  Mr.  George  Pigott  and  his  associates  aforesaid,  to 
change  with  them,  and  for  the  thirty-six  rods  of  land  pur- 
chased of  said  Outman,  and  to  allow  them  for  it  forty  rods  of 
land  at  the  place  they  desired  in  their  petition  (namely,  by 
the  widow  Titharton's)  on  the  north  side  of  the  meeting-house  ; 
or  in  lieu  of  said  thirty-six  rods  of  land  to  let  them  have  the 
forty  rods  aforesaid  at  a  reasonable  rate  and  price  to  erect 
their  church  on  and  church  yard,  and  the  town  made  choice 
of  Mr.  Joseph  Curtis,  Capt.  John  Hawley,  Ens.  Edmund 
Lewis  and  Ens.  John  Porter,  or  any  of  them,  a  committee  in 
behalf  of  the  town  to  present  the  above  proposals  and  offers 
of  the  town  to  the  said  Mr.  George  Pigott  and  his  associates, 
petitioners,  etc.  Test,  Joseph  Curtiss,  Town  Clerk." 

Five  days  after  this  meeting  a  record  of  opposition  was 
made,  it  being  the  only  one,  although  the  accommodating 
town  clerk  left  half  a  page  blank  for  others,  but  it  has  not  yet 
been  filled : 

"June  26,  1723.  Lieut.  Joseph  Beach  entered  his  dissent 
against  the  town  disposing  of  any  land  of  the  commons  on 
the  north  of  the  meeting-house  hill  by  widow  Titharton's,  for 
the  erecting  of  a  church  on,  or  church  yard  upon. 

Test:        Joseph  Curtiss,  Town  Clerk." 

The  lot  near  the  widow  Titharton's  was  accepted,  which 
was  the  one  where  the  Episcopal  burying  place  now  is,  and 
upon  it  was  erected  the  first  church  edifice  for  this  society, 
and  the  first  for  the  Church  of  England  in  the  Connecticut 
Colony  ;  and  the  lot  purchased  of  Mr.  Outman  was  sold  some 
years  later.* 


■*  Mr.  George  Pigot  quit  claimed  this  land  to  the  church,  March  14,  I72|. 


320  History   of  Stratford. 

The  Rev.  Samuel  Johnson  arrived  at  Stratford  Novem- 
ber 4,  1723,  being  commissioned  as  a  missionar}'  to  this  place 
bv  the  society  in  England,  at  which  time  the  frame  of  the 
church  edifice  could  scarcely  have  been  set  up,  since  the  site 
was  not  determined  upon  until  in  July  or  August  of  that  year, 
if  as  early  as  that  time. 

This  building  has  been  described  as  "  a  neat,  small 
wooden  building,  forty-five  feet  and  a  half  long,  thirty  and  a 
half  wide,  and  twenty-two  between  joints,  or  up  to  the  roof," 
and  was  built,  partly,  at  the  expense  of  the  members  of  the 
Church  of  England,  in  Stratford,  and  partly  by  the  liberal 
contributions  of  several  pious  and  generous  gentlemen  of  the 
neighboring  provinces,  and  sometimes  of  travelers  who  occa- 
sionally passed  through  the  town.'" 

It  was  opened  for  divine  service  on  Christmas  day,  1724. 

Mr.  Johnson's  missionary  field  was  very  large  ;  for,  be- 
sides occasional  visits  to  a  greater  distance,  his  labors  were 
distributed  among  the  following  places:  Fairfield,  Norwalk, 
Newtown,  Ripton,  West  Haven,  and  New  Haven. 

Success  to  a  good  degree  attended  the  labors  of  the  mis- 
sionaries in  this  place.  At  Mr.  Muirson's  death,  in  1708,  it  is 
said:  "The  parish,  with  about  thirty  communicants  and  a 
respectable  number  of  families,  was  now  left  to  the  occasional 
services  of  missionaries  who  chanced  to  visit  this  and  the 
neighboring  towns."* 

The  Vestry  and  Wardens  quit  claimed  the  same  April  4,  1729. 

Nehemiah    Lorin,    ^      Church 
Richard    Rogers,     i    Wardens. 
William  Smith,    1 

Tames  Lahore,  ., 

•'  )■    Vestry. 

John    Benjamin,    1 

Samuel    French,  j 

This  land  was  sold  by  quit  claim  to  Mr.  Joseph  Brown,  April  19,  1731,  by 

John   Benjamin,  Church  Warden. 
William  Smith. 
Thomas  Latten. 
John  Kee. 
Francis  Barlow. 

*  The  Church  in  Conn.,  i. 

*  Dr.  Beardsley's  Hist,  of  the  Church  in  Conn.,  i.  24. 


The  Episcopal  CJinrcJi.  321 

In  1723,  it  is  said  :  "The  parish  of  Stratford,  when  he 
[Mr.  Johnson]  came  to  it,  numbered  about  thirty  families; 
and  forty  more — to  say  nothing  of  the  few  churchmen  farther 
eastward — might  be  included  in  the  neighboring  towns  and 
districts.'"  In  1727,  Mr.  Johnson,  in  writing  to  the  Honora- 
ble Society,  represented  "  that  he  had  then  in  his  parish  fifty 
families,  or  about  one-seventh  of  the  whole  number  of  families 
in  the  town." 

The  fact  that  the  supporters  of  the  Episcopal  Church  in 
Stratford  and  in  Connecticut  were  required  by  law  to  pay 
taxes  for  the  support  of  the  Congregational  churches,  was  the 
one  most  irritating  and  distressing  difficulty  with  which  they 
had  to  contend.  It  was  a  sore  trial,  and  was  all  wrong,  but 
was  just  what  dissenting  bodies  were  undergoing  in  England 
at  the  same  time,  and  this  is  the  only  excuse,  that  a  law  had 
been  established  in  this  respect,  in  harmony  with  the  law  in 
England,  and  to  it  the  English  government  made  no  objec- 
tion. The  law  in  Connecticut  was  in  favor  of  the  Congrega- 
tional churches;  the  law  in  England  was  in  favor  of  the 
Church  of  England. 

The  law  in  Connecticut  was  enforced,  in  regard  to  the 
organization  of  new  Congregational  parishes,  in  that  the  par- 
ties were  required  to  pay  to  the  old  society  until  recognized 
by  the  General  Court  as  a  new  society,  for  a  part  or  the 
whole  of  the  year. 

A  close  examination  of  the  record  of  town  acts  between 
1706,  and  1730,  reveals  no  vote  in  Stratford  to  release  the 
supporters  of  the  Episcopal  Church  from  paying  taxes  to  the 
established  church  ;  and  it  would  have  been  contrary  to  the 
law  to  pass  such  a  vote. 

In  1727,  upon  the  petition  of  the  Episcopal  people  of 
Fairfield,  an  act  was  passed  by  the  legislature  to  relieve  the 
members  of  the  Episcopal  Church  from  paying  to  the  support 
of  the  Congregational  churches.* 

^  Ibid,  54.     Ibid,  60. 

8  "May,  1727.     Be  it  enacted  by  the  Governor,  Council  and  Representatives,   in   Gen- 
eral Court  assembled,  and  by  the  authority  of  the  same. 
That  all  persons  who  are  of  the  Church  of  England,  and  those  who  are  of  the 

churches  established  b}^  the  laws  of  this  government,  that   live   in   the  bounds    of 


322  History  of  St  rat  for  a. 

After  this,  no  vote  of  the  town  of  Stratford  has  been 
seen,  recognizing  this  act,  until  January,  1737-8,  when,  in- 
stead of  saying,  as  usual,  that  the  tax  was  for  the  salary  of 
the  minister,  it  says  "  to  defray  ministerial  salaries  and 
charges."  Hence,  the  tax  was  laid  on  all  persons  alike,  in 
the  society,  but  that  collected  from  Episcopalians  was  paid 
to  the  Episcopal  minister  or  Church. 

It  further  appears  that  the  Episcopal  Church  and  people 
of  Stratford  were  treated  in  a  friendly  manner  by  the  voters 
and  proprietors  of  the  common  lands  in  the  town. 

Dr.  Samuel  Johnson  was  greatly  in  favor  of  education  in 
higher  branches  as  well  as  the  lower.  His  influence  at  Yale 
College  was  decidedly  helpful  and  notedly  generous.  The 
following  record  in  Stratford  was  a  movement  projected  by 
himself: 

"  At  a  town  meeting  ist  Monday  in  February,  1733-4, 
the  Rev.  Samuel  Johnson,  in  behalf  of  the  members  of  the 
Church  of  England  in  Stratford,  requesting  the  liberty  of 
erecting  and  setting  up  a  School  House  on  the  Common, 
near  the  southeast  corner  of  Lieut.  Joseph  Beach's  house  lot; 
on  consideration  thereof  Edmund  Lewis,  John  Thompson, 
Esq.,  and  Captain  John  Wells  were  chosen  a  committee  to 
view  and  consider  the  most  important  and  convenient  place, 
and  where  said  committee  shall  fix  the  place  that  they  shall 

any  parish  allowed  by  this  Assembly,  shall  be  taxed  by  the  parishioners  of  the 
said  parish  by  the  same  rule  and  in  the  same  proportion,  for  the  support  of  the 
ministrjr  in  such  parish  :  but  if  it  so  happen  that  there  be  a  society  of  the  Church 
of  England,  where  there  is  a  person  in  orders  according  to  the  canons  of  the 
Church  of  England,  settled  and  abiding  among  them,  and  performing  divine  ser- 
vice, so  near  to  any  person  that  hath  declared  himself  of  the  Church  of  England 
that  he  can  conveniently  and  doth  attend  the  public  worship  there,  then  the  col- 
lectors, having  first  indiferently  levied  the  tax  as  above  said,  shall  deliver  the  taxes 
collected  of  such  persons  declaring  themselves  and  attending  aforesaid,  unto  the 
minister  of  the  Church  of  England  living  near  unto  such  persons  ;  which  minister 
shall  have  full  power  to  receive  and  recover  the  same,  in  order  to  his  support  in 
the  place  assigned  to  him.  But  if  such  proportion  of  taxes  be  not  sufficient  in 
any  society  of  the  Church  of  England,  to  support  the  incumbent  there,  then  such 
society  may  levy  and  collect  of  them,  who  profess  and  attend  as  aforesaid,  greater 
taxes  at  their  own  discretion,  for  the  support  of  their  minister.  And  the  parish- 
ioners of  the  Church  of  England,  attending  as  aforesaid,  are  hereby  excused  from 
pa)'ing  any  taxes  for  building  meeting-houses  for  the  present  e^tablisht  churches 
of  this  government." 


The  Episcopal  CJmrch.  323 

think   most  convenient,   liberty   is  granted  for  said   persons 
there  to  erect  and  set  up  said  school  house." 

This  was  about  seventy  years  before  the  building  was 
erected  on  the  green,  still  remembered  as  the  Academy,  and 
whether  Dr.  Johnson  secured  the  erection  of  a  school  house 
as  proposed,  has  not  been  ascertained. 

Another  item  indicates  this  spirit  of  friendliness  and  also 
equity  toward  the  members  of  the  Episcopal  Church,  as  well 
as  all  others;  it  was  the  granting  of  land  to  those  members 
for  their  church  or  minister  in  proportion  as  the  town  or  pro- 
prietors had  granted  to  the  Congregational  ministers.  When 
Mr.  Chauncey  was  settled  here,  some  land  was  given  him,  as 
a  settlement.  When  Mr.  Cutler  was  settled,  one  hundred 
acres,  besides  a  house  lot,  were  given  to  him,  and  one  hun- 
dred acres  were  given  to  Mr.  Jedediah  Mills  on  his  settle- 
ment at  Ripton  ;  and  a  number  of  acres  were  given  to  Mr. 
Richardson  Minor,  upon  his  settlement  at  Unity. 

In  the  winter  of  1735-6,  the  supporters  of  the  Episcopal 
Church  petitioned  the  proprietors  of  the  common  lands  in 
the  town  to  grant  them  land  for  their  church  in  proportion  to 
what  had  been  granted  to  the  Congregational  ministers  of  the 
town,  and  a  committee  was  appointed  by  the  proprietors  to 
ascertain  how  much  land  should  in  equity  be  thus  sequest- 
ered. Upon  that  committee's  report  the  following  action 
was  taken  by  the  proprietors'  meeting  : 

"  March,  1736.  Whereas,  several  persons  belonging  to 
the  Church  of  England  in  Stratford  for  themselves  and  the 
rest  of  their  brethren  proprietors  in  said  Stratford  belonging 
to  said  Church  of  England,  making  request  and  desiring  an 
equivalent  of  land  may  be  allowed  them  for  the  lands  form- 
erly given  to  several  Presbyterian  ministers  in  fee  and  some 
given  the  use  in  said  Stratford,  in  consideration  whereof  it 
was  voted  that  our  friends  and  neighbors  in  Stratford  belong- 
ing to  the  Church  of  England,  and  being  also  proprietors  in 
the  common  and  undivided  land  in  said  Stratford,  shall  have 
the  liberty  of  having  laid  out  to  them,  collectively  considered, 
ten  acres  of  land  in  any  of  the  common  and  undivided  land 
six  miles  distant,  provided  it  be  in  full  satisfaction  for  their 
proportion  in  all  lands  formerly  given   to  the  Presbyterian 


324  History  of  Stratford. 

ministry  in  said  Stratford,  either  for  use  or  in  fee,  said  land 
to  be  taken  up  in  one  entire  piece  in  the  six-mile  division,  so 
called.     Said  vote  passed  nemine  contradicente."^ 

Four  years  later  another  request  made,  was  as  readily 
granted  : 

"  To  the  moderator  of  the  Proprietors'  meeting  in  Strat- 
ford the   nth   day  of  instant,  February,  A.  D.,    1739-40,  and 
the  proprietors  of  Stratford   of  the   common   and  undivided 
land,  the  humble  request  of  us,  the  subscribers  for  ourselves, 
and  on  behalf  of  the   rest  of  our  brethren  members  of  the 
Episcopal  Church  of  England  in  Stratford,  that,  whereas  sun- 
dry persons   have  subscribed   to  an  instrument  of  equal  date 
of  these  presents  to  give  out  of  our  rights  of  land  in  the  last 
six-mile  division  granted  the  first  Tuesday  of  instant,  Febru- 
ary, for  the   proper  use,  benefit  and  behoof  of  the  Episcopal 
Church  of  England  in  Stratford,  this  is,  therefore,  to  request 
that  we,  the  subscribers,  may  have  the  liberty  to  take  up  the 
same  land  subscribed  adjoining  to  a  tract  lately  laid  out   [the 
ten  acres]  for  the  use   of  the  Church  of  England,  or  if  that 
cannot  be,  we  may  have  liberty  to  take  the  whole  of  the  sub- 
scription in  one  piece,  if  that  may  be  found  convenient. 
Subscribed  by  Samuel  Blagge. 
Samuel  French. 
William  Beach. 
Francis  Hawley. 
Joseph  Brown. 

"  Which  above  said  request,  at  said  meeting,  was  granted, 
provided  they  lay  not  out  above  twenty  acres,  as  aforesaid." 
These  petitioners  were  the  officers  of  the  church. 

The  restriction  to  twenty  acres,  limited  only  the  laying 
twenty  acres  in  one  piece.  They  might  have  given  hundreds 
of  acres,  in  various  places,  if  they  had  chosen. 

•'  "  Church' s   land  : 

Laid  out  ten  acres  by  the  proprietors'  Committee — adjoining  to  the 
South  end  of  Menhantuck  Swamp,  so  called — beginning  at  a  pond  of  water  on  the 
east  side  of  Newtown  road. 

"May  6.  1736.  Edmund  Lewis, 

Jose  Blacklach, 
Theoph.  Nicolls, 

Proprietors'  Com." 


The  Episcopal  Church. 


325 


It  should  be  remembered  that  proprietors  of  common,  or 
undivided  lands,  were  a  different  class  from  freeholders,  for 
there  were  some  freeholders  who  had  no  rights  in  common 
lands,  but  the  number  was  small. 

There  were  seventeen  names  attached  to  the  paper  re- 
ferred to  in  the  above  petition,  and  the  number  of  acres  given 
are  recorded,  except  in  the  case  of  the  two  last  names,  one  of 
which  the  figures  arc  not  intelligible,  the  other  has  no  figure 
attached,  probably  by  the  carelessness  of  the  recorder.'" 

The  owners  of  the  common  land,  at  this  time,  numbered 
199,  holding  rights,  claiming  from  a  small  fraction  of  an  acre 
to  nearly  fifty  acres,  according  as  each  held  a  greater  or  less 
proportion  of  one  of  the  original  seventeen  rights.  There 
were  at  this  time  a  number  of  thousand  acres  of  land  undi- 
vided, but  lying  in  smaller  pieces  in  many  portions  or  parts 
of  the  township. 

So  far  then  as  the  actions  of  the  citizens,  in  town  meetino- 

o 

assembled,  and  those  of  the  proprietors  of  the  common  lands 
are  concerned,  there  seems  to  have  been  a  spirit  of  equity 
and  neighborly  conduct  manifested,  throughout,  toward  the 
supporters  of  the  Episcopal  Church  in  Stratford. 

Some  misapprehension  seems  to  have  been  entertained  as 
to  the  relation  of  the  Connecticut  government  to  other  denom- 
inations than  the  legally  established  churches.  The  early  set- 
tlers  were  very    nearly  unanimous  in  their  religious  prefer- 


'"  "  To  all  whom  these  presents  shall  come,  Greeting — Know  ye  that  we 
whose  names  are  under  written,  Do  give  unto  the  Episcopal  Church  of  England 
in  Stratford,  the  several  parcels  of  land  affixed  to  our  names  ....  for  the  only 
use,  benefit,  and  behoof  of  ye  s''  Church  of  England  and  their  successors  forever. 

Feb.  II,  1739-40. 


William   Beach,  3  acres. 

Samuel   French,  i 

Samuel  French,  Jr.,  % 

Samuel  Blagge,  ^ 

Francis  Hawley,  % 

James  Fairchild,  % 

Caleb  Beardslee,  i 

Joseph  Shelton,  3 


Elephalet  Curtiss,  i  acres. 

Joseph  Lewis,  ^       " 

Benjamin  Lewis,  ^      " 

Elisha  Blagge,  f      " 

James   Bears,  ^      " 

Jonathan  Curtiss,  60  Rods. 
Richard  Blacklach. 
Edmund  Lewis." 


Israel   Beardslee,  %  and  %  quarter. 
Land  Records,  B.  9,  page  132. 
This  land  was  laid  next  to  Newtown  line,  April  4,  i743- 


326  History  of  Stratford. 

ences  and  ideas  of  church  g-overnment ;  but  soon  persons  be- 
gan to  settle  here,  holding  different  views  in  these  matters, 
and  as  soon  as  these  persons  became  sufficient  in  number  to 
indicate  the  propriety  of  toleration,  the  General  Court  con- 
ceded the  question,  and  acted  accordingly. 


TJie  Connecticut  Act  of  Toleration. 

"  General  Court,  May,  1669. 

This  Court  having  seriously  considered  the  great  divis- 
ions that  arise  amongst  us  about  matters  of  church  govern- 
ment, for  the  honor  of  God,  wellfare  of  the  churches,  and 
preservation  of  the  publique  peace  so  greatly  hazarded,  doe 
declare  that,  whereas  the  Congregationall  churches  in  these 
parts  for  the  generall  of  their  profession  and  practice,  have 
hitherto  been  approved,  we  can  doe  no  less  than  still  ap- 
prove and  countenance  the  same  to  be  without  disturbance 
until  better  light  in  an  orderly  way  doth  appeare  ;  but,  yet, 
for  as  much  as  sundry  persons  of  worth  for  prudence  and  piety 
amongst  us  are  otherwise  persuaded  (whose  wellfare  and 
peaceable  sattisfaction  we  desire  to  accommodate).  This 
Court  doth  declare  that  all  such  persons  being  allso  approved 
according  to  lawe  as  orthodox  and  sownd  in  the  fundamen- 
talls  of  [the]  Christian  religion  may  have  allowance  of  their 
persuasion  and  profession  in  church  wayes  or  assemblies 
without  disturbance."" 

This  did  not  include  Quakers,  for  they  were  regarded,  in 
those  da)'S,  as  not  orthodox,  but  light  was  springing  as  if  from 
a  hundred  hamlets  and  spreading  like  the  rays  of  the  rising 
sun,  and  hence,  six  years  later,  in  1675,  the  Quakers  w^ere  re- 
lieved from  persecution,  in  the  following  act,  although  not 
allowed  to  meet  in  separate  assemblies.  "  This  Court  being 
moved  to  consider  of  the  law  respecting  Quakers,  doe  see 
cause  at  present  to  suspend  the  penaltv  for  absence  from  our 
publique  assemblies  or  imprisonment  of  those  of  that  perswa- 
sion,  provided  the}^  do  not  gather  into  assemblies  in  this  Col- 
ony or  make  an}-  disturbance." 


"  Col.  Rec,  ii.  log. 


Connecticut    Toleration.  327 

The  act  of  1669  allowed  persons  of  every  persuasion,  if 
orthodox  in  faith,  to  hold  public  worship — or,  in  its  own 
words,  "  that  all  such  persons  being  also  approved,  according 
to  law  as  orthodox,  and  sound  in  the  fundamentals  of  [the] 
Christian  religion,  may  have  allowance  of  their  persuasion 
and  profession  in  church  ways,  or  assemblies,  without  dis- 
turbance." 

Although  these  acts  did  not  secure  full  liberty  of  con- 
science— a  thing  then  unknown  to  law  in  the  world — yet,  how 
great  was  the  contrast  between  the  religious  liberties  of  Con- 
necticut at  that  time,  and  those  of  England,  the  mother  coun- 
try whence  the  pilgrims  came,  where  the  Church  of  England 
was  then  in  the  ascendancy,  and  her  Bishops  held  full  sway. 
King  Charles  II.  was  restored  to  authority  in  1660,  and  soon 
after  a  convocation  of  divines  changed  various  parts  of  the 
Prayer  Book,  and  added  severe  terms  of  conformity  ;  and  it  has 
been  said  it  "  was  the  study  of  the  Bishops  to  make  the  terms 
of  conformity  as  hard  as  possible  ;"  and,  "  on  St.  Bartholo- 
mew's day,  August  the  twenty-fourth,  in  the  year  1662,  the 
act  of  uniformity  expelled  from  the  establishment  [the  Eng- 
lish  Church]  all  ministers  who  would  not  swear  their  un- 
feigned assent  and  consent  to  everything  in  the  Book  of  Com- 
mon Prayer.  In  many  parts  of  the  kingdom,  the  ministers 
could  not  procure  the  book  before  the  time  within  which  the 
law  required  them  to  swear  to  it  or  resign  their  livings,  so 
that,  in  their  farewell  sermons,  they  told  their  flocks,  that  they 
were  obliged  to  leave  them  for  not  swearing  to  a  book  which 
they  had  not  been  able  to  see. 

"  Two  thousand  ministers  resigned  their  livings  in  the 
establishment,  and  exposed  themselves  to  the  loss  of  all  things, 
rather  than  submit  to  these  new  terms  of  conformity,  which 
their  consciences  condemned. 

"  The  great  Mr=  Locke  styled  these  two  thousand  ejected 
ministers,  learned,  pious,  orthodox  divines." 

But  this  was  not  the  severest  part  of  the  persecutions 
which  then  reigned  with  a  high  and  severe  hand. 

"  The  conventicle  act  was  passed,  decreeing,  that  if  any 
person,  above  the  age  of  sixteen  years  be  present  at  an}' 
meeting  for   worship,  different  from  the  Church  of  England, 


228  History  of  Stratford. 

where  there  shall  be  more  than  five  persons  more  than  the 
household,  they  shall,  for  the  first  offence,  suffer  three  months 
imprisonment,  or  pay  five  pounds;  for  the  second,  the  pun- 
ishment was  doubled;  and  for  the  third,  they  shall  be  ban- 
ished to  America,  or  pay  a  hundred  pounds ;  and  if  they  re- 
turn from  banishment,  suffer  death." 

"  The  oath  of  an  informer  was  sufficient  to  inflict  all  the 
severity  of  this  statute,  and  thus,  while  many  of  the  best  men 
filled  the  jails,  the  vilest  of  the  human  race  rioted  in  debauch- 
ery by  informing-  for  the  sake  of  the  reward."" 

A  few  years  later  and  further  measures  were  taken  against 
the  non-conforming  ministers.  "  An  act  of  passive  obedience, 
and  non-resistance  was  enacted  ;  and  all  who  refused  it,  were 
prohibited  from  coming  within  five  miles  of  any  corporate 
town  where  they  formerly  preached  ;  or  from  keeping  schools, 
or  taking  boarders,  under  a  penalty  of  forty  pounds.  Thus, 
though  they  were  not  actually  burnt  alive,  they  were  inten- 
tionally starved  to  death."" 

Twenty  years  did  these  proceedings  continue  under  the 
reign  of  Charles  IL,  even  until  his  death  in  1680. 

Such  is  the  contrast  between  England  and  the  Connecti- 
cut Colony,  from  1660  to  1680.  Connecticut,  it  is  true,  did 
enact  a  severe  law  against  the  Quakers,  Ranters,  Adamites 
and  such  like  notorious  Heretics,"  as  styled  in  the  language 
of  that  day  ;  and  did  hang  a  few  witches,  which  is,  and  ever 
will  be,  greatly  to  her  dishonor,  but  her  colonists  brought  the 
laws,  sentiments,  usages  and  customs,  by  which  these  things 
were  done,  with  them  from  England,  adhered  to  them  a  few 
years  only,  and  then  in  the  grandeur  of  the  freedom  of  which 
they  just  began  to  taste,  threw  off  the  yoke  of  bondage  and 
religious  persecution,  and  established  a  platform  of  civil  free- 
dom such  as  the  sun  had  never  before  shone  upon,  and  such 
that  the  English  government  sought,  for  nearly  one  hundred 
years,  with  many  inventions,  to  deprive  them  of,  but  failed, 
and  that  failure  established  the  nation  called  the  United 
States  of  America. 

'-*  History  of  Dissenters,  i.  98,  and  following. 
'■'  Ibid,  100. 


Toleration  in  England.  320 

The  Act  of  Toleration,  under  King  James  II.  of  Eng- 
land was  established  in  1687,  eighteen  years  after  the  like  act 
was  made  a  law  in  Connecticut.  "  It  suspended  all  penal 
laws  against  all  classes  of  non-conformists  ;  authorized  Roman 
Catholics  and  Protestant  dissenters  to  perform  public  wor- 
ship ;  forbade  the  molestation  of  any  religious  assembly; 
abrogated  all  laws  imposing  religious  test  as  a  qualification 
for  office;  and  granted  entire  liberty  of  conscience,  to  all  the 
King's  subjects."" 

This  act,  although  planned  and  executed  by  the  King  for 
another  end  than  ireedom,  was,  nevertheless,  a  law  of  great 
progress  and  value,  compared  with  the  terrible  laws  of  relig- 
ious persecution  which  had  been  in  existence  unto  that  day  ; 
but  Connecticut  had  already  adopted  like  regulations,  and 
these  from  England  were  readily  accepted  by  her. 

One  thing  has  been  charged  'to  the  discredit  of  the  fore- 
fathers of  Connecticut  with  less  consideration  and  with 
greater  censure  than  all  others  put  together;  namely,  the 
union  of  church  and  state,  and  thereby  the  levying  of  taxes 
by  law  to  support  the  ministry. 

To  this  but  two  things  need  be  named  in  reply  ;  one,  that 
they  knew  no  other  way  ;  and  the  other,  that  it  seemed  to 
them  a  self-evident  law,  that  those  who  were  benefited,  should, 
in  proportion  to  their  ability,  pay  for  the  benefits  received. 

As  to  the  first  it  was  the  law  of  the  land  whence  they 
came,  all  their  experiences  had  been  under  that  discipline,  and 
when  they  left  their  mother  country  they  had  made  no  com- 
plaint whatever  at  being  required  by  law  to  support  the 
preaching  of  the  gospel. 

When  they  had  effected  a  settlement  in  the  wilderness, 
and  the  question  of  permanency  arose  as  to  the  life  they  were 
to  live,  and  the  characters  they  hoped  and  proposed  to  form, 
of  right  and  righteousness,  they  judged  the  preaching  of  the 
gospel  the  most  important  agent  to  be  used,  and  for  that 
reason  made  the  most  equitable  provision  for  that  end,  of 
which  they  had  any  knowledge. 

They  stated  their  own  case  by  the  action  of  the  Commis- 

'•^  Hume. 


330  History  of  Stratford. 

sioners  for  the  United  Colonies,  September  5,  1644,  which 
was  adopted  by  Connecticut,  thus : 

"  Whereas,  the  most  considerable  persons  in  these  col- 
onies came  into  these  parts  of  America  that  they  might  injoye 
Christ  in  his  ordinances,  without  disturbance;  And,  whereas, 
among  many  other  precious  mercyes,  the  ordinances  are,  and 
have  been,  dispensed  among  us  with  much  purity  and  power: 
The  Commissioners  took  it  into  serious  consideration,  how 
some  due  mayntenance  according  to  God  might  be  provided 
and  settled,  both  for  the  present  and  future,  for  the  encourage- 
ment of  the  ministers  who  labour  therein,  and  concluded  to 
propound  and  commend  it  to  each  General  Court,  that  those 
that  are  taught  in  the  word  in  the  several  plantations,  be 
called  together,  that  every  man  voluntarily  set  down  what  he 
is  willing  to  allow  to  that  end  and  use  ;  and  if  any  man  re- 
fuse to  pay  a  meet  proportion,  that  then  he  be  rated  by  au- 
thority in  some  just  and  equal  way  ;  and  if  after  this,  any 
man  withold  or  delay  due  payment,  the  civil  power  to  be 
exercised  as  in  other  just  debts. '"^ 

This  was  the  beginning  of  the  law  which,  a  few  years 
later,  required  every  taxpa3^er  to  pay  to  the  support  of  the 
church  or  churches  in  his  plantation  or  town.'^  When  the 
law  was  enacted  to  allow  freedom  or  choice  as  to  church  pref- 
erences, and  worship  in  1669,  it  did  not  release  the  citizen  from 
paying  tax  for   the  support  of  the  legally  established  church 

'5  Col.  Rec,  i.  112. 

"'  Law  of  Connecticut  Published  in  i6jO. 

"  It  is  ordered  by  this  Court  and  Authority  thereof,  that  every  inhabitant  shall 
henceforth  contribute  to  all  charges,  both  in  Church  and  Commonwealth,  whereof 
he  doth  or  may  receive  benefit,  and  every  such  inhabitant  who  doth  not  voluntarily 
contribute  proportionally  to  his  ability  with  the  rest  of  the  same  Towne  to  all  com- 
mon charges,  both  Civil  and  Ecclesiastical,  shall  be  compelled  thereunto  by  assess- 
ments and  distress,  to  be  levied  by  the  Constable  or  other  officer  of  the  Towne  as 
in  other  cases  ;  And,  that  the  Lands  and  Estates  of  all  men,  wherever  the)-  dwell, 
shall  be  rated  for  all  Towne  Charges,  both  Civil  and  Ecclesiastical,  as  aforesaid, 
where  the  Lands  and  Estates  shall  lie,  and  their  persons,  where  they  shall  dwell." 

At  this  time  all  persons  from  16  yeais  old  and  upwards,  were  taxed  [ist] 
"every  person,  except  Magistrates  and  Elders  of  Churches,  two  shillings  six 
pence  per  head,  and  [2d]  all  estates,  bothe  real  and  personal,  at  one  penny  for 
every  twenty  shillings."     Conn.  Col.  Rec.  i.,  547. 


Ecclesiastical  Taxation.  33 1 

of  his  community.  Nor  did  the  act  of  toleration  in  England 
release  any  one  from  paying  to  the  support  of  the  ministry  in 
the  English  Church.  So  far  had  the  idea  of  freedom  in  re- 
ligious matters  advanced  in  America,  that,  when  from  1706, 
to  1727,  the  communicants  of  the  Episcopal  Church  were  re- 
quired by  law,  as  all  others,  to  pay  to  the  support  of  the  Con- 
gregational Churches,  they  judged  it  a  very  grievous  oppres- 
sion, and  some  refused  to  do  it  and  were  imprisoned  just  as 
Congregationalists  would  have  been  if  they  had  refused  ;  but 
at  the  same  time  all  denominations  were  taxed  in  England  for 
the  support  of  the  ministers  of  the  Episcopal  Church. 

There  was  also  a  great  difference  between  the  union  of 
Church  and  State  in  England  and  that  in  Connecticut.  In 
the  former  the  layity  had  nothing  to  do  in  calling  a  minister 
or  the  salary  paid  him,  while  in  Connecticut  the}-  controlled 
both,  in  the  most  democratic  form  then  known,  and  the  tax 
collected  for  the  minister  was  kept  separate  from  all  others, 
and  applied  yearly,  only  upon  the  vote  of  the  parish. 

Such  are  some  of  the  historical  facts  from  which  the 
early  settlers  of  Connecticut  had  come  and  through  which 
they  had  passed,  and  by  which  they  were  surrounded  when 
a  second  denomination  of  Christians  had  become  established 
by  law  in  their  territory. 

The  following  extract  is  taken  from  a  book  called  A  Gen- 
eral History  of  Connecticut,  by  the  Rev.  Samuel  Peters,  pub- 
lished first  in  London,  England,  in  1781,  and  at  New  Haven 
in  1829,  page  166 : 

Mr.  Peters,  being  a  very  strong  loyalist  in  the  time  of  the 
Revolution,  found  it  to  his  comfort  to  go  to  England,  where 
he  published  this  book,  in  which  are  many  things  of  true  his- 
tory and  also  many  things  without  a  shadow  of  truth,  and 
which  have  the  appearance  of  being  published  for  the  pur- 
pose of  defaming  the  people  of  Connecticut. 

He  married  in  Stratford,  Mary,  only  daughter  of  William 
Birdseye,  April  20,  1773,  and  hence  was  acquainted  in  Strat- 
ford. 

The  story  which  he  relates  concerning  the  Indian  pow- 
wow, had  some  foundation  in  tradition,  and  historical  fact. 
The  Indians  held  yearly  powwows,  and  held  ceremonies  with 


232  History  of  Stratford. 

extreme  fanatical  bodily  exercises,  but  of  this  particular  occa- 
sion we  hav'^e  no  account  only  this  given  by  Mr.  Peters. 

"  Stratford  \\QS  on  the  west  bank  of  Osootonoc  river,  hav- 
ing the  sea  or  sound  on  the  south. 

There  are  three  streets  running  north  and  south  and  ten 
east  and  west.  The  best  is  one  mile  long.  On  the  centre 
square  stand  a  meeting  with  a  steeple  and  a  bell,  and  a  church 
with  a  steeple,  bell,  clock,  and  oi-gan. 

It  is  a  beautiful  place,  and  from  the  water  has  an  appear- 
ance not  inferior  to  that  of  Canterbury.  Of  six  parishes  con- 
tained in  it,  three  are  Episcopal. 

The  people  are  said  to  be  the  most  polite  of  any  in  the 
colony,  owing  to  the  singular  moderation  of  the  town  in  ad- 
mitting latterly,  Europeans  to  settle  among  them.  Man}^ 
persons  come  also  from  the  islands,  and  southern  provinces, 
for  the  benefit  of  their  health. 

Here  was  erected  the  first  Episcopal  Church  in  Connec- 
ticut. 

A  ver}^  extraordinary  story  is  told  concerning  the  occa- 
sion of  it,  which  I  shall  give  the  reader  the  particulars  of,  the 
people  being  as  sanguine  in  their  belief  of  it  as  they  are  of 
the  ship's  sailing  over  New  Haven. 

An  ancient  religious  rite  called  the  Pawwaw,  was  annu- 
ally celebrated  b}^  the  Indians  ;  and  commonly  lasted  several 
hours  every  night  for  two  or  three  weeks.  About  1690,  they 
convented  to  perform  it  on  Stratford  point  near  the  town. 
During  the  nocturnal  ceremony  the  English  saw,  or  imagined 
they  saw,  devils  rise  out  of  the  sea,  wrapped  up  in  sheets  of 
flame,  and  flying  round  the  Indian  camp,  while  the  Indians 
were  screaming,  cutting,  and  prostrating  themselves  before 
their  supposed  fiery  gods.  In  the  midst  of  the  tumult  the  devils 
darted  in  among  them,  seized  several,  and  mounted  with 
them  into  the  air;  the  cries  and  groans  issuing  from  whom 
quieted  the  rest.  In  the  morning,  the  limbs  of  Indians,  all 
shrivelled,  and  covered  with  sulphur,  were  found  in  different 
parts  of  the  town.  Astonished  at  these  spectacles,  the  people 
of  Stratford  began  to  think  the  devils  would  take  up  their  abode 
among  them,  and  called  together  all  the  ministers  in  the 
neighborhood,  to  exorcise  and  lay  them.     The  ministers  be- 


Alt  Indian  Powwow.  333 

gan  and  carried  on  their  warfare  with  prayer,  hymns,  and  ad- 
juration :  but  the  pawwaws  continued,  and  the  devils  would 
not  obey. 

The  inhabitants  were  about  to  quit  the  town,  when  Mr. 
Nell  spoke  and  said:  "I  would  to  God  that  Mr.  Visey,  the 
Episcopal  minister  at  New  York,  was  here ;  for  he  would  ex- 
pel these  evil  spirits."  They  laughed  at  his  advice;  but,  on 
his  reminding-  them  of  the  little  maid  who  directed  Naaman 
to  a  cure  for  his  leprosy,  they  voted  him  their  permission  to 
bring  Mr.  Visey  at  the  next  pawwaw. 

Mr,  Visey  attended,  accordingly,  and  as  the  pawwaw 
commenced  with  bowlings  and  whoops,  Mr.  Visey  read  por- 
tions of  the  holy  scripture,  litany,  etc.  The  sea  was  put  into 
great  motion;  the  pawwaw  stopped ;  the  Indians  dispersed 
and  never  more  held  a  pawwaw  in  Stratford. 

The  inhabitants  were  struck  with  wonder  at  this  event, 
and  held  a  conference  to  discover  the  reason  why  the  devils 
and  pawwawers  had  obeyed  the  prayers  of  one  minister,  and 
had  paid  no  regard  to  those  of  fifty.  Some  thought  that  the 
reading  of  the  holy  scripture,  others  that  the  Litany  and 
Lord's  prayer;  some,  again,  that  the  Episcopal  power  of  the 
minister,  and  others,  all  united  were  the  means  of  obtaining 
the  heavenly  blessing  they  had  received. 

Those  who  believed  that  the  holy  scriptures  and  litany 
were  effectual  against  the  devil  and  his  legions,  declared  for 
the  Church  of  England;  while  the  majority  ascribed  their 
deliverance  to  a  complot  between  the  devil  and  the  Episco- 
pal minister,  with  a  view  to  overthrow  Christ's  vine  planted 
in  New  England.  Each  party  acted  with  more  zeal  than 
prudence." 

This  story  of  expelling  the  devils  from  Stratford  has 
about  as  much  force  against  the  Congregationalists  as  the 
story  still  told  as  to  the  cause  of  the  mosquitoes  in  Stratford. 
That  cause,  it  is  well  known,  is  the  great  salt  meadow  of  1,500 
or  2,000  acres  below  Stratford  on  the  Sound,  yet  a  jocose 
story  is  told  of  another  cause. 

It  is  said,  when  the  Rev.  George  Whitefield  preached  in 
Stratford,  he  represented  all  the  Episcopal  people  as  never 
having  been   converted,  and  they,  in   turn,  were  very  severe 


334  History  of  Stratford. 

in  remarks  on  Mr.  Whitefield ;  and  that  when  he  left  Strat- 
ford he  shook  off  the  dust  of  his  feet  against  them,  saying,  the 
curse  of  God  would  come  upon  them.  That  curse,  it  has 
been  said,  was  the  coming  of  the  mosquitoes. 


The  Episcopal  Burying  Place.     Established  in  172J. 

The  purpose  in  copying  these  inscriptions,  has  been  to 
present  every  one  just  as  it  is  on  the  stone — the  names,  dates, 
verses  and  spelling,  every  word  and  letter  on  each  and  every 
stone  to  the  date  of  June  loth,  1885  ;  and  much  care  and 
effort  have  been  employed  to  make  this  record  correct. 
There  are  four  or  five  inscriptions  so  effaced  that  they  could 
not  be  copied. 


Tlie  Episcopal  Burying-place. 


335 


Inscriptions  in  the  Episcopal  Biirying-place  in  Stratford. 


Sacred  to  the  Memory  of 
Clarissa,  wife  of  the  Rev.  Ashbel 
Baldwin,  &  Daughter  of  Mr.  Samuel 
&  Mrs.  Margaret  Johnson  of  Guilford: 
born  July  7,  1761,  &  departed  this 
Life  April  16,  1823,  aged  62. 
Blessed  are  the  dead  who  die  in  the  Lord. 

Anne  Bart'Oivs,  of  New  York,  died 
March  16,  1844,  JE.  88. 

Leivis  Starr,  son  of  Samuel  &  Har- 
riet Barnum,  died  Jan.  6,  1830,  JE. 
4  yrs. 

When  the  Arch  Angel's  trump  shall  sound 
And  souls  to  bodies  join, 
What  crowds  shall  wish  their  lives  below 
Had  been  as  short  as  theirs. 

A.nn  Hebecca,   daughter  of  Samuel 

&    Harriet    Barnum,    died     Aug.    29, 

1837,  M.  2  yrs. 

Also 
Jlllius  Ctirtiss,  Died  Aug.  20,  1834: 

JE.  7  mos.  &  14  ds. 

Suffer  little  children  to  come  unto  me  &  forbid 
them  not. 

Aaron  Beard,  Died  Jan.  11,  1853, 

^.59. 
Beneath  this  stone  repose  the  remains  of 
Francis  31.  Beard,  who  died  May 

5,  1S43  :  Aged  19  years. 

In  Memory  of 
Mr.  Abijah  Beardslee,  who  died 
Sept.  3,  1839,  '"   the   76*''  year  of  his 
age. 

In  Memory  of 

Mr.   Abraham  Beardslee,    who 

died  Feb.  13,  1815,  Aged  88  Years. 

In  Memory  of 
Major   B.   Beardsley,  who   died 
Nov.  14,  1847,  Aged  38. 

In  memory  of 

Charles    Frederich   Beardslee, 

son  of  Wilson  &  Louisa  Beardslee, 
who  died  Oct.  13,  1843,  in  20  year  of 
his  age. 

Dearest  son  since  thou  hast  left  us 
Here  thy  loss  we  deeply  feel, 
But  'tis  God  that  hath  bereft  us. 
He  can  all  our  sorrows  heal. 
Yet  again  we  hope  to  meet  thee 
When  the  days  of  life  are  fled, 
Then  in  heaven  we  hope  to  greet  thee, 
Where  no  farewell  tear  is  shed. 


In  Memory  of 
3Irs,  Bethia  Beardslee,  wife  of 

Mr.  Abraham  Beardslee,  who  died 
Aug.  4"',  1801,  In  the  71"'  Year  of  her 
age. 

In  Memory  of 
Caroline,  daughter  of  Ephraim  &  Sa- 
rah   Beardsley,    who    died    Jan.    24, 
1827,  yE  3  yr.  6  mo. 

In  Memory  of 
Christana,  wife  of  Henry  Beardsley, 
who    died    Feb.  27"",    1S23,    aged    89 
years. 

In  Memory  of 
Curtiss  Beardeslee,  who  departed 
this   Life    Sept.   13"',   1796,  in  the  43'* 
Year  of  his  age. 

In  Memory  of 
3IariJ,  wife  of  Curtiss  Beardsley,  who 

died  Oct.  15,  1822,  aged  62  years. 
Ephriam,  their   son,   died   Jan.    10, 
1793  :  aged  16.     Two  Infant  children 
of   David  &  Rebecca    Beardsley,  one 
died  1817,  the  other  June,  1S22. 
In  memory  of 
Henry  Beardslee,  who  died  Aug. 
13,  1806,  aged  69  years. 

0  weeping  friends  your  tears  withold, 
Nor  mourn  me  as  forever  gone  : 

1  go  as  God  himself  has  told. 

To  wake  at  resurrection  morn. 

In  Memory  of 
Nancy,  wife  of  Abijah  Beardsley,  who 

died  Oct.  8,  1811  :  JE.  45 
Oliver  Beardsley,    died    Dec.   30. 
1793.  JE.  3. 
Six  children  she  has  left 
To  mourn  and  lament  her  death. 

The  God  that  made  her  called  her  home 
Because  he  thought  it  best. 

In  Memory  of 
Fhilo  Beardslee,  who  died  Feb.  20, 
1846,  JE  80  years. 

In  Memory  of 
William    Beardsley,    who    died 

August  21,  1841,  aged  73  years. 
3Ir.  Abel  Beach,  Departed  this  life 

December  i6"',  1768.  In  the  38"'  year 

of  his  age. 

His  affectionate  Sister  Ann  Johnson,  erected 
this  Stone  to  the  Memorv  of  a  Krothcr  whom 
she  tenderly  loved  and  lamented. 


336 


History  of  Stratford. 


Here  lies  Inter'd  tlie  Body  of 
Mrs.   Hannah    Beach,  Relict   of 
Mr.  Isaac  Beach,  who   Departed   this 
life  Oct'r  y«    15"',    A.D.  1750,    in    the 
79*''  year  of  her  age. 

[A  Tablet.] 
[The  first  or  uppermost  inscription  on 
this  tablet  is  gone  by  the  slate-stone 
being  removed.  It  was  that  of  Wil- 
liam Beach,  who  m.  Sarah  Hull,  and 
died  in  1751.] 

His  worthy  Relict 
JMi's.  SaraJi  Heach,  was  afterwards 
married  to  the  Reverend  Dr.  Johnson, 
President  of  Kings  College  at  New 
York:  and  died  of  the  small-pox 
with  much  patience.  Faith  and  Resig- 
nation, Feb'>'  g"",  1763,  ^tat.  61  :  And 
lies  interred  under  the  Chancel  of 
Trinity  Church  there. 
Colo.  Aaron  JienjaftiiUf  Nov.  23, 
182S,  Aged  72  years. 

He  was  an  officer  of  the  Revolution  and  serv- 
ed his  country  faithfully  through  the  whole  of 
that  struggle  for  freedom  which  resulted  in  the 
complete  establishment  of  our  National  Inde- 
pendence. He  also  had  command  of  the  im- 
portant post  of  New  London  during  the  2d  war 
with  Great  Britain. 

He  was  a  firm  friend,  a  true  patriot  and  an 
honest  man. 

Dorothy  JBenjainin,  wife  of  Col. 
Aaron  Benjamin,  Born  March  3,  1768, 
Died  Oct.  4,  1853. 
Precious  are  the  memories  of  the  Home 
that  was  blessed  with  her  love  and  virtue. 
Sacred  is  the  grave  of  our  Mother. 

<Johti   Benjamin,    Son   of  the  late 
Col.  Aaron  Benjamin,  died    Sept.  22, 
1816,  aged  43. 
He  was  a  man  beloved  by  all  who  knew  him 

for  his  benevolence,  strict  integrity  and  christian 

character. 

Olivia  Eloiza  Benjamin,  Daugh- 
ter of  Col.  Aaron  Benjamin,  Born 
March  7,  1792,  Died  Januarv  6,  1853. 

Adele,  Daughter  of  John  &  Hannah  S. 
Benjamin,  died  Oct.  22,  1871,  Aged 
10  years  &  9  mos. 

"Abide  with  me." 

Alexr.  Gillon  Benja/tnin,  son  of 

John  &  Anna  Maria  Benjamin,  died 
Dec.  6,  1840,  aged  i  year,  9  mo.  &  8 
days. 

We  shall  go  to  him  but  he  will  not  come  back 
to  us. 

Capt.   D.    Pulashi    Benjamin, 

son    of   Col.    Aaron    Benjamin,    died 
Oct.  27,  1883,  in  his  88"»  year. 
Susan  Curtis,  his  wife,  died  Nov.  27, 
1835,  in^her  38"'  year. 

William  Benjamin,  Aged  79, 
Born  March,  1773,  Died  May,  1852. 


In  Memory  of 
Colo.  John  Benjamin,  who   de- 
parted this  life  Sept.  14,  1796,  in   the 
66"'  year  of  his  age. 

In  Memory  of 
3Irs.  Lucrefia  Benjamin,.  Wife 
of  ttie  late  Colo.  John  Benjamin,  who 
died  March  22'',  1803,  Aged  69  Years. 
Jolin  BacJcinson,  son  of  John  & 
Hannah  S.  Benjamin,  Died  Aug.  7, 
1870,  aged  1  year  &  6  mos. 

Here  lies  Buried  the  Body  of 
3Ir.  John  Benjamin,  who  depart- 
ed  this  Life  April    the    13"',    1773,   in 
y"^  .73  Year  of  His  Age. 
Laura  Gertrude,  Daughter  of  W. 
M.  &   S.  J.    Benjamin,  died   Sept.   5, 
184S,  ^.  4  yrs.  &  4  mo. 
Oh  not  in  cruelty,  not  in  wrath 

The  reaper  came  that  day  ; 
'Twas  an  angel  visited  the  green  earth, 
And  bore  our  child  away. 

In  Memory  of 
3Ir.  JPhilij}  Benjamin ,  who  died 
Feb.  20,  A.  D.  1815  :  in  the  86  year  of 
his  age. 

In  Memory  of 
3Irs.  Prudence  Benjamin,  Wife 
of  Mr.    Philip    Benjamin,   who    died 
Febr.  19*'',  1795  :    in    the  64*''  year  of 
her  age. 

In  Memory  of 
Gideon  Benjamin,  who  died  Nov. 
5,  1846,  Aged  87  yrs. 

In  memory  of 
Sarah  Benjamin,  wife  of  Gideon 
Benjamin,  who  died  Jan.  16,  1841,  in 
the  Si  year  of  her  age. 
Sarah  Marie,  wife  of  William  Ben- 
jamin, Aged  71,  Born  Oct.  17S2,  Died 
April,  1853. 

[Monument.] 

Sacred  to  the  memory  of 

William  Benjamin,  Born  January 

I,  1800.  Died  March  2,  1862. 

Mark  the  perfect  man,  and  behold  the 

upright  for  the  end  of  that  man  is  peace. 

In  Memory  of 
William  Benjamin,  son  of  Capt. 
D.  Pulaski  &   Susan    Benjamin,  who 
died  Dec.  16,  1835,  Aged  4  years. 

God  took  him  away  from  mortal  sorrow 
Before  his  little  heart  was  ripen, 
For  a  bright  long  day  without  a  morrow. 
To  join  his  mother  in  the  songs  of  heaven. 

Here  lies  intered  the  Body  of 
Mr.  Boger  Bessin  (?),  late  of  An- 
tigua, who  departed  this  life  Oct.  )'* 
26"',  1743,  Aetatis  47,  Having  given  a 
100  pounds  to  the  Church  of  England 
iti  this  town. 


Inscriptions  in  the  Episcopal  Burying-place. 


00/ 


Here  lie  y"  remains  of 
Eunice    Anne  Jlirdsetf,   Dau"^   of 
Mr.   Everett  &  Mrs.    Phebe    Birdsey, 
who  died  Sept.  ig,  1773,  Aged  3  years 
&  2  Months. 

In  Memory  of 
Everett  Jiirclaeij,  who  died  Oct.  30, 
1845,  yE.  68. 

In  Memory  of 
jyidi'if,  wife   of  Everett    Birdsey,  who 
died  Oct.  4,  1830,  Aged  54  years. 

In  Memory  of 

Sarah  Hirdseij,  Dang''  of  Mr.  Ever- 
ett &  Mrs.  Phoebe  Birdsey,  who  de- 
parted this  Life  May  9*'',  1773,  Aged 
9  Months. 

In  memory  of 

William  Birdse;/,  Son  of  Mr.  Ev- 
erett &  Mrs.  Phebe  Birdsey,  who  died 
August  the  12,  A.D.  1776,  in  the  2^ 
Year  of  His  Age. 

Here  lie  the  remains  of 
3Ir.  William  Birdsey,  who  died 

Sept.  10*'',  1795,  Aged  76  Years. 
Reader,  reflect  when  you  these  lines  peruse 
On  thy  own  self.  What  thou  art  &  When 
The  grim  triumphant  tyrant  Death  may  come 
Oh  !  be  then  like  to  him,  &  meet  it,  good. 

In  Memory  of 
3Iar!i  Blaheman,  Wife  of  Elijah 
Blakeman,    &    Daughter    of    Samuel 
Hubbell,  who   died  Novr.   22'',    1809, 
Aged  30  years  &  8  months. 

William  Huhhelly  Died  in  Wash- 
ington, North  Carolina,  Oct.  i^',  1809 

^c.  32. 

Behold  and  see  as  you  pass  by, 
As  you  are  now  so  once  was  I, 
As  I  am  now  soon  you  will  be. 
Prepare  for  death  and  follow  me. 

JMr.  JPhinehas  Blakeman,  Died 

Nov.  28,  1812  ;  aged  66  yrs. 
Caroline  E.  Bowdhi,  Daughter  of 
Rev.  John  Bowden,  D.D.,  LL.D.  died 
Jan.  22,  1877. 
Blessed  are  the  dead  who  die  in  the  Lord. 

Margaret,  Daughter  of  Rev.  John 
Bowden,  D.D.,  died  March  19,  1880. 

Sacred  to  the  Memory  of 
Mrs.  Mary  Boivdeti,  Relict  of  the 
late   Rev.  John   Bowden,   D.D.,  who 
died  Dec.  29,  1819  :  aged  64  years. 
The  kind  friend, 
The  affectionate  Mother, 
The  faithful  Wife, 
The  exemplary  Christian. 

Amelia  J.  Boivden,  Died  Jan.  21, 
1872. 


Here  lyes  v"   Body  of 
Mis.  Anne  Brooks,  Wife  of  Mr. 
David    Brooks,   Who    Departed    this 
life  October  y"  6"',  1766,  in  y"  47  year 
of  Her  Age. 

Here  lyes  Buried  the  Body  of 
3Ir.  David  Brooks,  Who  departed 

this  Life  June  y"  11"',  1766,  in   y"  47"» 
year  of  His  Age. 

In  Memory  of 
Mrs.  Elizabeth  Brooks,  the  Belov- 
ed Consort  of  Mr.  Benjamin  Brooks, 
who  departed  this  Mortal  life  on  the 
9*''  of  October,  1773,  in  y"  28  year  of 
Her  Age. 

In  Memory  of 
Isaac   Brooks,    who  died   July   ii, 
1797.  aged  17  years. 

In  memory  of 
Joseph  Brooks,  who  died   Oct.  22, 
1787,  aged  39  years. 

Here  lyes  y"  Body  of 
Dinah  Broirne,  Daui"^  to  James  & 
Elizabeth  Browne,  Died  Jan"'  y*    s'*", 
1739,  in  y  24"'  Year  of  Her  Age. 

In  Memory  of 
Joseph  Brown,  who  Died  Octbr.  y" 
25,  A.D.  1757,   Aged    70  [:'j  yrs.  &  6 
Months. 

Sacred  To  the  memory  of 
BatJi  Br oivn,  who  was  born  in  this 
town  October  lo,    1779,   and    died    in 
New  York,  March   6"',   1846  :  in    the 
67*''  year  of  her  age. 

Also  of  her  daughter 
Sasan  A.  Chamherlin,  who  was 
born  March  3'',  1804,  and  died  Janu- 
ary 26*'',  1826,  in  the  23''  year  of  her 
age. 

Blessed  are  the  dead  who  die  in  the  Lord. 
Rev.  XIV.  13. 

In  Memory  of  , 

3Iary,  Daughter  of  Mr.  Joseph  &  Mrs. 
Mehetable  Bryan,  who  died  Novem- 
ber I,  A.D.  1753,  aged  3  Years  &  ten 
days. 

In  Memory  of 
Ann,  wife    of   Ephraim    Burritt,    who 
died  Mar.  19,  1846,  M.  80. 

This  stone  is  erected  in  memory  of 
3Ir.  E2)hraim   Barrett,  Jiinr., 

who  departed  this  life  Oct.  26"»,  1S02, 
in  the  40"'  year  of  his  age. 
And  in  meinory  o( 
Abel  Barritt,  a  child   6  weeks  old, 
son  of  Ephraim    Burritt,  Jur.  &  Ann 
his  Wife. 


338 


History  of  Stratford. 


In  Memory  of 
Wr.  Ephraini  Burrift,  who  died 
August  18"',  1807,  in  the  77"^  year  of 
his  age, 

Here  lies  Buried  the  body  of 
Mrs.   Phebe  Burritt,  wife  of  Mr. 
Ephraim  Burritt,  Who  died  Oct.  26*'', 
1708,  in  the  67"'  Year  of  her  Age. 
In  Memory  of 
Leivis  Burritt,   Who  died  Jan.    8, 
1839,  in  the  67  Year  of  his  age. 
In  Memory  of 
Esther  Burritt,  Wife  of  Lewis  Bur- 
ritt,  who   died    Oct.  10,  1839  :  in  the 
61  year  of  her  age. 

Here  lies  Buried  the  Body  of 
3Ir.  Charles  BurrouffJis,  Junr., 
Who  Departed  this  Life  July  the  I2"> 
A.  D.  1770,  in  the  40"^  year  of  his  age. 
Here  lyes  y**  Body  of 
3Irs.  Elizabeth.  BurrouffJis,  Wife 
to  Mr.  Stephen   Burroughs,  Dautr.  of 
Mr.  Joseph    &    Mrs.    Parnai    Brown, 
Who  died  December  4*,   1764,  in   y® 
36"^  Year  of  Her  Age. 

In  Memory  of 
Lettice^   Wife  of   Charles  Burroughs, 
who  died  July  16,  1S02,  aged  64  years. 
Behold  and  see  as  you  pass  by, 
As  you  are  now  so  once  was  L 
As  I  am  now  so  you  must  be, 
Prepare  for  death  and  follow  me. 

William  Butler,  Died  Feb.  5,  1857, 

yE68. 
''Blessed  are  the  dead  who  die  in  the  Lord." 

Mar  If  Ann,   Relict  of  William    But- 
ler, Died  July  30,  1866,  JE.  57  yrs. 

In  Memor}^  of 
Mr.  Legrand   Cannon,  who  de- 
parted this  Life  June  2'',  1789,  in  the 
57""  Year  of  his  Age. 

Here  lies  intered 
LeGrand,  son  to  LeGrand  and  Char- 
ity Cannon,  Who  departed    this  Life 
ye  go"'  of  Aug^t,  A.  D.  1775;  Aged  4 
years. 

Kind  Reader, 

A  youthful  Soul  Solaced  on  high. 

Think  thou  on  thy  Mortality. 

Sacred  to  the  Memory  of 
3Irs.  Francis  Chapman,  who  ex- 
changed this   Life  in  hope  of  a  better 
one  the  30"'  of  December,  A.D.  1783, 
in  the  80"'  Year  of  her  Age. 

Sacred  to  the  Memory  of 
Mr.   Georf/e  Chapman,  who  ex- 
changed  this  Life  in  hopes  of  a  better 
on    the   6"'  June,  A.  D.  1777,   in   the 
forty  eighth  Year  of  his  Age. 


Bessie    Coleman,    Born    May    30, 

1875,  Died  April  11,  1882. 
Luther   Copley,     Died     March   28, 

1846,  JE.  64. 
Betsey,  Wife  of  Luther  Copley,  Died 

Sept.  2,  1852,  M.  68. 
Asa  Curtis,  died   Feb.   11,    1850,  J£. 

76  y'rs. 
Susan,  the  wife  of  Asa   Curtis,   died 

Feb.  2,  A.D.  1859,  aged  85. 
3Iary   Eliza,     daughter   of   Asa   & 
Susanna   Curtis,  died   Oct.   28,    1722, 
aged  20  years. 

In  Memory  of 
Chloe,  Wife  of  Hannibal  Curtiss,  who 
died  April  24,  1S28,  Aged  72. 
God  has  bereaved  me  of  My  wife, 
His  will  for  him  1  stood, 
It  was  God  and  he  is  Kind, 
He  does  what  seemeth  him  good. 

In  Memory  of 
Mr.    Williani    Curtis,    who   died 

Aug.  14"',  1803,  in    the  40"^   Year  of 
his  Age. 

Francis,  Wife  of  William  Curtis, 
Died  Feb.  7,  1854,  JE.  85. 

Freddie,  son  of  Claudus  B.  &  Har- 
riet Curtis,  died  Apr.   5,    1854,   M   2 
.  y'rs  &  8  mo. 

Here  lyes  Buried  the  Body  of 

3Irs.  Hannah  Curtiss,  Wife  to  Mr. 
Ephraim  Curtiss,  Who  Departed  this 
life  Feb.  y<=  2'^  1761,  in  y''  64"^  Year 
of  Her  Age. 

In  Memory  of 

Isaac  J.  Curtiss,  who  died  July  17, 
1815,  JE  78  yrs.  &  4  mo. 

In  Memory  of 
Charity,  wife  of  Isaac  Curtiss,   who 

died  Dec.  16,  1S46,  M  75  Years. 
Charity,     Daughter   of    Isaac   J.   & 

Charity  Curtis,  died  Aug.  19,  1801. 

In  Memory  of 
3Ir.  fJeremiah  Judsoti  Curtiss, 

who  Departed  this   Life   Sept.  y'^  4"*, 
A.D.  1782,  in  y«  67"!  year  of  his  Age. 

In  memory  of 
Thomas  Curtis,  Who  died  May  25*'' 
1787,^47.     Also  of  three  Children 
of  Thomas  &  Anna  Curtis. 

Benjamin,  died  at  Sea  Sept.  1789, 
yEt  19. 

Catharine,  Died  at  N.  York,  Jan. 
17"^,  179S,  JEt.  21. 

Beidten,  Died  at  Sea,  Feb.  8"',  1802, 
yEt.  23. 


Inscriptions  in  the  Episcopal  Burying-placc . 


339 


[A  Broken  Stone.] 
May  21,  1815,  aged  36  years.     [E.  C.  on 
the  foot  stone.] 

Sacred  to  the  Memory  of 
ElizahetJi  Anne  Davies,  Daughter 

of  Henry   Davies,  Esqr.,  late  of  New 
York,  who  died  on  tlie  22,'^  of  Dec.  1799, 

in  the  19'^  Year  of  her  Age. 
Rich  in  every  Virtue  &  directed  by  a  sound 
understanding,  she  was  ever  in  pursuit  of  use- 
ful knowledge  while  the  cheerfulness  with 
which  she  discharged  her  duty  endeared 
her  to  all  her  Relatives  and  Friends  :  having  a 
mind  stored  with  ever  useful  &  ornamented  ac- 
quirements, she  seemed  fitted  for  an  example 
for  the  young  &  beautiful,  &  a  Comfort  to  the 
Aged,  When  by  a  momentary  stroke  of  Death 
she  was  called  from  health  and  Youth  to  a  life 
of  everlasting  felicity.  [Several  lines  effaced.] 

Sacred  to  the  Memory  of 
Henry  Davies^  Esqr.,  late  of  New 
York,  and  formerlj'  of  his  Britanic 
Majesty's  Navy  in  which  he  discharg- 
ed many  offices  of  trust  and  import- 
ance with  honor  to  himself  and  integ- 
rity to  his  Country.  After  living  in 
the  constant  practice  of  piety  toward 
God  and  benevolence  to  MEN;  after 
fulfilling  every  dut}'  in  social  and  do- 
mestic Life,  died  at  this  place  on  the 
28"^  day  of  April,  1S02,  in  the  57  year 
of  his  age  in  full  hope  of  receiving 
that  reward  which  a  redeemer  hath 
purchased  for  all  who  trust  in  him. 

Charles  S.,  son  of  Garry  &  Sally 
Dayton,  died  Aug.  8,  1825,  aged  i 
year  and  10  months. 

Hetsey,  daughter  of  Garry  &  Sally 
Dayton,  died  Dec.  18,  1827,  aged  9 
years  and  9  Mo. 

So  fades  the  lovely  blooming  flower, 

Frail  smiling  solace  of  an  hour. 

Sarah  Dayton,  Died  Aug.  4,    1846, 

JE  49  years. 

In  Memory  of 
JPegyy,  wife  of  Henry  Dean,  who  died 

Feb.  10,  1822,  in  her  28  year. 
Albert  JDeForest,  died  Sept.  9, 1826, 

aged  25  years. 
Samuel  E.,  died  Sept.  11,  1810,  aged 

16  Mos. 
Samuel  2d,  died   Jan.   1814,  aged   2 

years. 
Children  of  Daniel  &  Phebe  De  Forest. 
Ejihrian  DeForesf,  Died  Oct.  27, 

1848,  M  61  yrs. 
Phebe,  wife  of  Daniel  DeForest,  Died 

March  18,  1852,  JE.  82. 
Daniel  DeForest,   Died   July   30, 

1S33,  aged  62  years. 


David,  son  of  Mr.  Samuel  Si.  Mrs. 
Ruth  Edwards,  died  Oct.  6,  1815, 
aged  7  years. 

John  C.  Fairthild,  died  Feb.  22, 

1825,  Aged  79. 
Ruth,  His  Wife,  Died  Oct.  28,  1804, 
Aged  56. 

Sacred  to  the  Memory  of 
Sarah  Avery,  Daughter  of  John  C. 

&  Ruth  Fairchild,  Born   in   this  town 

Feb.  28">,  1773,  Died    in   New   York, 

May   C"",    1837,    Aged    64    years,    2 

months  &  6  days. 

Respected  and  beloved  by  all ;  a  most  brill- 
iant example  of  virtue  and  loveliness  she  de- 
parted this  life  rejoicing  in  the  hope  of  a 
glorious  immortality. 

Thou  hast  taught  us  to  live  and  for  death  to 
prepare. 

By  example  and  precepts  most  true. 

May  we  copy  thy  virtues,  thy  glory  to  share, 

Adieu  dearest  Sister,  adieu. 

Thou  lived'st  but  to  merit  life  better  than  this 

Where  the  righteous  ever  shall  dwell ; 

Thou  art  gone  to  those  mansions  of  heavenly 
bliss. 

Farewell  dearest  mother,  farewell. 

In  Memory  of 
Robert  Wells,   son  of  William   and 
Hannah  Fairchild,  who  departed  this 
life  Sept.  iS,  1805. 
Lewis  C,  son  of  Benjamin  &  Eunice 
Fairchild,  died   April   22,   1829,  aged 
7  yrs.  &  8  mo. 

Dear  little  boy  thy  years  were  few. 
And  suffering  was  thy  lot  below. 
Jesus  called,  thou  hast  obey'd 
And  left  a  world  of  pain  and  wo. 

Father 

Dennis  Fitch,  Born  Nov.  19,  179S, 
Died  Jan.  25,  1827. 

Sarafi  Francis,  Daughter  of  Den- 
nis &  Eunice  Fitch,  I3orn  Nov.  9, 
1825,  Died  Aug.  18,  1827. 

Mother 
Eunice  Jiirdsey,  Wife   of  Dennis 

Fitch,  Born  Aug.  25,  1799,  Died  Jan. 

18,  1877. 
Herona,  Wife  of  Edmond  Freeman, 

Died  Aug.  4,  1855,  M  38. 

In  memory  of 

Esther,  y"  Wife  of  Mr.  Stephen  Frost, 
who  died  Novem''  y'^  2'',  1753,  in  y' 
30'''  year  of  Her  Age. 

Elizabeth  Cannon,  Wife  of  Alex- 
ander S.  Gorden,  Died  April  7,  1S76, 
Aged  84  yrs.  7  mo. 

In  Memory  of 
3Ir,  Frederick  Ilauley,  who  De- 
parted  this  life   March  v'^  16*'',  1774, 
in  y^  39"'  year  of  his  age. 


340 


History  of  Stratford. 


Charity  Iltibhell,  Died  March  21, 
1866,  J:  88.  Erected  by  the  Wardens 
of  Christ  Church. 

In  Memory  of 
Elizahetll    Hubbell,   wife   of   Silas 
Hubbell,  died    Feb.    5,   1S29,  JEt.  74 
yrs. 

In  Memory  of 
Capt.  Ezra  Hubbell,  who  was  lost 
at  sea  Sept.  1801,  in  the  35  Year  of 
his  Age. 
Mrs.  3Iary  Alice,  Wife  of  Capt 
Ezra  Hubbell,  Died  August  11,  1811, 
Aged  28  Years. 

In  Memory  of 
3Ir.  Josej)7i  Habbell,  who  departed 
this  life  May  9"',  1804,  in  the  2t^^  year 
of  his  age. 

This  mortal  shall  put  on  immortality. 
And  of 
Henjatnin  [out — stone  broken.] 
Here  lyes  Buried  the  Body  of 
3Irs.  Sarah  Hubbell,  Wife  of  Mr. 
Joseph  Hubbell,  who  died  March  9^'', 
1790,  Aged  56  Years. 

In  Memory  of 
Silas  Hubbell,  who  died   Nov.  30, 

1812,  Aged  60  years. 
WilUani  Hubbell,  Died  Feb.  1856, 

^55- 

In  Memory  of 
3Irs.  Elizabeth  Hurd,  Wife  of  Mr. 
Gilead    Hurd,  who  departed  this  life 
Aug.  8,  1787,  in  the  [out]  year  of  her 
Age. 

In  Memory  of 
tTatie,  wife  of  Jacob  Hurd,   who  died 
May  2,  1S25,  aged  63  Years. 
In  Memory  of 
Daniel   Jackson,    a    Revolutionary 
pensioner,  who   died    Aug.  25,    1841, 
aged  78  yrs. 

In  Memory  of 
Elizabeth,  Wife  of  Daniel   Jackson, 
who  died  March    17,  1839,   Aged    78 
yrs. 

In  Memorj'  of 
Daniel  fJacLsou,  who  died  Aug.  16, 
1829,  Aged  38  years. 
Ah  'tis  a  holy  rite  remembrance  of  the  dead. 
That  will  not  oblivion  blight  around  the  grave 
be  shed. 

In  Memory  of 
FredericJc,   Son  of  Whitney  &  Clem- 
tine  Jackson,  who  died   July  5,   1836, 
JE  7  years  &  9  mo. 

In  Memory  of 
Charles  Jarvis,    late   of    London, 
who  died  Oct.  8,  1840,  aged  76. 


Here  lyes  ye  Body  of 
3Irs.  Sarah  Jeans,  Deceased  Octo- 
ber y"   16,  1739,  in   y*^    72  year  of  her 

age. 

Here  lyes  ye  Body  of 
3Ir.    William    Jeans,     Deceased 

Nov'r  y*^  17"%  1726,   in  y*  79*''  Year  of 

His  Age. 
Sacred    to    the   Memory  of   three   most 

affectionate  Sisters,  The  daughters  of 

W".    Samuel    Johnson,    Esqr.     And 

Anne  his  Wife. 
Sarah  Johnson,    Nata  April  8*'^, 

A.  D.  1754;  Obiit    20'''   June,   A.  D. 

1782. 
3Iarff  Johnson,  Nata  April  19"^,  A. 

D.  1759  ;  Obiit.  December  23'^  A.  D. 

1783. 
Gloriana  Anne  Alden,  the  afifec- 

tionate  Wife   of   Roger  Alden,  Esqr. 

Nata   March  17"^,  A.  D.    1757,    Obiit. 

March  4*'',  1785. 

31.  S.  Samuelis  Johnson,  D.D., 

Collegii  Regalis  Novi  Eboraci  Prsesi- 
dis    prmi  et    hujus    Ecclesise    nuper 
Rectoris.      Natus   Die    14    to.  Octob. 
i6g6,   Obit.  6  to.  Jan.  1772.* 
In  decent  dignity  and  modest  mien. 
The  cheerful  heart  and  countenance  serene 
If  pure  religion  and  unsullied  truth, 
His  age's  solace,  and  his  search  in  youth. 
If  piety  in  all  the  paths  he  trod 
Still  rising  vigorous  to  his  Lord  and  God  ; 
If  Charity  thro'  all  the  race  he  ran. 
Still  willing  well,  and  doing  good  to  man  : 
If  learning,  free  from  pedantry  and  pride  ; 
If  Faith  and  Virtue,  walking  side  by  side  ; 
If  well  to  mark  his  being's  aim  and  end. 
To  shine  thro'  life  a  H  usband.  Father,  Friend, 
If  these  ambition  in  thy  soul  can  raise. 
Excite  thy  reverence,  or  demand  thy  praise  ; 
Reader,  ere  yet  thou  quit  this  earthly  scene, 
Revere  his  name,  and  be  what  he  has  been. 
Myles  Cooper. 

Here  lyes  the  body  of 
3Ir.    John    Johnson,     who    dec'^ 
Febu'  y"  8"^,  1725,  Aged  75. 

In  Memory  of 
3Ir.  Archibald  Jones,  Who  died 
May  24,  1800,  Aged  60  years. 

In  Memory  of 

3Irs.  Sarah,  consort  of  Mr.  Archi- 
bald Jones,  Who  died  June  8^'',  1792, 
Aged  53  years. 

Hannah  Jones,  Died  Sept.  8,  1855, 
JE  81. 

*This  inscription  is  taken  from  Mr.  J.  W. 
Barber's  Historical  Collections,  for  the  reason 
that  the  slate-stone  inlaid  on  the  tablet,  on 
which  the  lettering  was  placed,  is  entirely  gone. 
The  same  is  true  as  to  the  slate-stone  on  seve- 
ral other  tablets  in  thisburying-place. 


Inscriptions  in  the  Episcopal  Burying-place. 


341 


James  Jones,  Bom  March  24,  1775, 
Died  April  6,  1853. 

Esther,  wife    of  James   Jones,    Born 
Sept.  25,  1782,  Died  Ma}'  5,  1854. 

In  Memory  of 
John  Jones,  who  died  Aug.  I,  1852, 
Aged  34  years. 

Hannah  Jones,  wife  of  John  Jones, 
Died  Oct.  21,  1884,  Aged  85  yrs. 

Joseph  Jones,  Died  Nov.  25,   1845, 
JE.  76. 

[Tablet.] 
In  Memory  of 
3Irs.  Mai'i/  Jones,  consort  of  Joel 
Jones  and  eldest  daughter  of  Isaac  J. 
Curtis,  who  departed  this  life  Jan.  15, 
1817  ;  in  the  25  year  of  her  age  ;  leav- 
ing with  her  afflicted  friends  a  tender 
infant  which  survived  until  April  21, 
1817,  when  it  declined  the  bitter  cup 
of  life  and  joined  its  departed  Moth- 
er; aged  4  months  &  22  days. 
Also  in  Memor}'^  of 
Julius  Curtis,   son    of  Joel  &  Mary 
Jones,  who  departed  this  life  Sept.  20, 
181 5,  aged  3  years  and  5  months. 
Unerring  wisdom  drew  the  awful  veil 
Bade  the  eye  languish  and  the  cheek  grow  pale. 
From  lips  beloved  the  vital  warmpth  retired, 
And  life's  faint  lustre  silently  expired  ; 
The  immortal  spirit  reached  its  destined  height, 
A  star  forever  in  the  realms  of  light. 
Here  also  lies  entombed  the  remains  of 
Dillissenea,  eldest  son  of  Isaac  J.  & 
Charity  Curtis,  who    after    long   and 
distressing  illness  which  he  bore  with 
Christian  fortitude,  resigned  his  soul 
to  God  who  gave  it,  on  the  11  of  June, 
1817,  in  the  21  year  of  his  age. 
When  tides  of  youthful  blood  run  high, 
And  promised  scenes  of  joy  draw  nigh. 
Youth  presuming,  beauty  blooming, 
O  !  how  dreadful  'tis  to  die. 

Woolsey  S.,  son  of  John   &   Hannah 

Jones,   Died    May    16,    1849.  Aged  4 

years  &  4  mo. 
George  F.,  Son   of  Samuel  &  Betsey 

Judson,  died  Aug.    16,  1820,  aged    7 

years  &  4  months. 

Here  are  Intered  the  Remains  of 
Mr.  John  Keyes,  who  departed  this 
Life  March  29"^,    A.  D,    1753.    in    his 
50""  year. 

Here  lyes  y*  Body  of 
Dr.    James   Lahorie,    Physician, 
Died    Dec'r  y**    26,  1739,    in    y*    48"» 
Year  of  His  Age. 

George  Lanipson,  Died    May   22, 
1870,  JE.  70  yrs. 

23 


Here  lyes  Buried  the  Body  of 
William  Liamson,  Who   Departed 
this   Life  Jany.  y"  21",    A.   D.     1755, 
Aged  60  Years,  2  Months  &  27  Ds. 

Charles  T.,  Died  Dec.  21.  1838,  Aged 
14  yrs.  &  II  Mos. 

Be  ye  also  ready. 

Caroline  L.,  Died  July  i,  1844,  Aged 
16  yrs.  &  5  Mos, 

In  the  midst  of  life  we  are  in  death. 

Children  of  George  &  Betsey  M.  Lam- 
son. 

George  Henrt/,  infant  son  of  Capt. 
L.  H.  &  A.  E.  Layfield.  died  Nov.  q, 
1852. 

In  Memory  of 
CajH.  Agur   Tomlinson  Leivis, 

who    died    March   12,  1815,  Aged    38 
Years. 

Peace  to  his  ashes,  and  eternal  rest  to  his 
departed  spirit. 

Here  lyes  Buried  the  Body  of 
Collo.  Edmond  Leivis,  Who  De- 
parted this  life  May  i4">,  1757,  in  ye 
78  Year  of  his  Age. 
Calm  he  commits  his  flesh  to  Dust, 
'Till  the  last  trumpet  wakes  the  Just, 
And  he  immortalized  shall  Rise 
To  mansions  far  beyond  the  skies. 

Here  lyes  Buried  y«  Body  of 
Mrs.  HannaJi  Leivis,  wife  to  Colo. 
Edmond    Lewis,   who   Departed   this 
life  July  y"^  13"^,  1756,  in  y°  75""  Year 
of  Her  Age. 

In  Memory  of 
Daniel  A.  Lewis,  son  of  Alpheus 

&  Phebe  Lewis,  who  died  March  31, 
1831,  aged  II  yrs.  &  i  mo. 

Sacred  to  the  Memory  of 
Mr.  David-   Lewis,  who  departed 
this  Life   the  13"'  day  of   November, 
1783,  in  the  74*''  Year  of  his  Age. 

3Ir.  Eli  Lewis,  died  Dec.  24,   1818, 
Aged  80. 

Mrs.  Naomi  Leivis,  wife  of  Mr. 

Eli  Lewis,  died  Feb.  3,  1814,  aged  70 

years. 

Here  lyes  y«  Body  of 
James  Walker  Lewis,  Son  of  Mr. 

Eli  Lewis,  who  departed  this  life  May 

II,  1772,  in  y«  s"*  Year  of  his  Age. 

In  Memory  of 
31  rs.  Hannah    Lewis,     Wife    of 
Capt.  James  Lewis,  Who  died  July  2'', 
1756,  Aged  75  Years. 

3Ir.  Isaac  L^ewis,  died  August  31, 
1804,  in  the  70  Year  of  his  Age. 


342 


History  of  Stratford. 


In  memory  of  3  Children  of  Mr.  James 

&  Mrs.  Sarah  Lewis. 
James,  died   Sep.  12,  1777,  in  his  s"' 

Year. 
David  Bootll,  died  Sept.  22,  1777,  in 

his  S'*  Year. 
Behecca,  died  Sep.  24,  1777,  Aged  6 
Months. 

In  Memory  of 
Capt.  James  Lewis,  Who  departed 
this  life  Jan^  the  29*'',  1766,  Aged  89 
Years. 

In  Memory  of 
Mr.  James  Letvis,  Who  departed 
this  life  August   13"^,   1779,   Aged   39 
Years. 
Just  as  he  arrived,  to  those  scenes 
Where  pleasures  seemed  to  flow, 
Just  as  he  tasted  those  sweet  charmes 
Death  struck  the  fatal  blow. 

Here  Lies  intered 
31  v.  Joseph  Letvis,  who  died  July 
3'i,  A.  D.  1756,  ^t.  74. 

Here  lies  the  Body  of 

Mrs.  Phebe  Leivis,  wife  of  Mr.  Jo- 
seph Lewis,  who  died  Septr.  y®  11, 
1753,  Aged  62  Years. 

In  Memory  of 

J*hebe  Letvis,  Daut^  of  Mr.  David  & 
Mrs.  Phebe  Lewis,  who  died  October 
v"^  2"^,  A.  D.  1764,  Aged  9  years. 

PheneasS  Phehe,  Son  &  Daughter 
of  Mr.  David  &  Mrs.  Phebe  Lewis, 
died  Sept.  y"  7,  1751.  Pheneas  in  the 
17""  Year  of  his  Age:  Phebe  aged  3 
Years. 

Col.  Philo  Leivis,  departed  this  life 
Nov.  7,  1836,  Aged   78  years  &  3  Mo. 

3Lrs.  CJiaritij  Letvis,  wife  of  Col. 
Philo  Lewis,  died  Dec.  21,  1842,  aged 
82  Years. 

In  Memory  of 

Capt.  Nathl.  Sherman  Letvis, 
who  died  Feb.  14,  1812,  aged  82. 

3Iarif,  Wife  of  Capt.  N.  S.  Lewis, 
died  April  10,  1819,  age  83. 

Francis,  their  daughter,  died  July  i, 
1804,  aged  37. 

James,  son  of  James  &  Hannah  Lock- 
wood,  Died  Febr.  21,  1818,  Aged  10 
yrs.  &  9  ds. 

Here  lies  the  Body  of 

Mr.  Nehe^niah  Loring,  Aged  44 
Years,    6    Mo.  &    29    Ds.     Departed 
this  Life  January  the  g"',  1730-31. 
Here  lyes  the  Body  of 

3Irs.  Elizabeth.  Loring,  wife  of 
Mr.  Nehemiah  Loring,  Aged  57 
Years,  i  m.  &  6  days,  Died  July  20, 
1797. 


In  Memory  of 
Capt.  Phinehas  Lovejoy,  Jtmr, 

who  departed  this  life  Sept.  26,  1803, 

JEi.  41. 
Death  like  an  overflowing  stream. 
Sweeps  us  away,  our  life's  a  dream. 
An  empty  tale  :  a  morning  flower. 
Cut  down  and  withered  in  and  hour. 

In  Memory  of 
Anna  Moberts  Lynus,   Daughter 
of  Mr.  Robert  &    Mrs.    Mary    Linus, 
who  departed  this  Life  May  5"*,  1786, 
Aged  I  }-ear  6  months  &  18  days. 

Henry  Lundy,  died  June  14,  1879, 

Aged  70. 
Charlotte,  wife  of  Henry  Lundy,  died 
Nov.  17,  1857.  Aged  50. 
And  now  she  lies  with  folded  hands 

In  an  untroubled  sleep  ; 
With  tearless  eyes  and  peaceful  heart, 
Where  none  can  make  her  weep. 

In  Memory  of 
Elijah,  3Iarshall,  who  died  May  3, 
1839,  aged  57. 

In  Memory  of 
Lticy,  wife    of   Elijah   Marshall,  who 
died  April  i,  1840,  aged  56. 
Here  lieth  the  Body  of 
3Lr.  Paul  3Iarerich,  who  Departed 
this  Life   Janry.  the  20''',  Anno   Dom 
1745-6  in  the  52°'*  year  of  his  age. 

In  Memory  of 
Ami,  wife  of  John  McEwen,  who  died 
Dec.  4,  1824,  Aged  72  Years. 

In  Memory  of 

John  3IcEwen,a  Revolutionary  sol- 
dier who  died  Sept.  29,  1842,  aged  98 
years. 

In  Memory  of 

Nanctf  3IcEtven.  who  departed  this 
life  Feb.  7,  1831,  ^  45. 

William  McEtv en.  Died  Aug.  18, 
1851,  JE.  40. 

William  3IcEtven,  Died  Nov.  lo, 
1871,  Aged  96. 

In  Memory  of 
3Iary  3IcEiven,  wife   of    William 

McEwen,    who    died    Dec.   28,    1842, 

Aged  62  Yrs. 
Sarah  3Iaria,  Daughter  of  William 

&  Mary  McEwen,  died  Nov.  11,  1836, 

JE.  18  yrs.  &  8  mo. 
Two   children    of    Mr.   Aaron  &   Mrs. 

Chloe  Nichols, 
Proctor  Thomas,  died  August  26, 

I  Si  5,  aged  2  yrs.  &  8  mo. 
Isabella,  died  August  30,  1815,  aged 

II  months. 


Inscriptions  in  the  Episcopal  Burying-place. 


343 


[The  following  23  inscriptions  are  found  in  tiie 
NicoU's  plot.] 
[Monument.] 
Sacred  to  the  Memory  of 
Francis  IF.  Xicoll,  son  of  the  late 
Gen.  Matthias  Nicoll,  who  died  Sept. 
24,  1842.  aged  57  years. 
It  may   be   truly  said  of  him  that  he  was  a 
father  to  the  fatherless,  a  friend  to  the  widow, 
kind  and  benevolent  to  the  poor. 

This  stone  is  erected  by  his  surviving  brother 
and  sisters,  who  live  to  mourn  his  loss. 

Our  3Iother's  Grave. 

[MoNOMENT — "West  side.] 

Genl.  3Iutthi as  Nicoll.  Born   ii"» 

October,    175S,    Died    11*^   February, 
1830. 

At  Peace  with  his  God, 
Himself  and  the  world, 
He  died  lamented, 
By  all  who  knew  him. 
[South  side.] 
Sarah,     Relict     of     Genl.     Matthias 
Nicoll,  Deed.   Jan.  6,   1848,   Aged  90 
Years. 

The  righteous  shall  be  had  in  everlasting 
remembrance. 
[East  side.] 
Died  at  Canton,  in  China,  on  the  first 
day  of   November,    1829,    where    his 
remains  are  interred, 
George  Hobert  Doivdall,  Son-in- 
law  of  Genl.   Matthias   Nicoll,  in  the 
47*"^  year  of  his  age. 

Commander  of  the  ship  Ajax.  In  his  profes- 
sion he  was  inferior  to  none.  And  in  the  dis- 
charge of  all  Social  duties  as  Husband,  Father, 
Friend  and  Citizen,  few  excelled  him. 

[North  side.] 
Also  Died  at  Canton,  on   the  27"^  of 
October,  1829,  in  the  31^'  year  of  his 
age, 
Edtvard  Nicoll,  First  officer  of  the 
ship   Ajax,   And    Son   of   Genl.  Mat- 
thias Nicoll. 
He  was  beloved  by  all  who  knew  him. 
In  Memory  of 
Mart/  Magalene  Xicoll  Clinch, 
died  Sept.  3,  1822,  aged  9  months  and 
II  days. 
David  JPoore,  Died  April  5,  1853, 
^E.  70. 

In  Memory  of 
Louisa,  the  wife  of  David  Poore  and 
daughter  of  General   Matthias  Nicoll, 
who  departed  this  life  January   19"', 
1832  ;  Aged  34  Years. 
She  sleeps  but  to  wake  at  the  call  of  her  God. 

In  Memory  of 

Samuel  Charles  Nicoll,  Infant  son 
of  David  &  Louisa  Poore,  who  de- 
parted this  life  June  5,  1833,  Aged  17 
Months  and  11  days. 

"I  shall  go  to  him,  but  he  shall  not  return  to 

me."    2  Samuel,  12  C,  25  V. 


[MONUMKNT.] 

Francis  Holland. 

Fanny. 

Children  of  J.  L.  &  A.  F.  Hubbard. 

Anna  G.  Chevallie,  wife  of  the  late 
Henry  Chevallie,  of  Richmond,  Va. 
Died  June  8,  1870. 

Edward  H.  Turic,  died  March  4, 
1841,  aged  16  yrs. 

In  Memory  of 

Catharine  Jones,  late  wife  of  David 
Jones,  of  New  York,  Merchant,  who 
departed  this  life  in  this  town  on  the 
21''*  day  of  April.  1798,  in  the  63  year 
of  her  Age. 
Beloved  while  living  by  all  her  Relatives  and 

acquaintance,  and  much  lamented  by  them  at 

her  death. 

Elizabeth  JI.,  Daughter  of  the  late 
A.    H.   Turk,   died    Jan.   9,    1847,  JE 
17  yrs. 
In  death  as  well  as  in  life  she  was  truly  a 

lovely  character,  a  flower  unfaded  yet  prepared 

to  die. 

Sacred  to  the  Memory  of 
David  Jones,  late  of  New  York, 
Merchant,  A  Man  who  to  the  keenest 
Sensibility  to  the  Distresses  of  others, 
possessed  the  greatest  Fortitude  in 
supporting  his  own. 

Placed  in  the  most  trying  Situa- 
tions of  life  no  murmur  at  the  Dis- 
pensations of  Providence  passed  his 
Lips.  After  a  Life  of  strict  Integrity, 
he  met  Death  with  that  cheerful  Res- 
ignation which  true  Christianity  alone 
can  inspire. 

He  died  at  this  place  on  the  ii"* 
day  of  October,  1806,  in  the  73'^  Year 
of  his  Age. 

Elizah,  Widow  of  Geo.  R.  Dowdall, 

Died  Sept.  7,  1851,  J£  65. 
A  devoted   Mother,  a  kind   friend,  a  sincere 
Christian.     Her  record  is  on  high. 

[MONU.MENT.] 

Samuel   C.  Xicoll,    Born   May    13, 

1782.  Died  May  i,  1.S50. 

In  full  communion  with  the  Christian  Church, 
he  died  lamented  as  he  had  lived  beloved. 

Elvira  Xicoll,  wife  of  Samuel  C. 
Nicoll,  and  daughter  of  Col.  Aaron 
Benjamin,   Born    Feb.  8,    1794,   Died 

April  9,  1S51. 

As  wife,  daughter,  sister,  woman,  a  light  and 
blessing  in  our  pathway  which  even  death  can- 
not extinguish,  She  yet  lives  in  our  Memory 
and  love. 


344 


History  of  Stratford. 


Violetta  SeaJmvi/  Gore,  Widow  of 
Richard  Gore,  and  eldest  daughter  of 
the  late  Genl.  Matthias  Nicoll,  Born 
in  Stratford,  29"^  December,  1783  ; 
Died   in   New   York,   5"^   November, 

1854. 

0  may  I  find  in  death 

A  hiding  place  with  God, 

Secure  from  woe  and  sin  till  called 

To  share  his  blessed  abode. 

Elizabeth  Nicoll,  Widow  of  John 
Springs,  of  South  Carolina,  and 
daughter  of  the  late  Genl.  Matthias 
Nicoll,  of  Stratford,  Born  Sept.  21, 
1800,  Deed,  in  Petersburgh,  Va., 
March  13,  1872. 

"I  know  that  my  Redeemer  liveth,  and  that 
He  shall  Stand  at  the  latter  day  upon  the  Earth, 
and  though  after  my  skin  worms  destroy  this 
body,  yet  in  my  flesh  shall  I  see  God." 

Sacred  to  the  Memory  of 
3Iaria    Nicoll,    wife  of  Aha&uerus 
Turk,  deceased  :  Born  Mar.  30,  1791, 
Died  April  17,  1882. 

In  Memory  of 
Isaac    Nichols,   who  died    May  22, 
A.  D.   1776,   in   the  41''  Year  of  his 
Age. 

In  Memory  of 
3Irs.  Sarah  Nichols,  Relict  of  Mr. 
Isaac  Nichols,  who  died  Oct.  5,  1815, 
Aged  81  years. 

Here  lies  Buried  the  Body  of 
TheopMUis  Nichols,  Esqr.,  Who 
departed  this  Life  April  the  1^^,  1774, 
Aged  71  Years. 

Here  lies  Buried  the  Body  of 
Sarah  Nichols,  Wife  to  Theophilus 
Nichols,    Esqr.,    Who    departed    this 
Life   sept,  the   26"\  1769,   in  the  68"> 
Year  of  Her  Age. 

Here  Lyes  Buried  the  Body  of 
3Irs.  3Iehetable  Nichols,  Wife  of 
Theophilus   Nichols,  Esq.  Who  died 
September    ye    20''',     1771,    Aged    52 
Years. 

[Tablet.] 
In  Memory  of 
3Irs.  Abigail  Norris,  Wife  of  Rob- 
ert   Norris,    who    departed     this    life 
August  ig'*",   1805,   aged   26  Years,  2 
Months  &  9  Days. 

1  shall  be  satisfied   When  I  awake  with  thy 
likeness. 

In  Memory  of 

Betsey,  wife   of  Capi.   Samuel    Peck, 

who  died  Jan.  4,  1835,  /E  54  yrs. 

In  Memory  of 

(Japt.    Samuel    Peck,    who  died 

Aug.  II.  1837,  M.  59  yrs. 


In  Memory  of 
Delia,  dau.  of  Capt.  Samuel  Peck,  who 

died   March  21,  1835,  Aged    14  Years 

and  5  Months. 
Setiry,  son  of  Capt.  Samuel  &  Betsey 

Peck,  died  May  7,  1826,  aged  9  years. 
Here  lyes  Buried  y'^  Body  of 
Mr.  Jonathan  Pitman,  Who  died 

December  ist,   1731,  Aged  91   Years. 
David,  the  Son    of  Mr.  Peter  &  Mrs, 

Mary  Pixlee,  Died  Sept.  the  18,  1751, 

in  y"  9  year  of  his  age. 

Blessed  are  the  dead  who  die  in  the  Lord. 
Enieline  A.,  Daughter  of  Samuel  & 

Eliza  Plumb,  died   Jan.   8,    1851,  M. 

20  yrs. 

The  Choir  of  Christ  Church  erect  this  stone 
to  the  memory  of  their  late  associate. 

Frederich  F.  Plumb,  Son  of  Sam- 
uel &  Eliza  Plumb,  died  Feb.  14, 
1862,  JE.  19. 

In  Memory  of 
Lucins  Plumb,  who  died   June   7, 
1862,  JE.  70. 

Rest  in  Peace. 

Our  Mother. 
Julia,   wife   of  Lucius    Plumb,   died 
Oct.  12,  1857,  JE.  55  yrs.  &  6  Mo. 
"Blessed  are  the  dead  who  die  in  the  Lord." 

In  Memory  of 
3Iiss  3Iarif  Porter,  who  died  Jan. 
7,  1829,  Aged  28  years. 

Here  lies  Interr'd  the  Bod}'  of 
3Ir.  John  Prijn,  late  of  Antigua, 
who  Departed  this  Life  November  the 
23'''^,  1751,  Aged  51  Years. 
Harriet  E.,  Relict  of  James  E.  Rich- 
ardson, Died  Oct.  5,  1858,  In  the  ^V^ 
year  of  her  age. 
John  Nisbit,  son  of  James  E.  &  Har- 
riet E.  Richardson,  died  Oct.  31,  1854, 
JE.  8  yrs.  &  9  mo. 
James,  son   of  Patrick   &  Catharine 
Riley,   Died   Oct.  25,    1S45  :    aged    13 
Months, 

In  Memory  of 
Obed  Roberts,  who  died  Dec.  i,  1S24: 

Aged  72. 
Alfred,  son  of  John  &  Mary  Roose- 
velt,  Died     Sept.   27,    1810,   aged    71 
years. 

In  Memory  of 
John  Poosevelf,  who  died  Nov.  14, 
1810,  aged  57  years. 

In  Memory  of 
Aim  Poosevelt,  w\ic  oi  ]ohT\  Roose- 
velt, who   died    Feb.  15,  1834  :  JE  78. 


Inscriptions  in  the  Episcopal  Burying-place. 


345 


Here  rests  in  Peace  the  bod)'  of 
EliZdhefh,  wife  of  Jacob  June,  who 
departed  this  life  tlie  2''  day  of  Sep- 
tember, A.  D.  1799,  of  the  then  pre- 
vailing Epidemic:  Aged  39  years, 
6  mo.  and  26  days. 

To    her   Memory  tfiis  token    of  affectionate 
esteem  is  dedicated  by  her  surviving  partner. 
Of  lovely  form,  kind  and  sincere. 
Was  she  that  now  reposes  here. 
In  her  each  milder  virtue  met, 
Virtues  that  I  can  never  forget, 
Hut  patiently  those  joys  resign, 
Which  heaven  decreed  no  longer  mine. 

3I((l't/  Wells,  the  wife  of  John  Roose- 
velt', died  March  i,  1863,  JE.  82  Years. 

In  Memory  of 
]\Iciry  E.,  daughter  of  John   &   Mary 
Roosevelt,  who   died    March  g,  1839, 
aged  24  years. 

In  Memory  of 
Ann  Satterly,  who    died  June    2, 
1828,  in  the  32  year  of  her  age. 

Here  lies  the  Body  of 
3Ii'.   Thomas  Salmon,   who  was 

born  in  Chippenham,  in  England, 
was  a  worthy  member  of  y"  Church 
of  England  here,  &  y"  ingenious 
.'Architect  of  the  Church,  &  Departed 
this  Life  Janv.  20"^,  1749-50,  in  y"  S7^^ 
year  of  his  age. 

Here  lies  y"   Body  of 
Mrs.  Sarah  Salmon,  the  wife  of 

Mr.  Thos.  Salmon,  who  departed  this 

life    March    y«     15"^,    1750,    aged     55 

Years. 
Charles  Scott,  died    Dec.  21,  1827, 

^.13- 

Here  lies  the  Body  of 
Mr.  Ehenezer  Sherman,  Junr., 

who  departed  this   life   January    14"', 

A.  D.  1764,  in  the  44"'  Year   of   His 

Age. 

Here  lyes  Buried  y"  Body  of 
Mrs.  3Iarij  Sherman,  Wife  to  Mr. 
Ebenezer    Sherman,    Who    Departed 
this   Life  March  y"  30"',  A.    D.   1752, 
Aged  35  years  &  4  mo. 

In  Memory  of 
Mrs.  Elizabeth  Sherman,  Wife  to 
Mr.    Timothy    Sherman:      who    died 
December  10*'^,  1766,  in   y"    52''  Year 
of  Her  Age. 

In  Memory  of 
Mrs.   Naomi  Sherman,  Wife  to 
Mr.  Timothy  Sherman,  who  departed 
this  life  Jany.   27"',    1797,  In  the   85'^ 
Year  of  her  Age. 


William  E.,  ^on  of  lohn  &  Mariah 
Sherman,  Died  April  7,  1S33,  /E  2  yrs. 
&  3  mo. 

In  Memory  of 
Caj)it.  John  Silhi/,  who  died  May  i, 
1825,  aged  55  years. 

In  Memory  of 
Mrs.  Betsei/  Silht/,  wife  of  Mr.  John 

Silbey,  who  died  Feb.  4,  1822,  aged  44 

years  &  9  months. 

This   Stone  is  erected   by  John  Silby, 

Jr.,  In  Memory  of  his  Father, 
3Ir.  John   Silby,  who   died    Deer. 

25th,  iSoo. 

Everett  Davis,  Son  of  Isaac  &  Sarah 
C.  Sniffin,  Died  Jan.  14,  1S43,  Aged 
8  mo. 

John  Stratton,  Died  Nov.  22,  1850, 

^.79- 
Charity,  Wife  of  John  Stratton,  Died 
Nov.  15,  1871,  Aged  89. 

In  Memory  of 

Elizabeth    Thatcher,     who    died 
April  10,  1S17,  /E.  70  yrs. 
In  Memory  of  2  Children  of  Mr.  Jo- 
seph &  Mrs.  Mary  Thompson,  viz: 

Isaac,  who  died  Octr.  I7">,  1776,  aged 
3  years,  4  months  &  18  days,  &  also 

Joel,  who  died  October  17 16,  aged  i 
Year. 

In  Memory  of 

3Ir.  Joseph  Thomjison,  Junr., 
who  departed  this  Life  Octr.  17,  A.  D, 
1776,  Aged  29  years  &  19  days. 

3Irs.  Temperance  Thompson, 
Wife  of  Mr.  Joseph  Thompson,  De- 
parted this  Life  Jany  8"',  1790,  In 
the  70  Year  of  her  Age. 

In  Memory  of 
3Irs.  Esther,  relict  of  Doct.  Abraham 

Tomlinson,  who  died    Dec.  28,    1831, 

aged  66  yrs.  &  4  mo. 
John,  Son    of  W'".   &    Diana  Vance, 

died  Mar.  18,  1828,  ^t.  2  yrs. 
Here  lies  Intered  the  Body  of 
3Ir.  Peter  Viou,  who  Departed  this 

life  November   the   11*'',  1751.   i"   ^^^ 

25*  year  of  his  age. 
3Iiss  Frances   Waldecker,  died 

Sept.  22.  1813,  aged  67  years. 
3Iiss    Sarah     Waldecker,    died 

April  10,  1812,  aged  58  years. 
In  Memory  of 
James   Walker,   Esqr.,  Who   de- 
parted this  Life  June  9''',  1796.  I"  the 

Si"-  Year  of  his  Age. 


546 


History  of  Stratford. 


Mrs.  Jerusha  Walker,  Relict  of 
James  Walker,  Esq'.  Died  July  8'^ 
1803,  in  the  87"^  year  of  her  age. 

In  Memory  of 
Benjainin  Wells,  who  died  June  8, 
1818,  age  73  years. 

In  Memory  of 
Eli'Zaheth,  wife   of  Benjamin  Wells, 
who  died  Oct.  29,  1822,  aged  71  years. 

In  Memory  of 
Curtiss  tf.  Wells,  who  died  June  4, 

1847,  JE.  77  years. 

Utith  Haivley,  the  wife  of  Curtiss  J. 
Wells,  died  "April  24,  1863,  M.  86 
Years. 

In  Memory  of 
Legrand  Wells,  who  died  April  15, 

1848,  M.  84. 

In  Memory  of 

Phehe,  wife    of   Legrand  Wells,    who 

died  Oct.  23,  1810,  Aged  76  Years. 

In  Memory  of  Two  Children   of   Le- 

Grand  &  Cate  Wells, 
Siisana,   died  Oct.  8'^,  1803,  aged  9 

years. 
Martha  Carline,  died  August  29"^, 

1803,  aged  2  Years. 

In  Memory  of 
Leivis  Wells,  3rd,  who  died  April 
y^,  1841,  JE.  41. 

fTulia,  Wife  of  Lewis  Wells,  y^,  Died 
Jan.  20,  1850,  JE.  50. 

Menben  Wells,  died  June  12,  1859, 
JE.  85. 


In  Memory  of 
Samuel  W.  Wells,  who  died   June 

11,  1822,  Aged  54. 

Also 
Mary  E.  Wells,  Wife  of  Samuel  W. 

Wells,  died  July  i,  1850,  aged  81. 
Cliarles  S.  Whiting,  Died  Nov.  7, 

1845,  JE.  65. 
Sally,  his   wife,   Died    Nov.   20,   1842, 

JE.  62. 
Curtis  (T.  Whiting,  Died  June  14, 

1854,  JE.  76  yrs, 
Fanny  ilfort,  Wife  of  Curtis  J.  Whit- 
ing, Died  Aug.  22,  1872,  JE.  80  Yrs., 

6  Mo. 
Catharine   A.,  Daughter  of   Curtis 

].  &  Fannie  M.  Whiting,  Died  Aug. 

12,  1S74.  JE.  65  Yrs.,  6  Mo. 

Here  lyes  Buried  the  Body  of 
3Irs.  Sarah  Wilcox,  Wife   to   Mr. 
Elisha   Wilcox,   who   died    Feb.   10*'', 
1788,  in  the  43''  Year  of  her  Age. 

Sacred  to  the  Memory  of 
Mrs.  Sarah  Ann,  the  wife  of  Mr. 
Daniel    Worden,    of   Goshen,    N.  Y., 
who  died  August  4,  1825,  aged  32. 
Here  lyes  Buried  y*  Body  of 
Capt.  Ahram  Wooster,  Died  Sept. 
y®   I,   1741  (?),   In  y'^    70  Year   of   his 
Age. 

[Tablet.] 
Sacred  to  the  Memory  of 
ColoneUosej)7i  Wooster,  who  died 
December  30"^,  1791,  Aged  89  Years. 
Also  of 
3Irs.  Lucy  Wooster,  Wife  of  Colo- 
nel Joseph  Wooster,  who  died  Octo- 
ber iS'"^,  1760,  Aged  32  Years. 
And  I  heard  a  voice  from  Heaven  saying  un- 
to me,  Write  Blessed  are  the  dead  who  die  in 
in  the  Lord. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 


ECCLESIASTICAL  PROGRESS. 


N  the  great  excitement  and  religious  con- 
fii^troversy  following  Whitefield's  visit  to 
Stratford,  considerable  changes  occurred, 
some  in  favor  of,  and  others  against,  the 
prosperity  of  the  place.  Those  things 
which  resulted  in  renewed  religious  activity 
by  which  two  new  houses  of  worship  were 
erected,  were  in  favor,  and  those  which 
caused  the  removal  from  the  town  of  a  num- 
ber of  first-class  citizens  were  against  the 
best  interests  of  the  place. 

Whitefield's  stay  in  Stratford  extended 
to  a  few  hours  only.  He  preached  in  New 
Haven  on  Sunday,  and  on  Monday  morn- 
ing came  to  Stratford,  preached  at  the 
meeting-house,  probably  outside,  in  the 
open  air;  dined  with  the  Rev.  Mr.  Gold,  then  went  to  Fair- 
field, where  he  preached  in  the  afternoon  of  the  same  day. 

The  idea  of  charging  VVhitefield  with  extravagancies 
and  turning  "  the  world  upside  down,"  in  one  sermon  or  in 
a  few  hours,  is  too  simple,  unless  there  was  something  more 
than  human  in  his  preaching,  in  which  case  it  would  be  still 
more  dishonorable  to  make  the  charge.  There  had  been  an 
unusual  revival  of  religious  interest  in  New  England  for  sev^- 
eral  years,  and  Whitefield's  preaching  was  in  accord  with 
that  revival.  After  Mr.  Whitefield's  departure,  unlettered, 
and  unlearned  men,  as  well  as  some  who  were  learned,  made 
vastly  more  trouble  by  extravagancies  and  unwise  proceed- 
ings than  Whitefield  ever  countenanced,  or  probably  ever 
dreamed  of. 

There  was  great  excitement  in  Stratford,  unquestionably, 
and  the  one  thought  or  doctrine  that  produced  it,  was  the 


348 


History  of  Stratford. 


question  of  a  decided,  definite,  clear  understanding,  as  to  a 
personal  experience,  or  "  change  of  heart"  in  religious  things. 
This  was  an  old  orthodox  doctrine,  then  revived,  especially 
in  the  Calvinistic  form.  In  the  Congregational  churches 
some  accepted  this  doctrine  as  the  only  assurance  of  heaven, 
while  others  held  more  to  the  efficiency  of  a  careful,  dutiful 
life  of  obedience  to,  and  support  of,  Bible  teachings,  to  secure 
the  same  end.  Mr.  Gold  held  to  the  former — which  view  has 
been  termed  in  Congregational  churches,  as  well  as  others, 
for  over  one  hundred  years,  the  evangelical— and  some  of  Mr. 
Gold's  leading  men  held  to  the  latter;  and  hence,  desired  and 
finally  secured  Mr.  Gold's  dismission. 

In  the  midst  of  this  controversy  and  excitement,  which 
lasted  ten  years,  the  Rev.  Richardson  Miner  of  Unity,  an 
acceptable  Congregational  minister,  and  a  much  esteemed 
practising  physician,  resigned  his  pastorate  and  joined  the 
Church  of  England,  in  1744.  Several  families  in  Stratford 
had  made  a  like  change  previous  to  this,  and  some  followed. 
The  result  is  seen  in  the  officers  of  the  Episcopal  Church. 

From  1725,  until  1737  or  8,  a  few  men  had  served  in  those 
offices,  so  far  as  the  records  show;  namely,  John  Benjamin, 
John  Kee,  Nehemiah  Loring  and  Richard  Rogers.  In  1739, 
a  much  longer  list  is  recorded,'  indicating,  either  the  increase 


For  Stratford  jJ°l^"^^"3amin 

(  Zachary  Clarke. 

17      D-    .  (  Joseph  Shelton 

For  Ripton     <■'        ^ 

(  Tohn  Beardslev 


ley. 


'  "  Easter  Monday,  1739.  Church  Wardens  chosen  and  appointed  to  gather 
the  minister's  rate  and  to  give  our  account  of  it  to  the  Commissary  for  the  year 
were  : 

^  William  Smith. 

Samuel  French. 

Samuel  Blagge. 

William  Beach. 

Joseph  Brown. 

Gershom  Edwards. 

Captain  Hubbeil. 

Ephraim  Curtiss. 

Lieutenant  Fairchild. 

Doctor  Laborie. 

Millar  Frost. 

Thomas  Lattin. 

Hugh  Curland. 

"The  same  day,  Voted  that  we  pay  this  year  towards  the  support  of  our  minis- 
ter 4  pence  farthing  upon  the  pound  of  our  Ratable  Estate."  In  1748  the  Vestry 
'  Voted  the  same  Rate  to  Dr.  Johnson  that  the  Dissenters  pay  to  Mr.  Gold." 


Vestry  -. 


TJie  Episcopal  Church.  34Q 

of  numbers  or  a  more  complete  organization  and  the  keeping 
of  a  full  record. 

In  1741,  others  appear,  as:  "Edmund  Lewis,  Esq.,  Mr. 
Joseph  Lewis,  Mr.  Jonathan  Curtiss,  Capt.  James  Lewis,  Mr. 
Ebenezer  Hurd  and  Dr.  William  Russell;"  and  in  1746, 
Capt.  Theophilus  Nichols;  all  but  Dr.  Russell  were  of  the 
old  Stratford  families. 

Several  of  these  men  had  been  members  in  full  commun- 
ion in  the  Congregational  Church  from  fifteen  to  twenty 
years — Edmund  Lewis,  Esq.,  and  Capt.  James  Lewis,  from 
fifteen  to  eighteen,  and  Capt.  Theophilus  Nichols  and  his  wife 
over  twenty  years. 

Hence,  it  appears  that  a  number  of  persons  of  the  old 
way  of  thinking  or  the  conservative  element,  who  were  op- 
posed to  the  New  Light  movement,  left  the  Congregational 
and  joined  the  Episcopal  Church,  while  Mr.  Gold  continued 
to  preach,  and  when  he  was  dismissed  in  1752,  a  number  of 
leading  men  in  favor  of  his  preaching,  removed  from  the  par- 
ish, to  North  Stratford,  Ripton,  New  Haven;  and  others 
went  further — to  Waterbury,  Newtown  and  New  Milford  ; 
thus  affecting,  decidedly,  the  strength  and  numbers  of  the  old 
church  and  society. 

But  the  increased  interest  in  religion,  soon  led  to  new 
efforts  to  promote  the  cause,  and  hence,  as  has  been  recorded, 
in  a  previous  chapter,  the  Congregational  people  built  them 
a  new  house  of  worship  in  1743,  raising  the  money  by  a  tax 
on  the  property  held  by  the  members  of  the  society. 

The  Episcopal  Society  built  a  house  also  in  1743  ;  but  on 
the  principle  of  stock  ownership,  and  not  by  a  public  tax  ;  and 
so  far  as  the  author  of  this  history  has  learned,  it  was  the  first 
house  of  worship  built  on  this  plan  in  this  region  of  country. 

The  subscription^  to  secure  the  money  to  build  this  house 

^  "  We  whose  names  are  hereunto  subscribed  being  convinced  thai  it  is  our  duty 
to  contribute  what  we  are  able  towards  building  a  Church  for  y"  Honour  and 
Glory  of  God  in  this  town  to  be  set  apart  for  his  worship  and  service  according  to 
the  excellent  method  of  the  Church  of  England  Do  hereby  cheerfully  and  seriously 
devote  to  God  the  following  sums  (in  the  old  tenor)  annexed  to  our  several  names 
to  be  employed  for  the  promoting  of  that  pious  undertaking. 

Stratford  February  y^  2^,  1742-3. 


350 


History  of  Stratford. 


is  dated   in  February,  1742-3,  and  gives  the  names,  probably, 
of  nearly  all  the  contributors  at  that  time. 

The  money  to  build  the  church  being  secured,  the  next 
great  question  was  where  to  locate  it.  Two  deeds  for  sites 
were  recorded;  one,  of  a  lot  on  Watch-house  hill,  and  the 
other  near  that  of  the  present  church,  in  both  of  which  it  is 


Sm.  Johnson,  a  bell, ;r^300 

Wm.  Beach 250 

Wm.  Russell 5 

Abm.  Savage 5 

Charles  Curtiss 30 

Rich*^  Salmon 3 

Israel  Curtiss -     4 

Joseph  Lewis,  Jr 2 

Samuel  Thompson 2 

Peter  Foot -  15 

Ephraim  Fairchild 10 

John  Barly _     5 

Jeremiah  French 10 

George  Tyley 10 

Joseph  Lamson 2 

John  Brooks 5 

Daniel  Munson 3 

By  a  person  unknown 10 

John  Kiely ._ 2 

David  Lewis 20 

Eliezer  Newhall 20 

Timo.  Bontecou 15 

Edmond  Booth 10 

David  Brooks .„     4 

Ephraim  Burrit 10 

Ebenezer  Sherman 5 

Joseph  Burdsey 12 

Ebenezer  Hurd 30 

Josh.  Foot 00 

John  Arnold ._  00 

James  Beach 5 

Wm.  Lamson 40 

Nehemiah  Beardslee 7 

Sam"  Benjamin. 20 

Wm  Leese 5 

Elnathan  Peet 60 

Nathan  Peet 20 

Edward  Allen 25 


Bemslee  Peters ;^'*o  00  00 

Sam"  Preston 10  00  00 

Sam"  Folsom 12  00  00 

Eph.  Osburn _   10  00  00 

Edmond  Lewis 70  00  00 

Ephra""  Curtiss 50  00  00 

James  Lewis 30  00  00 

Abel  Burdsey 60  00  00 

Daniel  Hawley 40  00  00 

Joseph  Lewis 40  00  00 

Ambrous  Thompson 30  00  00 

Gersh""  Edwards 50  00  00 

John  Benjamin 50  00  00 

Joseph  Browne 30  00  00 

James  Dunlop 40  00  00 

Benjamin  Peirce 8  00  00 

Paul  Maverick 10  00  00 

Joseph  Prince 20  00  00 

Ebenezer  Curtiss 15  00  00 

Eliphelet  Curtiss 60  00  00 

Joseph  Thompson 20  00  00 

James  Lewis,  Jun _   15  00  00 

Sam"  Jones 10  00  00 

Tim"  Sherman 35  00  00 

Hew  Curland 30000 

Ephraim  Hawley 15  00  00 

Ephraim  Lewis 15  00  00 

David  Fansher 5  00  00 

Abra"'  Blackman 6  00  00 

James  Frost 3  00  00 

Tho'  Stratton 4  02  00 

Joseph  Laine.- 5  00  00 

Edmund  Lewis 20  00  00 

William  Wells -..  - 10  00  00 

Joseph  Gorham 5  00  00 

Daniel  Foot 3  0°  00 

Natt"  Lamson 2  0000 

William  Beach 750  00  00 

A  true  copy.        John  Benjamin,  Clerk."  . 


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Second  Episcopal  CJiurcJi.  351 

stated  that  the  purpose  was  to  erect  a  church  upon  them,  and 
the  latter  one  was  retained  and  occupied,  while  the  other  was 
sold. 

Tradition  says,  as  well  as  the  Rev.  Samuel  Peters,  that 
there  was  much  excitement  about  securing  this  site;  that  the 
Congregationalists  opposed  the  proposition  of  locating  it  on 
the  hill  near  the  meeting-house.  It  is  said,  the  site  on  the 
hill  was  secured  first  and  afterwards  the  one  on  Main  street, 
but  the  deeds  are  dated  quite  the  reverse — the  one  on  Main 
street,  April  16,  1743,  and  the  one  on  the  hill,  May  24,  1743. 

The  building  committee  were  as  follows: 

"  February  y®  2,  1742-3.  Unanimously  chosen  by  y* 
members  of  the  Church  of  England  in  Stratford  Town  a 
committee  to  take  care  for  y'^  building  a  new  church  in 
Stratford. 

Coll.  Edmond  Lewis.  John  Benjamin. 

Capt.  James  Lewis.  Mr.  Ambrose  Thompson. 

Mr.  Ephraim  Curtiss.  Capt.  Gershom  Edwards. 

Mr.  Daniel  Hawley.  Mr.  Joseph  Lewis. 

Mr.  Joseph  Brown.  Mr.  Thomas  Lattin. 

July,  1744.  Voted  that  Theo".  Nickols,  Esqr.,  also  be  one 
ot  the  committee,  and  Mr.  Wm.  Lamson. 

•'  Voted  the  same  time  that  whatsoever  shall  be  done  by 
the  Church  Wardens  for  y^  time  being,  and  any  five  of  the 
Com*,  shall  be  held  valid  by  y®  whole  community." 

The  seating  of  the  church  was  arranged  according  to  the 
following:  "  It  was  unanimously  voted  y^  ist  day  of  Jan- 
uary, 1744-5,  that  the  proprietors  of  y^  church  should  chuse 
their  ground  for  their  pews  according  to  what  they  have 
given  towards  building  the  same." 

The  property  was  secured  to  the  church  by  the  following: 

"January  ye  14,  1744-5.  ^t  was  unanimously  voted  by 
y*"  minister  and  Church  Wardens  and  committee  of  y®  new 
church  in  Stratford,  called  Christ'^  Church,  that  if  any  per- 
sons that  have  or  ever  hereafter  shall  have  Rights  in  pews  in 
sd.  Church,  that  if  they  shall  leave  sd.  Church,  they  and  their 
heirs;  that  in  that  case  y^  Rights  they  have  in  said  Church 
shall  be  Resigned   for  the  Benefit  of  sd.  Church  :  to  be  dis- 


Titherton    and 
Wm.  Smith. 


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Q. 

^ 

Vm.  Smith. 

David  Lewis. 

Mr.  French. 

Richd. 

Ephm. 

Blackleach. 

Burrit. 

Both  Blaggs. 

Capt.  Hubbil. 

M.  Porter. 

Ebenr.  Hurd. 

Eliph. 

Curtiss. 

Mr.  Newhall. 

Mr.  Joseph 

Charles 

Lewis. 

Curtiss. 

Benjm.  Lewis 

Jerh.  French. 

Abrm. 

Thomas 

Savage. 

Lattin. 

Mrs.  Tree. 

Mr.  Pryn. 

Samuel 

Mr.  Joseph 

Preston. 

Shelton. 

Ebenr. 

Capt.  Jos. 

Sherman. 

Wooster. 

John  Hurd. 

Thos. 

Stratton. 

Thos.  Lake. 

Thos.Daskem 

Benj.  Pierce. 

Ricd.  Burton. 

James 
Frost. 


Doct. 
Benjm. 
Warner, 


Wm.  Beach. 


Minister's 
Pew. 

Ambs. 

Thompson. 

Doct. 

Munson. 

Capt. 

Coldwell. 

Coll.  Lewis 

and 
Capt.  Lewis. 

Mr.  Abel  and 

Joseph 

Burdsey, 

Paul 

Maverick. 

Capt.   Joseph 
Prince. 

Mrs.  Series. 

Rev.  Dr. 

S.  Johnson. 

John 

Benjamin. 

Capt. 

Gershom 
Edwards. 

Timothy 

Sherman. 

Samll. 

Benjamin. 

Peter  Foot. 

Samuel 

Folsom. 

Jos. 

Thompson. 

Neh. 

Beardslee. 

Jos.  Nichols. 

Thos.  Salmon 

Mrs.  Loring 
and  familj'. 

C.  Burroughs 
Stephen  Frost 

Abraham 
Patterson. 

William 

Watkins. 

Samuel 

Fairchild. 

Mrs. 

Laborie. 

Benjm. 
Arnold. 

Mrs. 
Whitnee. 


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Capt.  Theos. 
Nickols. 


Pews  and  occupants  in  the  Episcopal  Church,  Stratford,  in  1745. 


Second  Episcopal  Church.  353 

posed  of  as  y^  minister,  Church  Wardens  and  vestry  then  in 
being  shall  think  most  for  the  advantage  of  the  same  Church." 

Some  of  the  material  for  this  church  may  have  been, 
brought  from  England,  but  it  was  only  a  small  proportion 
if  any  (the  pulpit,  and  perhaps  the  chancel  ornaments), 
as  the  Warden's  record  book  now  shows.  A  credit  to  Colonel 
Edmund  Lewis  stands:  "about  12  loads  of  timber  got  in  his 
land,  34  trees,  ^^03-08."  Lieut.  Joseph  Wooster  furnished  in 
"  July,  1743,  12,000  feet  of  pine  siding  at  ten  pounds  per  thous- 
and, and  2,000  feet  of  sash  plank  at  ^^14  per  thousand  ;  244 
feet  of  pine  boards  at  20  s.  per  thousand  ;  and  "  iron  for  y'= 
spindle  for  y®  weathercock."  In  August,  1744,  Capt.  James 
Lewis  is  credited,  by  "John  rending  3400  lath  for  the  church, 
^4-05  ;"  and  soon  after  to  1250  more  lath  ;  which  shows  that 
the  edifice  was  not  completed  until  the  autumn  of  1744. 

Several  items  of  credit  on  the  account  book  show  that 
the  workmen  were  engaged  nine  days  in  raising  the  frame  of 
this  church  ;  and  from  many  items  recorded  it  is  certain  that 
the  amount  of  timber  in  it  was  very  great. 

The  Rev.  Samuel  Peters,  in  connection  with  his  account 
of  the  Indian  powwow  on  Stratford  point,  makes  the  follow- 
ing record  in  reference  to  the  building  of  this  church,  or  the 
one  preceding  it,  for  it  is  difificult  to  determine  which  he  in- 
tended : 

"  When  the  Episcopalians  had  collected  timber  for  a 
church,  they  found  the  devils  had  not  left  the  town,  but  only 
changed  their  habitations — had  left  the  savages  and  entered 
into  fanatics  and  wood.  In  the  night  before  the  church  was 
to  be  begun,  the  timber  set  up  a  country  dance,  skipping 
about,  and  flying  in  the  air,  with  as  much  agility  and  sul- 
phurous stench  as  ever  the  devils  had  exhibited  around  the 
camp  of  the  Indian  paw  wawers.  This  alarming  circumstance 
would  have  ruined  the  credit  of  the  church,  had  not  the  Epis- 
copalians ventured  to  look  into  the  phenomenon,  and  found 
the  timber  to  have  been  bored  with  augurs,  charged  with  gun 
powder,  and  fired  off  by  matches :— a  discovery,  however,  of 
bad  consequence  in  one  respect— it  has  prevented  the  annal- 
ists of  New  England  from  publishing  this  among  the  rest  of 
their  miracles."' 


*  History  of  Connecticut  by  the  Rev.  Samuel  Peters. 


354  History  of  Stratford. 

This  sketch,  with  many  others  in  Mr,  Peters'  book,  might 
easily  be  taken  for  a  moderately  good  burlesque  but  for  the 
fact  that  some  historians  quote  the  book  seriously  as  authentic 
history. 

The  following  record  concerning  the  clock  is  of  interest, 
although  it  is  unfortunate  that  they  did  not  write  more  par- 
ticulars about  it : 

"An  agreement  made  this  25th  day  of  Feb'',  1750-51,  be- 
tween the  Church  Wardens  of  Christ  Church  in  Stratford,  and 
John  Davis,  clock  maker,  a  stranger,  and  is  as  followeth  : 

"  That  the  said  Davis  is  to  keep  the  clock  of  said  church 
in  good  repair  for  two  years  from  the  date  hereof  and  to  have 
for  his  labour  five  pounds  for  each  year,  provided  the  said 
clock  goes  well  the  said  time ;  if  not,  he  is  to  have  nothing 
for  his  labor,  and  the  first  five  pounds  to  be  paid  at  the  end 
of  the  first  year,  and  the  other  five  pounds  at  the  second  year  ; 
and  that  the  Church  Wardens  are  not  to  be  put  to  more 
trouble  about  paying  the  money  than  to  pay  it  either  in  Strat- 
ford or  Fairfield ;  and  to  be  paid  in  old  tenor  money." 

Two  full  years  were  occupied,  apparently,  in  building 
and  finishing  this  church  edifice;  for  much,  if  not  all  the 
lathing  and  plastering  were  done  in  the  summer  of  1744,  and 
the  regulations  for  seating  the  church  were  not  made  until 
January,  1744-5.  The  work  for  obtaining  lime,  is  indicated 
b}'  charges  for  drawing  loads  of  wood  for  burning  loads  of 
shells,  and  was  no  small  item  in  the  finishing  of  such  an  edifice. 

When  the  church  was  completed  and  the  clock  placed  in 
the  tower,  there  was  one  thing  lacking,  the  privation  of  which 
they  endured  until  the  beginning  of  the  3'ear  1756,  when  they 
undertook  the  enterprise  of  securing  an  organ  for  their  house 
of  worship.     A  subscription*  was  raised  for  annual  pa3^ments 


"Stratford,  February  16*'^,  1756. 
^  "  The  following  proposals  for  the  purchase  of  an  organ  for  the  use  of  Christ 
Church  in  this  town  are  oflFered  by  Mr.  Gilbert  Deblois  of  Boston,  Merchant. 
"That  the  price  of  the  said  organ  is  to  be  fixed  at  Sixty  pounds  sterling. 
"That  the  time  allowed  for  the  payment  of  the  said  sum  be  six  years  from  the 
time  of  its  being  delivered,  and  this  to  be  made  in  the  six  equal  payments  of  ten 
pounds  sterling  per  annum,  without  any  demand  of  interest.     That  the  said  organ 
be  delivered  at  Stratford  by  the  last  of  April  next,  if  it  can  be  completed  by  that 


Second  Episcopal  Church. 


355 


during  six  successive  years,  at  ten  pound  a  year,  and  by  it 
the  instrument  was  obtained,  and  was  in  its  place  in  the 
"organ  loft,"  March  27,  1758,  when  the  officers  of  the  church 
appointed  Mr.  John  Benjamin,  organist,  and  from  that  time 
he  was  yearl}^  elected  by  the  same  authority  to  the  same  office 
until  1773  ;  serving  the  church  in  that  capacity  sixteen  years, 


time  and  there  should  be  a  convenient  opportunity  for  shipping  it.  That  the  said 
Mr.  Gilbert  Doblois  do  take  upon  himself  all  the  risque  in  transporting  the  s'* 
organ  round  from  Boston  to  Stratford. 

"We  the  subscribers  do  hereby  accept  the  above  mentioned  proposals,  and 
do  hereby  oblige  ourselves  and  our  heirs  to  the  just  payment  of  the  respective 
sums  yearl}'  which  are  with  our  names  herein  expressed,  to  continue  during  the 
term  of  the  six  next  succeeding  years. 

"  Witness  our  hands.  The  money  to  be  collected  above,  we  also  agree  to  pay 
into  the  hands  of  Mr.  John  Benjamin. 


Lawful  INIoney. 
Edmund  Lewis  two  dollars  and  a 

half  -- - £o-iS 

David  Lewis  five  dollars  a  year  — i-io 
David  Brooks  three  dollars  a  year_o-i8 
James  Willoughby  one  dollar  a  yearo-  6 
Nathaniel  Curtis  of  N.  Stratford  one 

dollar  pr.  year o-  6 

Charles  Curtis  two  dollars  pr.  3'earo-i2 
Jere  Judson  Curtiss  two  dollars  pr. 

year 0-12 

W'"  Samuel  Johnson  20/  per  ann..i-oo 
John  Benjamin  twelve  shillings  pr. 

year . 0-12 

Gershom   Edwards  one  dollar  and 

half --- o-  9 

Madam    Beach  a   sett  of   Curtains 

and  fringes  for  the  Organ  loft  — 
Edward   Winslow  two   dollars    pr. 

annum. - 0-12 

Joseph  Lewis  two  dollars  pr.  annum  0-12 
Joseph    Lewis,    Jr.    one    dollar   pr. 

annum o-  6 

Watman    Duncan    one   dollar    pr. 

annum o-  6 

Timothy  Sherman  three  dollars  pr. 

annum 0-18 

Joseph   Nickols   three    dollars   pr. 

annum 0-18 


Lawful  Money, 

Andrew  Hurd  one  dollar  pr.  an- 
num   ^o-  6 

Alexander  Zuill _ .0-  8 

Abijah  Beach  twenty  shillings  pr. 
annum i-oo 

John  Backus  one  and  a  half  dollars 
pr.  annum. o-  9 

John  Robertson  three  dollars  pr. 
annum... 0-18 

Abraham  Patterson  one  dollar  pr. 
3-ear o-  6 

Abel  Beach  four  dollars  pr.  annum  i-  4 

Samuel  Jones  two  dollars  pr.  an- 
num   0-12 

LeGrand  Cannon  two  dollars  and 
half- 0-12* 

Edward  Hawley  one  dollar  and  half 
pr.  annum o-  9 

Theophilus  Niculls  three  dollars 
pr.  j-ear 0-18 

Edmund  Burritt  half  a  dollar 0-03 

Ambrose  Thompson  two  dollars  pr. 
annum 0-12 

Edward  Allen  two  dollars  pr.  an- 
num   0-I2 

Harpin  Jr.  one  dollar  pr.  an- 
num  - 0-6 


Jean  Harpin  two  dollars 0-12 

*  This  is  so  carried  out  on  the  record. 


356  History  of  Stratford. 

and  perhaps  several  years  longer,  since  the  records  make  no 
mention  of  an  organist  from  1773  to  1779,  when  Capt.  George 
Benjamin  is  appointed  to  that  service.  So  far  as  seen,  no 
mention  is  made  of  remuneration  to  the  organist  until  1786. 
In  1780  Philip  Benjamin  was  appointed  organist;  and  in 
1783,  Asa  Benjamin  was  elected  to  that  place.  In  1786  they 
voted  to  give  the  organist  twenty  dollars  per  year  for  his 
services. 

On  the  8th  of  July,  1744,  the  new  church  was  opened 
with  a  sermon  by  Dr.  Johnson,  although  it  was  not  then 
plastered,  and  probably  the  pews  were  not  then  made. 

Ten  years  he  preached  in  this  church,  seeing  large  and 
encouraging  results  from  his  own  labors  and  those  of  his 
brethren,  and  then  he  accepted  the  presidency  of  the  college 
at  New  York.  He  neither  resigned  his  parish  at  Stratford 
nor  removed  his  family.  The  parish  continued  to  raise  his 
salary  and  when  he  could  not  hold  service  with  them  he 
secured  one  to  do  it.  After  some  years  this  course  secured 
the  following  entry  in  the  Warden's  record  book: 

"  Stratford  April  8,  1765. 
"  To  prevent  misunderstanding  what  I  propose  with 
regard  to  the  money  rates  is  this;  not  to  take  any  of  it  to 
myself  but  after  crossing  out  the  names  of  such  as  I  think 
subjects  of  Charity,  to  order  the  Church  wardens  to  see  that 
it  be  punctually  collected  and  let  out  at  interest  and  pre- 
served to  the  sole  purpose  of  establishing  a  fund  towards  the 
better  support  of  my  successor  excepting  only  so  much  as 
from  time  to  time  shall  be  found  needful  to  use  in  rewarding 
any  gentleman  whom  I  shall  need  to  call  to  assist  me  in  cases 
of  infirmity.  Samuel  Johnson." 


The  Episcopal  ChurcJi.  \tj 

Judging  from  the  history  of  one  hundred  and  forty  years, 
the  sudden  and  rapid  progress  of  the  Episcopal  Church  in 
Stratford,  for  about  ten  years,  resulting  in  the  completion  of 
a  new  Church  about  1750,  was  of  very  great  importance  to 
the  success  of  that  denomination  in  America.  The  accession 
of  a  few  prominent  citizens  of  Stratford  to  this  church  added 
greatly  to  the  prominence  of  Dr.  Johnson  and  his  people  in 
the  Colonies,  and  the  more  than  ordinary  elegance  of  the  new 
church  edifice  contributed  also  to  the  same  result. 

Dr.  Johnson  seems  to  have  appreciated  these  facts  in  his 
letter  to  the  Society,  September  29,  1748,  when  he  says: 

"  As  to  the  Church  in  this  town,  it  is  in  a  flourishing  con- 
dition, one  family  having  been  added,  and  more  looking  for- 
ward, and  thirty-one  have  been  baptized,  and  eight  added  to 
the  communion,  since  my  last;  our  new  Church  is  almost  fin- 
ished, in  a  very  neat  and  elegant  manner,  the  architecture 
being  allowed  in  som.e  things  to  exceed  anything  done  before 
in  New  England.  We  have  had  some  valuable  contributions, 
and  my  people  have  done  as  well  as  could  be  expected  from 
their  circumstances,  which  are  generally  but  slender;  but 
there  is  one  of  them  who  deserves  to  be  mentioned  in  partic- 
ular for  his  generosity, — Mr.  Beach,  brother  of  the  Reverend 
Mr.  Beach,  who,  though  he  has  a  considerable  family,  has 
contributed  above  three  thousand  pounds,  our  currency,  to  it 
already,  and  is  daily  doing  more,  and  designs  to  leave  an 
annuity,  in perpetuuni,  toward  keeping  it  in  repair."" 

This  edifice  was  not  only  remarkable  in  its  architecture 
and  finish,  but  also  returned  a  full  compensation  for  all  the 
expense  put  upon  it,  in  its  durability,  for  it  continued  in  use 
until  the  present  Church  was  opened  on  the  29th  of  July,  1858, 
having  served  the  purpose  of  its  construction  one  hundred 
and  fourteen  years. 

The  height  of  the  progress  of  this  Church,  for  many 
years,  seems  to  have  been  attained  about  the  time  Dr.  John- 
son became  president  of  the  College  at  New  York.  Having 
attained  a  good  degree  of  strength  and  numbers  it  did  well 
until  the  opening  of   the  Revolutionary   War,  when  all  out- 

^  History  of  the  Church  in  Conn.,  i.  157. 
24 


358  History  of  Stratford. 

ward  circumstances  were  against  its  progress,  yet  it  continued 
its  services  probably  until  July,  1776, 

Dr.  Johnson  remained  the  Rector  until  his  decease  in 
1772  ;  but  his  strength  failed  him  somewhat  so  that  an  assistant 
became  necessary  and  was  secured,  as  shown  by  the  parish 
vote,  January  6,  1768,  when  "it  was  unanimously  voted  that 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Ebenezer  Kneeland  be  an  assistant  to  the  Rev. 
Docf  Johnson  our  pastor,  and  also  our  missionary  during  his 
natural  life." 

Hev.  JEhene^er  Kneeland  was  a  graduate  of  Yale 
Colleo'e  in  1761  ;  went  to  England  for  ordination  three  years 
later,  returned  to  this  country  and  served  for  a  time  as 
chaplain  in  a  British  regiment,  and  settled  in  Stratford  ac- 
cording to  the  above  vote." 

Upon  the  decease  of  Dr.  Johnson,  Mr.  Kneeland  suc- 
ceeded to  the  Mission  in  Stratford,  with  all  the  emoluments 
of  his  predecessor.  The  church  wardens  and  others,  in  re- 
questing his  appointment,  gave  these  reasons  for  claiming  a 
continuance  of  the  Society's  bounty  : 

"  As  Stratford  is  situate  upon  the  great  road  from  Boston 
to  New  York,  Mr.  Kneeland  must  inevitably  be  at  a  greater 
expense  than  any  Missionary  in  the  interior  towns  ;  so  that 
from  the  decline  of  trade,  the  death  and  failure  of  several  of 
our  principal  members,  from  the  increasing  price  of  the 
necessaries  of  life,  the  scarcity  of  money,  and  the  extraordi- 
nary expenses  a  missionary  must  be  at  here,  we  may  truly  say 
we  have  not  needed  the  assistance  of  the  Venerable  Society 
more  for  fifteen  years  past  than  we  do  at  present.  .  .  .  We 
are  now  endeavoring  to  raise  money  to  enlarge  the  glebe,  but, 
for  the  reasons  before  mentioned,  fear  we  shall  meet  with 
little  success  ;  however,  our  best  endeavors  shall  not  be  want- 
ing to  complete  the  same.'" 

Mr.  Kneeland  served  the  parish  until  his  decease,  April 

17.  ^777- 

Mev.  Samuel  Johnson,  2>.Z).,'  was  born  in   Guilford, 

'  History  of  the  Church,  i.  269. 

8  Dr.  Beardsley's  History  of  the  Church,  i.  297. 

9  This  sketch  of  Dr.  Johnson  is  taken  largely  from  the  Rev.  Dr.  E.  E.  Beards- 
ley's  "Life  and  Correspondence  of  Samuel  Johnson." 


Dr.  Samuel  JoJuison.  350 

Connecticut,  Oct.  14,  1696,  and  was  the  son  of  Dea.  Samuel 
and  Mary  (Sage)  Johnson  ;  the  grandson  of  Dea.  William 
Johnson, — and  his  wife  Elizabeth  Bushnell, — who  came  to 
America  when  twelve  years  of  age,  with  his  father,  Robert 
Johnson,  from  Kingston  upon  Hull  in  Yorkshire,  England, 
and  was  at  New  Haven  in  1641. 

Samuel  Johnson  passed  his  preparatory  studies  largely  by 
private  instruction  and  entered  Yale  College  and  was  gradu- 
ated in  1714,  the  college  then  being  at  Saybrook.  He  soon 
after  commenced  teaching  in  his  native  town,  where  he  re- 
ceived, the  next  year,  some  of  the  Yale  students  and  acted  as 
their  tutor  until  the  college  was  settled  at  New  Haven,  when 
he  was  elected  one  of  the  tutors  for  that  institution,  and 
served  until  the  election  of  the  Rev.  Timothy  Cutler  to  the 
rectorship  or  presidency  of  that  institution  in  1719.  March 
20,  1720,  he  was  ordained  pastor  of  the  Congregational  Church 
at  West  Haven,  where  he  continued  to  serve  two  years  when 
he  with  three  others — Mr.  Timothy  Cutler,  Mr.  Daniel 
Brown,  and  Mr.  James  Wetmore  declared  themselves  in  favor 
of  the  Episcopal  Church.  The  same  year  they  went  to  Eng- 
land for  ordination,  and  Mr.  Johnson,  after  securing  it,  and 
the  honorary  degree  of  Master  of  Arts  bestowed  by  Oxford 
University,  returned  to  his  native  land  under  a  commission 
from  the  Society  for  the  Propagation  of  the  Gospel  in  For- 
eign Parts  as  a  missionary  to  Stratford,  where  he  arrived, 
November  4,  1723. 

Here  he  found  a  few  communicants  of  his  church  and  a 
number  of  others  in  adjoining  towns,  looking  to  him  for  oc- 
casional services,  and  that  therefore  the  work  was  great  and 
laborious.  This  would  have  been  true  if  there  had  been  no 
opposition  to  the  introduction  and  success  of  another  denom- 
ination, but  as  it  was,  the  difficulties  and  labor  were  great  and 
for  a  time  almost  insuruiountable  and  disheartening,  but  Mr. 
Johnson  was  just  the  man  for  the  place  ;  patient,  not  particu- 
larly sensitive,  not  enthusiastic,  but  enduring  in  hope  and 
devoted  to  his  work.  He  very  soon  saw  evidences  of  suc- 
cess, indeed  no  faithful  pastor  could  labor  under  like  circum- 
stances without  success,  and  therefore  as  he  had  been  sent 
here  to  establish  and  build   a  Church,  and  had  a  heart  to  do 


360  History  of  Stratford. 

it,  at  just  that  time  and  place,  he  was  successful  in  a  very 
honorable  degree.  He  had  a  decided  literary  and  educa- 
tional taste,  and  therefore  not  only  found  employment  as  a 
minister,  but  also  in  efforts  to  lift  up  the  masses  in  intellectual 
attainments  and  enterprises.  He  continued  to  exert  a  helpful 
influence  at  Yale  College,  which  fact  gave  him  a  much  larger 
influence  in  the  State  than  he  otherwise  could  have  had.  He 
found  not  only  satisfaction  in  high  educational  attainments, 
but  a  force  or  popular  influence  which  always  reacted  for  his 
success  as  a  minister,  even  though  not  put  forth  for  that  end, 
but  in  a  spirit  of  general  benevolence. 

On  the  26th  of  September,  1725,  he  married  Charity 
Nicoll,  widow  of  Benjamin  NicoU,  of  Islip,  L.  I.,  and  daugh- 
ter of  Col.  Richard  Floyd,  of  Brookhaven,  L.  1.  She  had  by 
her  former  husband  two  sons  and  one  daughter,  and  he  at 
once  began  to  prepare  the  sons  for  Yale  College,  where  they 
were  both  graduated  in  1734,  and  he  doubtless  had  other 
students  much  if  not  all  of  the  time  he  could  devote  to  such 
work.  There  are  evidences  that  his  higher  ambition  and 
tastes  in  learning  won  for  him  and  his  church  much  favor 
even  under  the  adverse  circumstances  in  which  he  was 
placed.  The  record  given  on  page  322  of  this  book  as  to  the 
liberty  to  erect  a  school-house,  indicates  a  public  sentiment 
to  this  effect. 

Mr.  Johnson's  labors  as  a  missionary  extended  to  several 
towns  in  the  State,  whenever  occasion  required.  He  visited 
Ripton,  Newtown,  Reading,  Fairfield,  Stamford,  and  as  far 
east  as  New  London,  and  occasionally  Rhode  Island.  Besides 
his  labors  in  preaching  and  administering  the  sacraments,  he 
had  of  necessity,  as  the  first  and  most  prominent  clergyman 
in  his  church,  a  general  oversight  of  the  interests  of  that 
body  in  Connecticut;  in  correspondence,  in  commending 
men  who  went  to  England  to  receive  orders,  and  in  con- 
sulting with  companies  in  various  places  who  desired  to 
organize  churches  and  secure  the  services  of  ministers.  All 
these  he  attended  with  great  fidelity  and  discretion,  and  his 
labors  were  accompanied  by  a  large  degree  of  success,  but 
nothing  very  especially  satisfactory  until  about  1740,  when 
the  great  religious  interests  and  controversies  of  the  New 
Light  movement  occurred  in  the  Congregational    churches. 


Dr.  Samuel  Johnson.  361 

At  the  Rev.  George  Whitefield's  first  visit  in  Connecti- 
cut, in  1740,  there  was  but  little  opposition  to  him  from  the 
Congregational  people.  Very  many  went  to  hear  him  preach, 
and  also  many  were  very  much  stirred  in  their  religious 
thoughts  on  the  subject  of  being  saved  through  Jesus,  the 
only  Saviour.  And  it  is  very  certain  there  was  great  need  of 
such  awakening  to  the  subject.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Gold  had 
pursued  a  course  of  pastoral  labor  and  preaching  for  eighteen 
years  that  readily  accepted  Mr.  Whitefield's  preaching,  and 
many  in  his  own  congregation  were  awakened  to,  and  greatly 
interested  in  the  subject. 

Some  way,  how  is  not  clearly  revealed,  Mr.  Johnson  and 
Mr.  Gold  became  involved  in  a  controversial  correspondence. 
To  illustrate  the  character  of  that  controversy,  and  the 
excited,  deep,  sincere  feeling  on  both  sides,  and  as  revealing 
some  history  of  the  times,  a  letter  from  each  is  here  pro- 
duced, with  the  assurance  that  it  is  no  fault  of  the  historian 
that  Mr.  Johnson's  letter  is  twice  as  long  as  Mr.  Gold's. 

Mr.  Johnson's  Letter.'" 

"July  6,  1 741. 

"  Sir, — .  .  .  1  thought  it  my  duty  to  write  a  few  lines  to 
you,  in  the  spirit  of  Christian  meekness,  on  this  subject. 
And  I  assure  you  I  am  nothing  exasperated  at  these  hard 
censures,  much  less  will  I  return  them  upon  you.  No,  Sir  ! 
God  forbid  I  should  censure  you  as  you  censure  me  !  I  have 
not  so  learned  Christ  !  I  will  rather  use  the  words  of  my 
dear  Saviour  concerning  those  that  censure  so,  and  say, 
*  Father,  forgive  them,  for  they  know  not  what  they  do.' 

"  As  to  my  having  no  business  here,  I  will  only  sa}-  that 
to  me  it  appears  most  evident  that  I  have  as  much  business 
here  at  least  as  you  have, — being  appointed  by  a  Society  in 
England  incorporated  by  Royal  Charter  to  provide  ministers 
for  the  Church  people  in  America  ;  nor  does  his  Majesty 
allow  of  any  establishment  here,  exclusive  of  the  Church, 
much  less  of  anything  that  should  preclude  the  Society  he 
has  incorporated   from   providing  and   sending   ministers   to 


'"  These  letters  are  taken   from   the  "  Life  and  Correspondence  of  Samuel 
Johnson,"  by  the  Rev.  E.  E.  Beardsley,  D.D. 


362  History  of  Stratford. 

the  Church  people  in  these  countries.  And  as  to  my  being- 
a  robber  of  churches,  I  appeal  to  God  and  all  his  people,  of 
both  denominations,  whether  1  have  ever  uncharitably  cen- 
sured you,  or  said  or  done  anything  to  disaffect  or  disunite 
your  people  from  you,  as  on  many  occasions  I  might  have 
done  ;  on  the  other  hand,  whether  I  have  not  on  all  occasions 
put  people  upon  making  the  kindest  constructions  possible 
upon  your  proceedings,  and  whether  there  has  ever  been 
anything  in  mine  or  my  people's  conduct  that  could  be  justly 
interpreted  to  savor  of  spite  or  malice,  though  we  have  met 
with  much  of  it  from  some  of  our  neighbors. 

"  If  any  of  your  people  have  left  you,  I  appeal  to  them 
whether  it  has  been  owing  to  any  insinuations  of  mine,  and 
whether  it  has  not  been  many  times  owing  to  your  own 
conducting  otherwise  than  in  prudence  you  might  have 
done,  that  they  have  been  led  to  inquire,  and  upon  inquiring 
to  conform  to  this  Church.  And  pray  why  have  not  Dis- 
senters here  as  much  liberty  to  go  to  church,  if  they  see 
good  reason  for  it  (as  they  will  soon  do  if  they  seriously 
inquire),  as  Church  people  to  go  to  meeting  if  they  see  fit, 
as  some  have  done,  without  my  charging  you  so  highly? 
In  short,  all  I  have  done  which  could  be  the  occasion  of  any 
people  leaving  you,  has  been  to  vindicate  our  best  of 
churches  from  injurious  misrepresentations  she  has  labored 
under  from  you  and  others ;  and  this  it  was  my  bounden 
dut}^  to  do. 

"  And  indeed  1  shall  think  myself  obliged  in  conscience 
to  take  yet  more  pains  with  Dissenters  as  well  as  Church 
people  than  I  have  ever  yet  done,  if  I  see  them  in  danger  of 
being  misled  by  doctrines  so  contrary  to  the  very  truth  and 
spirit  of  the  Gospel  as  have  lately  been  preached  among  us 
up  and  down  in  this  country. 

"And  as  to  my  Church  being  open  to  all  wickedness,  I 
appeal  to  God  and  all  that  know  me  and  my  proceedings 
whether  I  have  not  as  constantly  borne  witness  against  all 
kinds  of  wickedness  as  you  have,  and  been  as  far  from  pat- 
ronizing it  as  you  have  been,  and  must  think  my  people  are 
generally  as  serious  and  virtuous  as  yours.  And  lastly  as  to 
your  censuring   me   and   my   people  as    being  unconverted, 


Dr.  Samuel  JoJuison.  36? 

etc.,  I  will  only  beg  you  to  consider  whether  you  act  the 
truly  Christian  part  in  thus  endeavoring  to  disaffect  my 
people  towards  my  ministrations,  and  weaken  and  render 
abortive  my  endeavors  for  the  good  of  their  souls,  when  I 
know  not  that  I  have  given  you  any  occasion  to  judge  me 
unconverted, — much  less  to  set  me  out  in  such  a  formidable 
light  to  them.  However,  1  leave  these  things,  Sir,  to  your 
serious  consideration,  and  beg  you  will  either  take  an  oppor- 
tunity to  converse  with  me  where  and  when  you  please,  or 
rather  return  me  a  few  lines,  wherein  (as  you  have  judged 
me  unconverted,  etc.)  I  entreat  you  will  plainly  give  me 
your  reasons  why  you  think  me  so;  for  as  bad  as  I  am,  I 
hope  I  am  open  to  conviction,  and  earnestly  desirous  not  to 
be  mistaken  in  an  affair  of  so  great  importance,  and  the 
rather  because  I  have  not  only  my  own,  but  many  other 
souls  to  answer  for,  whom  1  shall  doubtless  mislead  if  I  am 
misled  myself.  In  compassion,  therefore,  to  them  and  me, 
pray  be  so  kind  as  to  give  us  your  reasons  why  you  think  us 
in  such  a  deplorable  condition. 

"  In  hopes  of  which  I  remain.  Sir,  your  real  well-wisher 
and  humble  servant  S.  J." 

The  immediate  reply  to  the  above  letter  is  not  at  hand, 
but  another  in  reply  to  others  is  available.  It  is  stated  that 
Mr.  Gold  denied  having  made  the  severe  statements  alleged 
in  the  above  letter. 

Mr.  Gold's  Letter. 

"  Sir, — I  don't  wonder  that  a  man  is  not  afraid  of  sinning 
that  believes  he  has  power  in  himself  to  repent  whenever  he 
pleases,  nor  is  it  strange  for  one  who  dares  to  utter  falsehoods 
of  others  to  be  ready  at  any  time  to  confirm  them  with  the 
solemnity  of  an  oath, — especially  since  he  adheres  to  a  min- 
ister whom  he  believes  has  power  to  wash  him  from  all  his 
sins  by  a  full  and  final  absolution  upon  his  saying  he  is  sorry 
for-  them,  etc.;  and  as  for  the  pleas  which  you  make  for  Col. 
Lewis,  and  others  that  have  broke  away  disorderly  from  our 
Church,  I  think  there's  neither  weight  nor  truth  in  them  ; 
nor  do  I  believe  such  poor  shifts  will  stand  them  nor  you  in 
any   stead    in    the   awful  day   of  account;    and   as   for   your 


364  History  of  Stratford. 

saying  that  as  bad  as  )'Ou  are  yet  you  lie  open  to  conviction, 
— for  my  part  I  find  no  reason  to  think  3^ou  do,  seeing  you 
are  so  free  and  full  in  denying  plain  matters  of  fact ;  and  as 
for  your  notion  about  charity  from  that  I  Cor.  xiii.,  my 
opinion  is  that  a  man  ma_y  abound  with  love  to  God  and 
man,  and  yet  bear  testimony  against  disorderly  walkers, 
without  being  in  the  least  guilty  of  the  want  of  charity 
towards  them.  What!  must  a  man  be  judged  uncharitable 
because  he  don't  think  well  nor  uphold  the  willful  miscar- 
riages and  evil  doings  of  others?  This  is  surely  a  perverse 
interpretation  of  the  Apostle's  meaning.  I  don't  think  it 
worth  my  while  to  say  anything  further  in  the  affair,  and  as 
you  began  the  controversy  against  rule  or  justice,  so  I  hope 
modesty  will  induce  you  to  desist;  and  do  assure  you  that  if 
you  see  cause  to  make  any  more  replies,  my  purpose  is, 
without  reading  them,  to  put  them  under  the  pot  among 
my  other  thorns  and  there  let  one  flame  quench  the  matter. 
These,  sir,  from  your  sincere  friend  and  servant  in  all  things 
lawful  and  laudable.  Hez.  Gold." 

"Stratford,  July   21,   1741." 

In  February,  1743,  Mr.  Johnson  and  his  people  began  the 
proceedings  which  secured,  within  two  years,  a  new  church 
edifice;  and  shortly  alter  commencing  this  work  he  learned 
that  in  that  same  month  the  University  of  Oxford,  England, 
had  conferred  on  him  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity. 

The  new  Church  was  opened,  though  unfinished,  by  a 
sermoii  from  Doctor  Johnson,  July  8,  1744,  and  he  enjoyed  the 
privilege  of  preaching  in  it  regularly  ten  years,  when  in  1754 
he  accepted  the  presidency  of  the  New  York  College,  al- 
though he  neither  resigned  his  pastorate  nor  removed  his 
famil}^  from  Stratford. 

His  wife  Charity  died  June  i,  1758,  and  while  in  the  col- 
lege in  1761,  he  married  Mrs.  Sarah,  widow  of  William  Beach 
of  Stratford.  She  was  the  daughter  of  Capt.  Joseph  Hull,  of 
Derby,  born  in  1701,  and  was  great  aunt  to  Gen.  William 
Hull.  She  died  of  the  small  pox  Feb.  9,  1763,  in  New  York. 
Soon  after  this  Dr.  Johnson  returned  to  Stratford  where  he 
had  a  home  with  his  son  Wm.  Samuel  until  his  decease,  Jan. 
6,  1772. 


Biographical  Sketches.  365 

The  interesting  details  of  tiie  ministerial,  religious,  and 
literary  life  and  character  of  Dr.  Johnson  are  well  portrayed 
in  his  "  Life  and  Correspondence,"  by  the  Rev.  E.  E.  Beards- 
ley,  D.D.,  of  New  Haven,  Conn.,  in  a  volume  of  380  pages, 
with  a  fine  steel  portrait. 

In  the  history  of  the  Colony  and  State  of  Connecticut, 
he  will  ever  hold  a  prominent  place,  and  in  that  of  the 
Episcopal  Church  in  America  it  would  be  ingratitude  not 
to  accord  him  the  honor  of  being  its  founder,  and  earliest 
as  well  as  most  successful  champion  and  builder. 

Thomas  Salmon,  born  in  Chippenham,  England,  came 
from  London  to  Stratford,  and  married  Sarah,  daughter  of 
William  Jeans,  about  1719.  He  was  an  architect  and  super- 
intended the  building  of  the  first  Episcopal  Church  at  Strat- 
ford. The  tradition  in  the  family  says,  he  brought  the  ceil- 
ing, the  sounding-board,  the  pulpit,  and  other  ornamental 
work  in  that  Church  with  him  from  England."  If  this  was 
so,  then  it  seems  that  there  must  have  been  some  move- 
ment or  efforts  in  Stratford  to  build  a  Church  in  171 8  or 
1719,  of  which  there  is  no  record  so  far  as  known,  or  Mr. 
Salmon  was  sent  to  England  for  them.  His  gravestone, 
which,  with  that  of  his  wife,  is  in  the  Episcopal  burying- 
place,  says  he  was  "  a  worthy  member  of  the  Church  ot 
England  here,  and  the  ingenius  architect  of  the  Church 
and  departed  this  life  January  20,  1749-50,  in  the  57th  year 
of  his  age."  From  this  it  may  be  inferred  that  he  was  the 
architect  of  the  second  Church,  built  in  1743,  and  if  so  he 
was  "an  ingenius"  and  superior  builder. 

John  Benjamin  came  to  Stratford  about  1726,  and  in 
Jan.  1726-7,  purchased  "a  certain  messuage  tenement  and  shop 
....  at  a  place  called  Pond  brook,  and  one-quarter  of  an  acre 
of  land  whereon  the  house  and  shop  stand,  the  land  being 
'  bounded  all  round  with  highways  and  common  land.'  "  This 
property  he  exchanged  in  1736  with  Richard  Rogers  of  New 
London,  for  a  dwelling  house  near  Stratford  Ferry,  and  this 
he  exchanged  with  Josiah  Curtiss  for  land  and  a  dwelling 
house  and  barn,  "  lying  near  the  said  Stratford  Old  Society's 

"  Giddings  Family,  by  Mr.  M.  S.  Giddings,  49. 


366  History  of  Stratford. 

meeting--house,"  and  six  acres  of  land  "  lying  at  a  place  called 
Intact." 

Mr.  Benjamin  at  once  united  in  the  support  of  the  Epis- 
copal Church  and  his  name  is  prominent  among  its  officers 
nearly  to  his  decease,  April  13,  1773,  in  the  73d  year  of  his 
age.  His  descendants  are  still  prominent  in  the  town.  His 
grandson  Aaron  entered  the  Revolutionary  Army  when  quite 
young,  and  served  his  country  as  a  brave  soldier  and  Colonel 
through  that  war,  and  lived  over  forty  years  to  enjoy  the 
honor  and  privileges  of  the  national  liberty  secured  by  that 
great  conflict. 

Col.  John  J^enjainiUf  Jr.,  was  a  prominent  citizen, 
and  served  as  organist  in  the  Episcopal  Church  about  sixteen 
years,  most  of  the  time,  apparently,  without  compensation. 
He  was  prominent  in  sustaining  the  Revolutionary  War, 
serving  some  of  the  time  in  the  army,  and  in  some  of  the 
most  important  committees  and  public  positions  at  home  dur- 
ing the  contest.  He  was  captain  of  the  train  band  or  militia, 
made  Colonel  of  the  same  after  the  Revolution.  It  is  said  he 
was  a  goldsmith  and  made  the  weather-cock  still  standing  on 
the  Episcopal  Church.     He  was  town  treasurer  in  1777. 

William  Heachf  son  of  Isaac,  the  son  of  John,  the  first 
of  the  name  in  Stratford,  was  born  in  1694,  and  died  July 
26,  175 1.  H.e  married  Sarah,  the  daughter  of  Capt.  Joseph 
Hull  in  1725.  Her  father  belonged  to  one  of  the  wealthiest 
and  most  influential  families  in  Derby.  After  the  death  of 
Mr.  Beach  she  married  Dr.  Samuel  Johnson  and  died  in  New 
York  in  1763. 

William  Beach  was  the  brother  of  the  Rev.  John  Beach, 
a  Congregational  and  afterwards  an  Episcopal  clergyman  of 
prominence,  and  he  became  a  prominent  citizen  in  this  his 
native  town.  His  father,  Isaac  Beach,  was  a  tailor  by  trade 
and  does  not  appear  largely  in  the  offices  of  the  town  or  as  a 
land  holder.  He  married  Hannah,  daughter  of  John  Birdsey., 
Jr.,  in  1693,  and  died  in  1750,  in  his  71st  year. 

William  Beach  joined  the  Episcopal  Church  not  long 
after  his  brother's  ordination  in  that  Church  in  1732.  In  the 
building  of  the  second  Episcopal  house  of  worship  he  was 
the  largest  contributor,  and  in  that  relation  did  a  very  impor- 


Biographical  Sketches.  367 

tant  and  benevolent  work.  Dr.  Johnson  said  he  "  contributed 
above  three  thousand  pounds,  our  currency  ;"  and  altli()u<4;h 
the  Connecticut  currency  was  at  that  time  a  great  way  below 
par, yet  the  contribution  was  a  very  large  one  for  those  days; 
and  represents  him  as  the  foremost  person  in  the  town  at  that 
time,  in  giving  to  such  an  enterprise,  including  the  Congre- 
gationalists,  who  built  a  meeting-house  the  same  year. 

Some  extracts  are  here  introduced  from  the  ''Historical 
Discourse,  delivered  in  Christ  Church,  Stratford,  Conn.,  on 
the  fifth  Sunday  in  Lent,  March  28th,  1855,  by  the  Rev.  John 
A.  Paddock,  M.A.,  Rector." 

This  discourse  was  prepared  with  much  care,  research 
and  unbiassed  fidelity  to  historic  truth,  and  was  a  very  honor- 
able production." 

"  There  is  no  record  of  the  baptismal,  or  other  offices 
being  performed  here  from  the  beginning  of  the  Revolution 
till  after  the  close  of  the  war,"     But  there  seems  reason  for 

'-  Mr.  Paddock's  discourse  furnishes  the  following  as  to  the  first  efforts  of  the 
Episcopal  people  of  Stratford  to  secure  a  minister. 

"  A  petition  from  the  parish  for  a  clergyman,  addressed  to  the  Bishop  of  Lon- 
don on  the  first  of  April,  1707,  bears  the  signature  of  the  following  nineteen  men, 
acting  'in  behalf  of  the  rest:'  Richard  Blacklatch,  Isaac  Kneli,  Daniel  Shelton, 
Wm.  Rawlinson,  Jonathan  Pitman,  John  Peat,  Samuel  Gaskill,  Samuel  Hawley, 
William  Smith,  John  Skidmore,  Timothy  Titharton,  Archibald  Dunlop,  Thomas 
Edwards,  Isaac  Brint,  Daniel  Bennett,  Richard  Blacklatch,  Jr.,  Thomas  Brooks, 
Isaac  Stiles,  Samuel  Henry.     (Sermon,  page  8). 

"Letter  from  the  Wardens  and  Vestry  to  the  Venerable  Society,  1712.  The 
names  of  the  Wardens  and  Vestry  first  appear  this  year.  Wardens:  Timothy 
Titharton,  William  Smith.  Vestry:  William  Rawlinson,  William  Jeanes,  John 
Johnson,  Richard  Blacklatch,  Daniel  Shelton,  Archibald  Dunlop,  James  Hum- 
phreys, James  Clarke,  Edward  Borroughs."     (Sermon,  page  9.) 

"  In  1724,  the  wardens  and  vestry  were  chosen  from  Stratford,  Fairfield,  New- 
town, and  Ripton,  as  follows  :  Wardens  for  Stratford,  Nehcmiah  Loring,  Thomas 
Salmon  ;  for  Fairfield,  Dougal  Mackenzie  ;  for  Newtown,  John  Glover ;  for  Ripton, 
Daniel  Shelton,  Charles  Lane.  Vestry  for  Stratford,  Wm.  Jeanes,  Jonathan  Pit- 
man, John 'Johnson,  Richard  Blacklatch,  William  Smith,  Samuel  French,  Samuel 
Watkins,  Samuel  Blagg,  James  Laborie,  Jr.;  for  Fairfield,  James  Laborie,  Sen., 
Benjamin  Sturgis  ;  for  Newtown,  Samuel  Beers,  Robert  Seeley  ;  for  Ripton,  James 
Wakelee,  Richard  Blacklatch,  Nathaniel  Cogswell." 

1*  A  little  before  the  war  there  is  this  record,  April  20,  1772  :  "Voted  that  the 
pew  next  to  the  pulpit  be  given  to  Capt.  Philip  Nichols,  he  building  the  Christen- 
ing pew." 

"The',last  record  is  the  baptism  of  Asa,  son  of  Thomas  and  Ann  Curtiss  on 
the  3d  of  February,  1776. 


368  History  of  Stratford. 

supposing  that  the  churchmen  of  this  town  were  generally 
patriots. 

"  The  parish  seems  to  have  been  destitute  of  clerical  ser- 
vices for  some  time  after  Mr.  Kneeland's  death.  In  April, 
1778,  the  use  of  the  glebe  was  granted  to  his  widow  until  the 
appointment  of  another  incumbent  to  the  parish. 

"  In  1783,  the  Independence  of  the  United  States  was 
acknowledged  by  Great  Britain,  and  with  this  ended  the  aid 
extended  to  the  parish  by  the  society  in  England,  it  being 
deemed  incompatible  with  their  charter  to  carry  on  mission- 
ary operations  beyond  the  dominions  of  the  British  crown. 

"  The  parish  was  now  thrown  entirely  upon  its  own  re- 
sources, and,  notwithstanding  the  trials  of  the  previous  ten 
years,  it  soon  gave  proofs  of  life  and  vigor.  On  the  i8th  of 
April,  1784,  the  Rev.  Jeremiah  Learning,  D.D.,  was  called  to 
the  Rectorship  and  immediately  entered  upon  his  duties, 
which  he  continued  until  Easter,  1790,  when,  suffering  from 
the  infirmities  of  age,  he  resigned  his  position. 

"An  aged  communicant,  Mrs.  Susan  Johnson,  of  the 
parish,  who  received  the  statement  from  members  of  the  fam- 
ily of  a  former  generation,  informs  me  that  Bishop  Seabury's 
first  confirmation,  and  hence  the  first  administration  of  the 
rite  in  America,  was  in  this  church  in  which  we  are  now 
worshiping. 

"On  the  first  of  April,  1793,  the  Rev.  Ashbel  Baldwin, 
then  of  Litchfield,  was  called  to  the  rectorship  to  officiate 
here  two-thirds  of  the  time.  He  accepted  the  call,  devoting 
to  the  Church  at  Tashua  the  remaining  Sundays." 

Mev,  Aslibel  JBaldivin  was  born  in  Litchfield  on  the 
7th  of  March,  1757,  of  Congregational  parents,  and  was  grad- 
uated at  Yale  College  in  1776.  He  held  for  some  time,  dur- 
ing the  Revolutionary  War,  the  appointment  of  a  quarter- 
master in  the  Continental  Army  and  received  a  pension  from 
the  Government,  which  was  his  principal  means  of  support 
in  his  latter  days. 

He  became  a  clergyman  of  the  Episcopal  Church  and 
the  change  of  denomination  is  accounted  for  as  follows  : 

"  After  leaving  college,  he  engaged  himself,  temporarily, 
as  a  private  tutor  in  the  family  of  a  gentleman  on  Long  Island. 


Biographical  Sketches.  369 

The  family  belonged  to  the  Church  of  England,  and,  at  that 
date,  where  the  Episcopal  house  of  worship  was,  tor  any 
cause,  closed  on  Sunday,  it  was  customary  for  the  stanchest 
churchmen  to  turn  their  parlors  into  chapels  and  have  the 
regular  morning  service.  Mr.  Baldwin,  being  the  educated 
member  of  the  household,  was  required  to  act  as  the  family 
lay  reader,  and,  ashamed  to  confess  his  ignorance  of  the 
Prayer  Book,  he  sought  the  aid  and  friendship  of  the  gar- 
dener, who  instructed  him  in  the  use  of  the  '  Order  for  Morn- 
ing Prayre  ;'  and  soon  his  love  and  admiration  of  the  Liturgy 
and  conversion  to  the  Church  followed.'"* 

He  was  one  of  the  first  four  candidates  at  the  first  ordi- 
nation by  Bishop  Seabury  at  Middletown  in  1785,  and  after 
preaching  at  Litchfield  nearly  eight  years,  was  invited  to  the 
rectorship  of  the  Church  in  Stratford,  April  i,  1793,  which 
he  accepted,  the  p)arish  then  including  the  Church  at  Tashua. 
This  position  he  held  until  his  resignation  in  1824.  He  served 
the  Church  in  other  offices  most  efficiently  many  years  and 
departed  this  life  February  27,  1825,  and  was  buried  in  the 
Episcopal  burying  place. 

The  Rev.  Edward  Rutledge  succeeded  Mr.  Baldwin,  and 
served  until  the  spring  of  1829,  when  he  accepted  a  situation 
as  professor  in  the  University  of  Pennsylvania  at  Philadelphia. 

For  a  short  time  after  Mr.  Rutledge,  the  Rev.  Ashbel 
Steele  officiated  in  this  Church,  but  was  not  rector. 

The  Rev.  George  C.  Shephard  followed  him  from  Nov.  i, 
1829,  until  Easter,  1839. 

Several  other  clergymen  followed  these  in  succession, 
the  Rev.  Edwin  W.  Wiltbank,  the  Rev.  Alfred  A.  Miller,  the 
Rev.  John  Morgan,  the  Rev.  James  Scott,  and  on  the  28th  of 
October,  1849,  the  Rev.  John  A.  Paddock  commenced  his 
labors  here,  and  the  next  April  30th  was  admitted  to  the 
order  of  priests  by  Bishop  Brownell. 


'*  History  of  the  Church  in  Connecticut,  ii.  345  and  425. 


CHAPTER   XV. 


THE    REVOLUTIONARY    WAR. 


INGS  and  monarchs  have  nearly  always 
estimated  too  lightly  the  power  of  the  com- 
mon people  they  pretended  and  sought  to 
govern,  until  it  was  too  late  to  govern  at  all. 
King  George  III.  of  Great  Britain,  and  his 
Ministers  of  State,  were  no  exceptions  to 
this  law  or  want  of  wisdom,  in  1776,  and 
hence  the  American  Revolution  and  the 
Independence  of  the  United  States, 

The  loyalt}'  of  New  England  had  been 
exhibited  previously,  by  its  aid  in  the  war 
between  England  and  France,  by  the  num- 
ber, energy  and  success  of  volunteers  and 
the  expenses  borne.  In  the  capture  of 
Louisburgh  the  Connecticut  soldiers  under 
Capt.  David  Wooster  bore  an  honorable  part ;  there  being, 
however,  only  one  memorandum  concerning  it  on  the  Strat- 
ford town  records,  so  far  as  seen. 

"Zebulon  Lorin  of  Stratford  having  been  a  soldier  in  the 
reduction  of  Louisburgh  and  the  Island  of  Cape  Brittain,  in 
the  Col.  Goreham  Regiment  and  in  Capt.  Lumber's  Com- 
pany, sold  for  ten  pounds  current  money  to  Capt.  David 
Wooster  of  New  Haven,  all  title  to  his  right  in  '  Plunder, 
stock  of  plunder,  captures,  stock  of  captures  and  all  my  right, 
title,  interest  and  claim  to  the  soil,  land  and  appertenances 
upon  or  in  the  said  Island  of  Cape  Brittain  and  parts  adjoin- 
ing.' March  27,  1746, — 19th  year  of  the  Reign  of  Our  Sover- 
eign Lord  George  II.  King,  &c." 

No  account  of  the  part  Stratford  had  in  the  French  war 
has  been  obtained  except  that  which  appears  incidentally  in 
the  following  record  of  the  acts  of  the  General  Assembly,  but 


Revolutionary    War.  371 

a  careful  perusal  of  the  colon}'  records  shows  Connecticut  to 
have  done  grandly  in  soldiers  and  money  in  I  hat  war. 

The  following  is  one  item  only,  amounting  in  the  aggre- 
gate to  ;^2376-ii*-6^. 

"October  1758.  On  the  memorial  of  the  inhabitants  of 
the  towns  of  Fairfield,  Milford,  Stratford,  Norwalk  and 
Stanford,  praying  for  the  reimbursement  of  the  charge  and 
expense  for  quartering  Col.  Frasiers  Highland  Battalion  the 
last  winter;  Resolved  by  this  Assembly  that  the  treasurer  of 
this  Colony  be  and  hereby  is  ordered  and  directed  to  pay  out 
the  Colony  treasury  to  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Fairfield 
the  sum  of  ;^449-i6*-3'^ ;  Milford  the  sum  of  ;/^429- 12^-4^2 •* ; 
Stratford  ;^435-io^-ii^^  Norwalk,  £i^c)-f-2y2^  \  Stanford, 
^^369-1 3^-4^'*,  for  charges  and  expenses  referred  to," 

But  these  appropriations  did  not  settle  the  matter,  for  it 
came  before  the  Assembly  the  next  spring,  and  a  committee 
was  appointed  to  investigate  the  expenses  and  make  report, 
and  the  next  October  another  committee  was  appointed  to 
complete  the  examination  of  the  matter,  but  the  towns  pre- 
ferred to  bring  the  matter  before  that  bod}-  at  that  time,  and 
it  ordered  the  following  sums  paid:  Fairfield,  ^491-15^-7*^; 
Milford,  ;^49i-io'-9'^;  Stratford,  ^72-5^-1 1** ;  Norwalk,  ^^487 
-5*-6*^;  and  Stanford,  ;^433-i3'-ii'^,  in  full  satisfaction  of  their 
said  respective  accounts." 

The  Regiment  of  Col.  Frasier  or  a  part  of  it  lay  encamped 
in  Stratford,  during  the  winter  of  1757  and  8,  on  the  common 
east  of  the  old  Episcopal  burying-ground.  He  and  his  com- 
missioned officers  occupied  the  house  then  recently  built,  but 
never  occupied,  by  the  Rev.  Izrahiah  Wetmore."  Col.  Frasier 
was  he  who  said  that  with  one  regiment  he  could  march 
through  North  America. 

The  Rev.  I.  Wetmore  recorded  Jan.  29,  1758,  the  baptism 
of  Bettee  the  daughter  of  Daniel  Gunn,  drum  Major  in  Col. 
Frasier's  regiment. 

He  also  records:  "On  October  6,  1760,  baptised  Victory 
the  son  of  Iz.  Wetmore,  born  the  8th  of  September  previous, 
the  day  Montreal  was  taken." 

'  Vol.  ii.  Town  Records. 


372  History   of  Stratford. 

It  is  said  that  Col.  Frasier's  men  amused  themselves  at 
times  in  shooting  at  the  weather-cock  at  the  top  of  the 
Episcopal  Church  spire,  which  they  pierced  several  times, 
as  may  still  be  witnessed  by  climbing  to  it." 

The  records  of  Stratford  introduce  us  to  the  part  which 
that  town  was  to  take  in  the  Revolution  by  three  votes  in 
town  meeting. 

"December  19,  1774,  Ichabod  Lewis  moderator.  In  the 
meeting  were  read  the  proceedings  of  the  Continental  Con- 
gress, and  the  association  therein  recommended,  and  unani- 
mousl}^  appeared  as  the  most  peaceable  and  likely  method  to 
be  pursued  at  present,  and  that  we  will  firmly  adhere  to  the 
measures  proposed  in  said  association  until  the  next  General 
Congress,  unless  we  obtain  redress  of  our  grievances  before 
that  time.     Passed  without  contradiction. 

"Voted  N.  C.  D.'  that  a  committee  be  chosen  in  the 
several  parts  of  this  town  to  observe  the  conduct  of  all  per- 
sons relative  to  said  association  and  proceed  thereon  accord- 
ing to  the  advice  therein  given  :  and  Mess.  Robert  Fairchild, 
Deacon  Johnson,  John  Brooks,  Esqr.,  Capt.  Isaiah  Brown, 
Capt.  Samuel  Whiting,  Capt.  Daniel  Judson,  Isaac  Nichols, 
William  Pixlee,  Mr.  Nathan  Birdsey,  Mr.  Joseph  Curtiss, 
Maj.  Agur  Judson,  Ichabod  Lewis,  Daniel  Fairchild,  Esqr., 
Capt.  Abraham  Brinsmade,  Capt.  Nathan  Booth,  Capt.  Sam- 
uel Blakeman,  Capt.  Stephen  Burroughs,  Elnathan  Curtiss 
and  Abijah  Starling  were  chosen  a  committee  for  the  purpose 
abovesaid." 

The  first  great  overt  war  act  of  the  British  government 
towards  the  colonies  was  the  blockading  of  Boston.     No  act 

*  The  officers  of  Col.  Frasier's  Highland  Regiment  quartered  in  Stratford  and 
Milford  in  1757  and  8  were  : 

Hon.  Col.  Simon  Frasier,  Lieut.  Alexander  McLoud, 

Capt.  John  McPherson,  Lieut.  Simon  Frasier, 

Capt.  John  Campbell,  Lieut.  William  McDonald, 

Capt.  Charles  Baile)',  Lieut.  Hector  McDonald, 

Lieut.  John  Cuthbert,  Ensign  Simon  Frasier, 

Lieut.  Charles  McDonald.  Ensign  John  Chisholm, 

Lieut.  John  Frasier,  Adjutant  Hugh  Frasier. 

In  1759,  Sergt.  William  Young  and  Captain  Gordon  of  the  48th  Regiment. 

^  Nemine  contra  dicente.     Without  one  dissenting  voice. 


Revolutionary   War.  ^y7 

could  have  been  more  fortunate  for  America  and  unfortunate 
for  England,  since  nothing  could  move  the  sympathies  of  the 
people  throughout  the  country  as  the  causing  of  indiscrimin- 
ate suffering  of  helpless  women  and  children  of  the  poorer 
classes.  This  is  clearly  set  forth  in  the  resolution  of  the  town 
when  assembled,  December  19,  1774. 

"The  meeting  then  took  into  their  serious  consideration 
of  the  unhappy  circumstances  of  the  poor  people  of  Boston, 
now  suffering  in  the  common  cause  of  American  liberty  under 
the  oppressive  acts  of  the  British  Parliament  called  the  Bos- 
ton Post  Bill  ;  and  thereupon  unanimously  voted,  that  a 
subscription  be  immediately  opened,  and  collection  be  made 
and  sent  as  soon  as  may  be,  for  the  relief  of  the  poor  sufferers 
in  that  town;  and  Mess^  Philip  Nichols,  Josiah  Hubbell, 
David  Hawley,  Nathan  Bennitt,  Stephen  Burroughs  and 
Legrand  Cannon,  are  appointed  a  committee  to  solicit  and 
transmit  to  Boston  such  donations  as  they  shall  receive,  by 
any  safe  opportunity,  addressed  to  the  committee  appointed 
to  take  care  of,  and  employ  the  poor  of  that  place. 

"Attest,  Robert  Fairchild,  Town  Clerk." 

In  this  list  of  names  may  be  seen  Episcopalians  as  well  as 
Congregationalists ;  and  the  same  is  true  throughout  the 
struggle  to  the  end  of  the  war. 

The  next  year — Dec.  18,  1775 — the  town  appointed  as  a 
"  Committee  of  Observation,"  the  following  persons: 

"  Robert  Fairchild,  Daniel  Fairchild,  Esqr., 

John  Brooks,  Esq.,  Capt.  Abram  Brinsmade, 

Capt.  Isaiah  Brown,  Capt.  Nathan  Booth, 

CoL  Samuel  Whiting.  Capt.  Lemuel  Blackman, 

Daniel  Judson,  Esq.,  Capt.  Stephen  Burroughs, 

Mr.  William  Pixlee,  Mr.  Elnathan  Curtiss, 

Mr.  Isaac  Nichols,  Mr.  Abijah  Starling, 

Mr.  Joseph  Curtiss,  David  Wilcockson,  Esq., 

Maj.  Agur  Judson,  Mr.  George  Thompson." 
Col.  Ichabod  Lewis, 

The  battle  of  Lexington,  Mass.,  occurred  on  the  19th  of 
April,  1775,  and  the  above  seems  to  be  the  first  vote  of  Strat- 
ford  in  sustaining  the  war.     The  next  year,   in    December. 

25 


374  History  of  Stratford. 

1776,  after  the  Declaration  of  Independence,  a  like  committee 
was  appointed,  but  it  was  called  the  "  Committee  of  Inspec- 
tion," and  consisted  of  the  following  persons  : 

"  Capt.  Ebenezer  Coe,  Daniel  Bennitt, 

Capt.  Nathaniel  Wheeler,  Benjamin  Deforest, 

John  Benjamin,  Maj.  Agur  Jiidson, 

William  Thompson,  Edmund  Leavenworth, 

Capt.  Isaiah  Brown,  Capt. Abraham  Brinsmade, 

William  Pixley,  Stephen  Middlebrook, 

Capt.  Samuel  Beers,  David  Wells, 

Abijah  Sterling,  Thomas  Hawley, 

Nehemiah  Deforest." 

At  the  same  time  they  passed  the  following: 

"Voted,  that  watch  and  ward  be  kept  in  this  town  at  the 
discretion  of  civil  authority  and  selectmen  as  to  the  number 
from  time  to  time,  and  to  appoint  a  grand  officer  or  officers 
to  superintend  said  watch  who  shall  be  under  the  discretion 
of  said  authority  and  selectmen,  and  obey  their  instructions, 
and  said  grand  officers  shall  be  rewarded  for  their  time  while 
on  duty  not  exceeding  soldier's  wages. 

"January  13,  1777,  Messrs.  Joseph  Curtiss,  Capt.  John 
Sherwood,  John  Hinman,  William  Wordin  and  Aaron  Haw- 
ley, were  added  to  the  above  committee  of  inspection." 

A  special  town  meeting  was  called,  and  met  at  Trumbull, 
probably,  as  being  more  central  and  convenient  for  the  whole 
township,  since  no  part  of  the  original  township  had  then 
been  taken  from  it  by  the  formation  of  any  other  town  ;  and 
decided  action  was  taken. 

"  At  a  meeting  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Strat- 
ford, holden  at  North  Stratford  Parish  at  said  Parish  meeting 
house,  on  Monday  the  7th  of  April,  1777,  in  consequence  of 
an  order  or  requisition  made  by  his  honor  the  Governor  and 
Council  of  Safety  holden  at  Lebanon  on  ye  i8th  March,  ult, 
said  meeting  being  duly  warned,  chosen  Mr.  Nathan  Birdsey, 
moderator,  and  John  Brooks,  clerk.  Committees  chosen:  for 
the  old  society,  Capt.  Samuel  Beers,  Lieut.  Ephraim  Will- 
cockson  and  William  Pixlee  ;  for  Ripton,  Maj.  Agur  Judson 
and  Elisha  Mills;  for  North  Stratford,   Stephen  Middlebrook 


Revolutionary   War.  ^75 

and  Eliakim  Walker;  for  Stratfield,  Nathan  Nichols  and 
Jabez  Summers;  for  New  Stratford,  Capt.  Nathan  Booth  and 
Dea.  John  Judson;  for  New  Stratford,  west  part,  Benjamin 
Beardsley. 

"The  meeting  proceeded  to  vote  unanimously  that  they 
will  give  as  an  additional  bounty  to  all  such  as  shall  or  have 
inlisted  themselves  into  the  Continental  service  for  the  time 
of  three  years  or  during  the  war,  the  sum  of  ten  pounds  law- 
ful money,  and  that  this  donation  shall  be  paid  to  such  only 
as  are  inlisted  to  it  and  belong  to  the  quota  of  men  this  town 
is  to  raise. 

"Voted,  also  a  tax  or  rate  on  the  pound  of  eight  pence 
for  the  purpose  abovesaid,  on  the  list  for  the  year  1776,  and 
that  Capt.  John  Benjamin  collect  the  same,  and  that  the  col- 
lector pay  the  same  into  the  hands  of  the  selectmen  from  time 
to  time  for  the  purpose  above  mentioned." 

The  following  is  a  sample  of  the  drafting  and  of  paying 
fines  at  the  early  stage  of  the  war,  as  shown  by  the  dates.  It 
is  said  that  Daniel  McEwen  was  a  locksmith  and  his  trade  at 
this  time  in  making  and  repairing  guns  was  so  profitable  that 
he  could  afford  to  pay  his  fine  every  few  months,  besides 
remaining  at  home,  somewhat  shielded  from  danger. 

"Stratford,  May  14,  1777. 
"To  Mr.  Daniel  McEwen,  Sen. 

In  pursuance  of  Regimental  Orders  after  a  fair  Lot  drawn  ;  you  are  to  equip 
yourself;  and  you  are  detached  to  serve  as  a  guard  under  the  Command  of  Col. 
Samuel  Whiting  until  January  next  unless  sooner  discharged. 

John  Benjamin,  Captain." 

"Stratford,  May  15,  1777. 
Then  Received  of  Mr.  Daniel  McEwen,  five  pounds  lawful  money  in  full  for  a 
fine  for  not  serving  until  January  next  under  the  command  of  Col.  Samuel  Whit- 
ing, when  drafted.  Reed  per  me 

John  Benjamin,   Town  Treasurer." 

"  Stratford,  Sept.  30,  1777. 
Reed  of  Mr.  Daniel  McEwen,  five  pounds  L.  Money  for  a  fine  for  neglect  of 
duty  when  drafted  to  serve  under  Col.  John  Mead. 

Reed  per  me 

John  Benjamin,    T.  Treasurer." 

At  another  special  meeting  held  Nov.  10,  1777,  they  made 
the  following  record  : 


276  History  of  Stratford. 

"  The  laws  were  read  in  said  meeting  respecting  the  pro- 
viding of  necessaries  for  the  Continental  soldiers,  &c.,  and 
were  of  opinion  it  ought  to  be  done,  and  thereupon  appointed 
Messrs.  Mr.  Joseph  Curtiss,  Capt.  John  Benjamin,  Capt. 
Joseph  Birdsey,  Mr.  Zechariah  Lewis,  Capt.  Joseph  Burton, 
Daniel  Fairchild,  Esqr.,  Mr.  David  Wells,  Nehemiah  Deforest, 
Capt.  Robert  Hawley,  and  Capt.  John  Sherwood,  a  commit- 
tee to  provide  immediately  all  those  necessaries  for  said  sol- 
diers as  the  law  directs. 

"  Voted  in  said  meeting  that  Messrs.  Ephraim  Willcock- 
son,  William  Pixlee,  Maj.  Agur  Judson,  Elisha  Mills,  Esqr., 
Stephen  Middlebrook,  Eliakim  Walker,  Nathan  Nichols, 
Jabez  Summers,  Capt.  Nathan  Booth,  Dea.  John  Judson,  and 
Benjamin  Beardslee  are  reappointed  a  committee  for  the  pur- 
pose of  supplying  the  families  of  such  soldiers  as  are  in  the 
Continental  service,  as  the  law  directs." 

One  month  later,  Dec.  22,  1777,  a  committee  was  ap- 
pointed to  receive  all  provisions  the  people  were  disposed  to 
give  for  the  support  of  the  soldiers'  families,  and  another  was 
appointed  to  distribute  the  same ;  and  a  tax  was  laid  of  six- 
pence on  the  pound.  This  made  two  taxes  voted  in  one  year, 
amounting  to  fourteen  pence  per  pound. 

Also,  a  committee  of  inspection  was  appointed  as  usual 
for  the  year. 

Capt.  JEbenezev  Coe,  who  was  elected  deacon  in  the 
Congregational  Church  in  1784,  was  a  captain  in  the  Ameri- 
can army  and  left  the  following  brief  record  of  his  service 
and  misfortunes  in  that  war. 

"  An  account  of  the  singular  misfortune  and  deliverances 
which  befel  me  during  the  contest. 

"  Aug.  13,  1776,  marched  to  New  York  with  my  company 
as  Lieutenant  at  the  time,  and  on  the  15th  of  September,  pro- 
videntially escaped  from  the  enemy  to  Harlem  hills  and 
arrived  home  on  the  17th,  after  which  I  was  sick  some  months. 

"On  the  25th  of  April,  1777,  twelve  o'clock  at  night, 
marched  to  Fairfield.  The  next  day  to  Danbury  ;  27th  to 
Ridgefield,  it  being  Lord's  day  ;  attacked  the  enemy ;  re- 
ceived a  musket  ball  through  my  head,  cutting  off  a  part  of 
my   right  ear  and   carrying  away  my   right  eye.     I  fell,  as 


Revolutionary   War.  t^-j-j 

dead,  lay  a  time,  but  recovered  to  my  thoughts,  after  bcini^^ 
inhumanly  stabbed  with  a  bayonet  in  my  side  and  right  hand 
while  1  lay  unfeelingly  as  dead  ;  which  perhaps  was  the 
means,  by  turning  the  stream  of  blood  another  way,  of  saving 
my  life. 

"  At  this  time,  being  come  to  my  thoughts,  was  abused, 
robbed,  and  repeatedly  threatened  with  instant  death.  But 
blessed  be  the  name  of  the  Lord,  who  delivered  me  from 
death  and  from  the  hand  of  my  enemies,  who  heard  my  cry 
in  the  night  of  distress,  as  in  the  i42d  Psalm,  and  brought 
me  to  my  house,  the  21st  day  of  Ma3^  '  Bless  the  Lord,  O 
my  soul  and  forget  not  all  his  bjenetits.'  " 

Tradition  explains  further,  that  while  Captain  Coe  lay  on 
the  field  wounded  a  British  soldier  was  about  to  pierce  him 
with  a  bayonet  when  a  superior  officer  severely  reprimanded 
him,  took  up  Captain  Coe,  carried  him  to  a  school  house  near 
by,  examined  his  commission  which  was  in  his  pocket,  ex- 
pressed his  sorrow  at  being  unable  to  give  him  further  aid 
and  withdrew. 

The  Captain  recovered  and  lived  many  years  afterwards. 

"  Dec.  31,  1 78 1.  On  motion  in  town  meeting,  it  was 
voted  that  the  house  purchased  by  the  selectmen  from  Mr. 
Silas  Nichols  for  the  horse-neck  service,  be  given  and  granted 
as  a  free  donation  to  Capt.  Ebenezer  Coe,  as  a  compensation 
in  part  for  his  suffering  and  loss  occasioned  by  the  enemy 
landing  on  Stratford  Point  last  summer. 

"  William  Thompson  was  also  present  from  Stratford  at 
■the  fight  at  Danbury.  At  Ridgefield  he  was  wounded,  and 
while  in  that  condition  a  British  soldier  stepped  up  and  blew 
out  his  brains  with  his  gun." 

The  following  resolves  sent  to  Stratford  for  their  consid- 
eration and  adoption,  manifest  a  remarkable  degree  of  clear 
perception  and  discriminating  judgment,  precisely  as  to  what 
the  people  intended  to  secure  by  their  resistance  to  England  ; 
and  the  people  of  Stratford  on  hearing  them  read,  quickly 
decided  to  pass  them  without  alteration  ;  and  here  is  a  for- 
cible illustration  that  the  people  understood  that  they  were 
contending  for  great  principles  of  government  that  were 
worthy  of  the  efforts  and  sacrifices  they  were  making  to 
secure  them. 


3/8  History  of  Stratford. 

"Stratford,  Second  Monday  of  January,  1778. 

The  meeting  took  into  consideration  the  Articles  of  Con- 
federation proposed  and  recommended  by  the  Continental 
Congress,  and  being  read  and  deliberately  considered,  para- 
graph by  paragraph,  and  were  adopted  and  approved  by  said 
meeting,  and  the  Representatives  be  instructed  to  give  their 
voice  for  the  approbation  in  General  Assembly. 

"  The  meeting  then  proceeded  to  adopt  several  resolves 
of  the  town  of  Norwich  which  was  thought  of  such  impor- 
tance to  the  privileges  of  the  people,  and  so  seasonably  pre- 
sented to  the  meeting  as  to  need  no  emendation. 

"  First.  The  Representatives  of  the  freemen  of  this 
town,  use  their  utmost  influence  in  the  General  Assembly  to 
have  the  Delegates  in  Congress  chosen  by  the  freemen  of  this 
State  in  the  same  manner  as  the  Assistants  in  this  State  are 
chosen. 

"  2dly.  That  they  use  their  influence  to  procure  an  alter- 
ation of  the  mode  of  taxation  in  such  a  manner  that  the  same 
may  be  levied  on  the  inhabitants  in  proportion  to  the  worth 
of  their  whole  estate,  which  method  alone  we  conceive  to  be 
equitable. 

"  3dly.  That  they  endeavor  to  procure  an  act  to  be 
made  and  passed  that  all  male  persons  in  this  State  who  are 
obliged  by  law  to  give  in  their  list  and  able  to  pay  taxes  and 
are  of  sober  life  and  conversation,  and  have  taken  the  oath  to 
the  State  (and  of  Freemen)  may  have  the  privilege  of  voting 
in  all  Freemen's  Towns  and  Societies  meetings,  when  they 
are  liable  to  pay  taxes  in  consequence  of  those  votes. 

"4thly.  That  they  also  endeavor  to  have  the  debates  in 
the  Assembly  be  made  as  public  as  may  be,  and  that  the  yeas 
and  nays  in  every  important  question  be  noted  in  the  Journal 
and  published  that  the  towns  may  have  them. 

"  Sthly.  That  they  use  their  influence  that  the  Delegates 
of  this  State  in  Congress  be  instructed  to  transmit  to  the 
Assembly  a  list  of  the  yeas  and  nays  in  every  important 
question,  and  that  the  publication  of  the  Journal  of  Congress 
may  be  printed  with  the  greatest  dispatch  and  sent  to  the 
different  States. 

"  The  foregoing  several  Resolves  the  Clerk  is  directed 
to  give  in  writing  to  the  Representatives  of  this  Town. 


Revolutionary   War.  -ijn 

"  The  several  matters,  causes  and  complaints  of  several 
persons  who  deserted  from  the  Fish  Kills  and  Peeks  Kills  in 
the  company  in  October  last,  for  which  desertion  they  have 
been  prosecuted  and  fined,  and  said  tine  secured  or  to  be 
secured  in  the  town  treasury  :  On  motion,  voted,  that  Samuel 
Whiting,  Abraham  Brinsmade,  Esqr.,  Mr.  Nathan  Birdsey, 
and  Deacon  Daniel  Bennitt  be  and  are  hereby  appointed  a 
committee  to  hear  and  enquire  into  the  causes  of  their  said 
desertion,  and  if  it  shall  appear  to  the  satisfaction  of  said 
committee  that  the  aforesaid  deserters  have  reason  sutificient 
to  excuse  themselves  from  said  fine  the  committee  are  accord- 
ingly to  make  their  report  to  proper  authority,  and  the  town 
voted  to  give  up  their  fines,  yet  not  so  as  to  make  this  a  pre- 
cedent or  to  countenance  desertion  in  future." 

"  Mar.  20,  1778.  The  meeting  proceeded,  as  was  designed 
in  the  warning,  to  read,  particularly  and  distinctly  the  present 
act  of  the  General  Assembly  made  at  Hartford  on  the  12th 
day  of  February,  1778,  entitled  an  act  for  the  regulation  of 
the  prices  of  labour,  produce,  manufactures,  and  commodities 
within  this  State  ;  likewise  the  doings,  requisitions  and  stat- 
ings  of  civil  authority  and  selectmen  of  this  town,  on  the 
several  articles,  &c.,  &c.,  not  particularly  enumerated  in  said 
act,  which  duty  as  aforesaid,  the  said  act  does  enjoin;  at  the 
same  time  also  was  laid  and  read  before  said  meeting  a 
Resolve  of  the  General  Assembly  of  this  State  at  their  session 
in  Hartford  on  the  2d  Tuesday  of  January,  1778,  requiring 
this  town  to  procure  a  quantity  of  clothing  for  the  Continen- 
tal troops,  &c.,  as  per  sd  Resolve. 

"The  meeting  after  hearing  the  foregoing  act.  Stating  of 
the  town  and  Resolves  of  the  Assembly  ;  and  approved  there- 
of, did  proceed  to  vote,  ist,  that  this  meeting  does  recom- 
mend that  a  suitable  number  of  men  in  each  society  oi  the 
Town  do  enter  into  an  association  and  mutual  engagement 
with  each  other,  to  assist  the  civil  magistrate  and  all  intorm- 
ing  officers,  to  carry  effectually  into  execution  all  breaches  of 
the  present  regulating  act  of  Assembly,  and  the  doings  and 
statings  of  the  civil  authority  and  selectmen  of  this  town 
thereon,  and  this  meeting  by  their  vote  also  do  earnestly 
recommend  that  the  members  of  which  this  association  may 


38o 


History  of  Stratford. 


be  composed,  be  vigilant  in  complaining  of  and  prosecuting 
all  breaches  of  this  act,  which  shall  be  considered  by  this 
meeting  as  rendering  (not  only  this  town)  but  the  public  the 
most  essential  service. 

"  Voted  secondly,  that  Mr.  Joseph  Curtiss,  Mr.  Nathan 
Birdsey  and  Capt.  Benjamin  of  this  Society  ;  Capt.  Joseph 
Burton  and  Mr.  Daniel  Hawley,  of  North  Stratford  parish, 
Woolcot  Hawley  of  Stratfield  parish,  Zechariah  Lewis  and 
Samuel  Beard  of  Ripton  parish,  Nehemiah  DeForest  and 
Lieut.  David  Wells  of  New  Stratford  parish,  and  Capt.  John 
Sherwood  of  North  Fairfield  parish,  be  and  they  are  each 
and  every  of  them  appointed  as  a  committee  in  behalf  of  this 
town  to  purchase  and  procure  clothing,  &c.,'  for  the  Conti- 
nental troops  agreeable  to  the  directions  of  the  aforesaid  re- 
solve of  Assembly. 


3  North  Stratford,  March  ii,  1778. 

The  following  is  an  exact  account  of  the  donations  of  the  parish  of  North 
Stratford,  for  the  Continental  soldiers  in  the  southern  annj',  Valley  Ford,  belong- 
ing to  this  place,  sent  down  by  Lieut.  Beebe,  being  fifteen  in  number,  to  be  divided 
equally  between  them,  viz  :  the  following  persons  :  John  Downs,  Jeames  Downs, 
Abraham  Hawley,  Truman  French,  William  Dascom,  Daniel  Evis,  Nathan  Haw- 
ley, Reuben  Beach,  Joel  Mosher,  John  Craford,  Samuel  Henman,  Daniel  Sher- 
wood, Toney  Turney,  Caesar  Edwards,  and  Nero  Hawley. 

The  following  persons  were  the  donors  : 


Daniel  Beers o 

Jonathan  Beers, o 

Nathaniel  Mosour,. o 

David  Stratton -.  o 

Hawkins  Nichols, o 

Daniel  Turney, o 

David  Turney o 

Elnathan  Turney, o 

John  Turney, o 

Robert  Turney, o 

Gideon  Peet, o 

David  Edwards,  Jr., o 

John  Hains, o 

David  Barsley, o 

Thaddeus  Barsley,. o 

James  Barsley, o 

David  French, o 

John  Burton,.. o 


s. 

d. 

I 

10 

3 

GO 

3 

0 

3 

0 

3 

0 

3 

0 

2 

0 

3 

0 

12 

0 

5 

6 

5 

0 

2 

0 

3 

0 

3 

0 

I 

9 

3 

0 

4 

0 

6 

0 

Ichabod  Hawley, o 

Eliakim  Beach o 

Daniel  Beach, o 

Thomas  Edward's  wife, 0 

Joshua  Henman, o 

John  Beach,. o 

Reuben  Sherwood, o 

Enoch  Henman, o 

Josiah  Henman, o 

Samuel  Turney o 

Joseph  Burroughs, o 

Samuel  Edwards, 0 

Edmon  Curtis, 0 

Gershom  Turney, o 

Ephraim  Sterling, o 

Peter  Beers, o 

Stephen  Middlebrook, o 


s. 

d. 

5 

0 

6 

0 

2 

0 

3 

9 

6 

0 

5 

0 

6 

0 

6 

0 

6 

0 

3 

0 

5 

0 

3 

0 

3 

0 

3 

0 

2 

0 

I 

0 

6 

0 

Revolutionary   War.  381 

"On  representation  made  to  this  meeting  by  Col.  Whit- 
ing and  Capt.  Joseph  Birdsey,  that  the  lines  at  the  Sawpitts 
were  in  a  defenceless  condition  for  want  of  men,  and  much 
exposed  to  the  enemy  and  that  although  there  had  been  a  late 
draft  from  the  militia  and  alarm  list  companies  of  this  town, 
and  regimental  orders  issued  to  them  to  march,  join  and  take 
part  at  the  said  Saw-Pitts  under  the  command  of  said  Capt. 
Joseph  Birdsey,  notwithstanding  which  order  many  had  re- 
fused to  join  said  Captain  as  aforesaid,  in  consequence  of 
which  default  orders  were  now  issuing  for  a  new  draft  to 
supply  the  deficiency  aforesaid.  Therefore,  in  order  to  en- 
courage the  soldiery,  on  motion  it  was  voted  that  this  town 
will  give  a  bounty  of  five  pounds  to  the  non-commissioned 
officers  and  soldiers  that  have  joined  or  shall  speedily  join 
said  company  at  said  post  under  the  command  of  said  Joseph 

The  subscribers  that  gave  cheese. 


lbs.  oz. 

Josiah  Henman, 5  o 

John  Edwards,  3d, 6  o 

David  Edwards,  3d, 6  o 

John  Edwards,  4th, 5 

Abigail  Mosour, 4  2 

Eliakim  Walker 5  4 


o 


12 


lbs.  oz. 

David  Salmon, 5       4 

Jabez  Beach 3     12 

Mrs.  Starling 4       4 

Mrs.  Beach, 4     12 

Joseph  Burton 7       4 

Benjamin  Burton, 6       o 

John  French, 6       8 

John  Wheeler,.. 6      o 

Subscribers  for  gammon. 

lbs.  oz.    I  lbs.  oz 

Andrew  Beach, i       8       John  Hinman, 4 

Abel  Beach, 4       o    j   Reuben  Sherwood 5       S 

William  Burritt,  neat  tongue,...  '  John  Turney 4       o 

Mrs.  Hinman,. 2       8    j   Agur  Beach 4       4 

Josiah  Hinman, 4       8    | 

Small  packs  sent — 

By  Elnathan  Seeley, 15     4    I   By  Andrew  Hawley 8     8 

By  Daniel  Hawle}', 6     o    |   By  Peter  Lewis 4     6 

North  Stratford,  12th  March.  1778. 
Then  received  of  Mr.  Stephen  Middlebrook.  the  sum  of  seven  pounds,  three 
shillings  and   ten   pence,  lawful   money,  for  the  purpose  of  paying  the  expenses 
of  transporting  a  donation  in  provisions,  from  the  parish  of  North  Stratford  to  the 
Continental  soldiers  of  that  parish,  Genl.  Washington's  Headquarters. 

pr.  James  Bkebee,   Captain."  * 
*  Manuscript  of  Major  L.  N.  Middlebrook  of  Bridgeport. 


382  History  of  Stratford. 

Birdsey  ;  provided  they  thus  continue  on  duty  the  term  of 
two  months,  or  are  sooner  discharged,  and  that  the  fines 
drawn  from  the  delinquents  or  to  be  recovered  from  them  be 
appropriated  for  the  aforementioned  purpose. 

October  12,  1778.  Voted  that  Mess'  Capt.  Samuel  Beers 
and  John  Brooks  Esqr.  be  and  they  are  hereby  appointed  a 
committee  to  receive  and  take  into  their  stores  and  keeping  a 
certain  quantity  of  salt,  supposed  to  be  about  seventy-five 
bushels,  the  property  of  the  town,  and  hold  and  dispose  of 
same  in  the  following  way  and  manner  (viz :)  to  deal  and 
deliver  out  said  salt  to  every  society  as  nearly  as  may  be 
according  to  their  respective  lists,  and  that  a  committee  be 
appointed  in  each  society  to  receive  their  proportion  of  said 
salt,  barter  and  exchange  the  same  to  the  inhabitants  of  said 
societies  respectively  for  necessary  provisions,  &c.,  and  no 
man  shall  be  allowed  to  purchase  by  exchange  more  than  half 
a  bushel  of  said  salt,  and  some  less  as  their  circumstances  may 
be,  at  the  discretion  of  the  committee  who  deal  out  and 
exchange  said  salt;  and  the  avails  of  said  salt  shall  be  appro- 
priated to  the  support  of  the  soldiers'  families  and  poor  of 
the  town  as  the  law  requires ;  and  said  committees  to  render 
their  accounts  to  the  next  town  meeting  of  their  doings 
thereon. 

"And  for  the  first  society,  John  Brooks,  Esqr.,  for  the 
society  of  Ripton  Mr.  Ebenezer  Blackman,  for  North  Strat- 
ford Mr.  Sylvanus  Starling,  for  Stratfield  Mr.  Wm.  Wardon, 
for  New  Stratford  Capt.  Samuel  Blackman,  and  for  North 
Fairfield,  part,  Capt.  John  Sherwood,  are  chosen  a  committee 
to  receive  the  proportionable  part  of  salt  belonging  to  each 
society  according  to  their  respective  list." 

The  year  1779  was  one  of  great  discouragement  to  the 
Colonies  because  many  things  seemed  to  forebode  defeat  to 
the  objects  for  which  the  strife  had  continued  for  four  years. 
In  July  Governor  Tryon  came  up  the  Sound  with  several 
hundred  soldiers  to  burn  and  destroy  the  villages  along  the 
shore.  On  the  7th  of  that  month  they  plundered  New  Haven 
and  on  the  nth  burned  Fairfield. 

Some  of  the  Stratford  people  were  greatly  frightened, 
and  engaged  in  an  effort  to  secure  the  place  against  future 


Revolutionary    War.  383 

calamity,   by  entreat}',   by  circulating  a   subscription   paper, 
with  the  following'  heading  : 

"  We,  the  subscribers,  being  exceedingly  desirous,  if 
possible,  to  save  the  town  from  the  destruction  it  is  now 
threatened  with  by  the  invasion  of  the  British  fleet  and  army, 
do  hereby  request  and  desire  Doctor  William  Samuel  John- 
son, Captain  Philip  Nichols,  Captain  George  Benjamin,  and 
Mr.  Ebenezer  Allen  to  use  their  influence,  either  in  person  or 
by  letter,  with  the  British  Admiral  and  General  to  save  the 
town.  xA.nd  we  do  hereby  promise  and  most  sacredly  engage 
to  support  them  in  the  execution  of  their  design,  and  to 
protect  and  defend  them  from  any  insult,  injury,  or  abuse, 
either  in  their  persons,  properties,  or  families,  on  account  of 
their  making  such  application  :  as  witness  our  hands  this  12th 
day  of  July,  1779."* 

Intelligence  of  these  proceedings  soon  reached  General 
Oliver  Wolcott's  headquarters  at  Horseneck,  who  sent  Col. 
Jonathan  Dimon  to  Stratford  to  make  inquiry,  and  upon  his 
report  the  General  gave  him  the  following  order: 

''Sir, — Your  favour  of  yesterday  is  received.  I  shall 
make  no  observations  upon  the  tendenc}',  or  rather  the 
conclusive  effect  of  those  men's  conduct  who  could  wish  to 
supplicate  the  clemency  of  an  enemy  whose  unparalleled 
barbarity  has  put  a  dishonor  on  human  nature.  To  a  mind 
enlightened  by  science,  and  which  views  acts  with  their 
consequences,  it  is  impossible  that  it  should  not  comprehend 
that  the  step  which  was  intended  to  be  taken  must,  by 
inevitable  consequences,  involve  in  it  the  most  abject  sub- 
mission to  a  tyranny  rendered,  if  possible,  ten  times  more 
detestable  than  it  was  before,  by  the  very  means  by  which  it 
was  designed  to  be  established.  These  are  times  when  the 
usual  forms  of  proceeding  are  to  give  place  to  a  regard  for 
the  public  safety,  and  the  love  of  country  is  to  be  preferred 
at  all  times  to  the  friendship  of  youth. 

"  You  are  therefore,  Sir,  directed  to  send,  under  guard  or 
otherwise,  Dr.  William  Samuel  Johnson,  of  Stratford,  to  the 
town  of  Farmington,  and  deliver  him  to  the  care  and  custody 

^  Life  and  Times  of  Wm.  Samuel  Johnson,  113. 


384  History  of  Stratford. 

of  the  civil  authority  of  that  town,  and  request  of  them  that 
the}'  would  secure  or  keep  him  under  such  proper  restraints 
as  to  prevent  his  having  an}-  correspondence  with  the  enemy." 

The  further  record  of  this  matter  is  as  follows,'  as  given 
by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Beardsley  : 

"  A  detachment  of  troops  was  sent  to  carry  out  this 
order,  and  Johnson  was  made  a  prisoner,  but  conscious  of 
his  innocence,  and  wishing  to  avoid  a  public  disturbance,  he 
persuaded  the  officer  to  accept  his  word  of  honor  that  he 
would  proceed  at  once  to  Farmington,  and  place  himself 
voluntarily  in  the  custody  of  the  selectmen.  One  of  that 
board  was  John  Treadwell,  an  acquaintance  of  his,  who 
declared,  after  consultation  with  his  colleagues,  that  they 
had  no  business  with  him,  and  that  if  they  put  him  under 
any  restraint  it  would  be  a  false  imprisonment.  Johnson 
said  he  knew  this,  but  suggested  that,  for  their  sakes  and 
his,  it  was  necessary  that  they  should  do  something ;  and 
proposed  that  they  should  permit  him  to  pass  to  the  Gov- 
ernor and  Council  of  Safety,  in  whose  hands  at  that  time  was 
lodged  the  military  authority  of  the  Colony,  and  whose 
decision  alone  would  quiet  the  people." 

**  Having  given  his  parole"  and  received  his  pass,  he 
started  on  his  solitary  journey,  and  arriving  at  Norwich, 
where  the  Council  of  Safety  sat,  unfortunately  found  that 
body  not  in  session.  But  he  proceeded  to  Lebanon,  the 
residence   of  Governor    Trumbull,   and   stated   his  condition 

*  Life  and  Times  of  Wm.  Samuel  Johnson,  by  the  Rev.  E.  E.  Beardsie)',  D.D., 
"5. 

*  William  Samuel  yohtison's  Parole. 

"  Farmington,  July  23,  A.  D.  1779- 
"I,  the  subscriber,  having  been  sent  by  order  from  Major  General  Oliver 
Wolcott,  as  a  prisoner  to  the  care  of  the  civil  authority  of  the  town  of  Farmington, 
and  by  them  permitted  to  go  from  thence  to  Lebanon  on  business  with  his 
Excellency  the  Governor  and  Council  of  Safety,  do  pass  my  word  that  on  said 
journey  and  business  I  will  do  nothing  directly  or  indirectly  against  the  interest 
and  welfare  of  the  United  States  ;  and  that,  on  my  having  accomplished  said 
business,  will  return  and  put  myself  under  the  immediate  care  of  said  authority, 
unless  his  Excellency  the  Governor  and  Council  of  Safety,  or  his  Excellency  the 
Governor  only,  shall  direct  otherwise. 

"  Wm.  Samuel  Johnson." 


Revolutionary    War.  385 

and  the  object  of  his  appearing  in  his  presence.  As  his 
Excellency  knew  his  character  well,  and  the  principles  on 
which  he  had  acted  from  the  beginning  of  the  war,  it  did  not 
require  any  urgent  entreaty  to  enlist  his  sympathy  and  gain 
his  favor.  He  informed  Dr.  Johnson  that  the  Council  would 
meet  again  in  two  days,  when  he  could  appear,  and  the 
matter  would  be  laid  before  them,  and  the  result  commu- 
nicated. The  Council  met,  and  his  own  statement  went  to 
show  that  he  had  no  inclination  to  aid  the  enemv  ;  that  he 
had  encouraged  the  enlistment  of  soldiers  ;  contributed  (jf 
his  property  for  that  purpose,  hired  his  man  to  serve  for  him 
during  the  war,  and  was  ready  to  take  the  oath  of  fidelity 
required  by  law. 

"  After  hearing  the  case,  the  Governor  was  advised  to 
permit  him,  until  further  orders,  to  return  and  remain  in 
Stratford,  which  place  he  speedily  reached  to  the  great  joy 
of  his  family  and  friends." 

While  Dr.  Johnson  was  on  his  journey  to  the  Governor 
and  returning,  the  town  of  Stratford  was  also  in  great  com- 
motion, as  seen  in  the  following  records : 

"  At  a  town  meeting  specially  warned  and  convened  at 
the  town-house  in  Stratford  July  21,  1779,  for  the  purpose  of 
exculpating  the  town  from  the  imputations  of  some  scandal- 
ous reports  spread  abroad  to  the  disadvantage  of  the  town, 
purporting  that  the  people  were  about  carrying  on  a  traitor- 
ous correspondence  with  the  enemy ,  and  laying  down  their 
arms  and  submitting  to  the  British  Government,  &c.,  Daniel 
Fairchild  Esqr.  moderator  of  said  meeting: 

"  Voted  unanimously  that  an  address  be  made  to  the 
public  for  the  purpose  abovesaid, — and  Capt.  Ebenezer  Coe, 
Samuel  Adams,  Esqr.  Stephen  Burroughs,  Esqr.  Abraham 
Brinsmade,  Esqr.  and  Capt.  Blakman  were  appointed  a 
committee  to  prepare  a  draft  for  that  purpose  and  lay  it 
before  the  meeting  in  their  next  adjournment.  The  meeting 
adjourned  to  the  29th  instant  one  o'clock  afternoon  to  North 
Stratford  meeting-house.     Test  Robert  Fairchild,  Clerk. 

July  29,  1779.  The  meeting  convened  and  opened  at 
North  Stratford  meeting-house.  Daniel  Fairchild,  Esqr. 
moderator.     The  above  committee  made  their  Report  which 


386  History  of  Stratford. 

was  read,  received  and  approved  and  ordered  to  be  published 
in  New  Haven  paper  with  the  names  of  those  who  had  sub- 
scribed a  certain  subscription  paper  as  recited  in  said  report 
now  on  file,  and  on  motion  suggesting  that  Daniel  Judson, 
Esqr.,  John  Brooks,  Esqr.  and  Mr.  George  Lewis  had  so  far 
encouraged  the  signing  said  paper  recited  in  said  report  that 
their  names  ought  to  be  inserted  in  the  paper,  the  said 
Brooks  and  Lewis  shewed  to  the  meeting  to  their  satisfac- 
tion, that  they  were  not  at  all  concerned  in  procuring  said 
paper,  nor  encouraging  the  signing  thereof,  and  were  dis- 
charged by  the  meeting. 

The  said  Judson  acknowledged  that  he  had  been  too 
forward  in  encouraging  people  to  sign,  but  without  an)^ 
design  of  making  a  confession  to  the  prejudice  of  his  country, 
but  was  innocent  of  any  ill  design,  and  was  still  a  fast  friend 
of  the  cause  of  America;  and  desired  the  town  would  over- 
look his  misconduct  and  receive  him  into  friendship  again. 

Whereupon  voted  that  the  said  Daniel  Judson,  Esqr. 
should  have  liberty  to  insert  his  name  in  said  paper,  and  his 
reflection  or  leave  it  out  at  his  election,  and  Stephen  Bur- 
roughs, Esqr.  was  desired  to  fit  said  report  and  address  tor 
the  press,  and  procure  the  same  to  be  published.' 

Test,  Robert  Fairchild,  T.  Clerk. 

Other  Town  Acts  djiring  the  Revolution. 

"Town  meeting  at  the  Town-house  Jul}^  29,  1779.  ^^^ 
said  meeting  Elisha  Mills,  Esqr.,  Daniel  Bennitt,  Esqr.,  Ste- 
phen Burroughs,  Esqr.  and  Capt.  John  Benjamin  were  ap- 
pointed a  committee  to  meet  the  county  committee,  at  a  time 
and  place  to  be  agreed  upon  by  other  towns  in  this  count}^  to 
consult  and  devise  some  proper  method  to  prevent  a  further 
depreciation,  to  retrieve  and  establish  the  credit  of  our 
currency. 

"  Resolved  in  said  meeting  that  Isaac  Wells  Shelton  shall 
not  reside  in  this  town,  and  Robert  Fairchild,  Esqr.  is  desired 
to  inform  Hartford  County  Sheriff  thereof. 

"  Resolved  that  no  inimical  person  now  with  the  enem}- 

''  See  Appendix  for  a  copy  of  this  address. 


Revohitiona7-y   War.  •jgj 

shall  return   and    reside   in   the   town,   unless   they   have   the 
approbation  of  the  town  in  their  meeting-." 

"  Sept.  21,  1779.  In  said  meeting  the  regulation  of  prices 
stated  by  Reading  committee  were  read.  The  meeting  then 
chose  Capt.  Isaiah  Brown,  Capt.  Ebenezer  Coe,  William 
Pixlee,  Capt.  Nathaniel  Wheeler,  Sylvanus  Starling,  Stephen 
Middlebrook,  Capt.  Zechariah  Coe,  Capt.  Wm.  Worden, 
Abram  Hubbell,  Capt.  Edmund  Leavenworth,  Benjamin 
Mallory,  James  Blakman,  Ebenezer  Blakman,  Samuel  Beard, 
Capt.  Phineas  Sherman,  David  Wells,  Elijah  Curtiss  and 
Elle  Curtiss  a  committee  to  assist  and  inform  the  informing 
officers  of  all  breaches  of  laws  that  shall  some  to  their  knowl- 
edge, that  all  the  wicked  tribe  of  monopolizers,  engrossers, 
forestallers  and  stock-jobbers  who  enhance  the  prices  of  the 
necessaries  of  life,  and  depreciate  our  currency,  ma}'  be 
brought  to  condign  punishment,  that  their  pernicious  prac- 
tices may  be  prevented. 

"  Test,  Robert  Fairchild,  T.  Clerk." 
In  June,  1780,  the  town  in  a  meeting  offered  a  bounty  of 
"  ten  pounds  lawful  silver  mone}',  or  gold,  or  provisions 
equivalent,  to  each  effective  man  who  would  enlist  and 
serve,  for  the  town,  in  the  Continental  army  until  the  last 
day  of  the  next  December. 

"  Voted,  that  each  able  bodied  man  who  shall  enlist  to 
serve  in  the  Continental  army  for  three  years  or  during  the 
war  shall  receive  a  bounty,  over  and  above  the  said  ten 
pounds,  of  six  pounds  lawful  silver  money  annuall}'  so  long 
as  he  shall  continue  in  said  service." 

"On  November  20,  1780,  the  town  voted,  in  addition  to 
other  taxes  and  supplies  called  for,  "to  provid  100  shirts,  100 
pair  of  mittens,  100  pair  of  stockings  and  100  pair  of  shoes, 
for  our  soldiers  belonging  to  this  town  who  are  now  in  the 
service  in  the  Connecticut  lines." 

In  June,  1781,  the  town  authorized  the  Recruiting  com- 
mittee to  fill  the  quota  required  "for  six  months  or  twelve 
months  on  the  best  terms  they  can  ;"  and  the  same  directions 
were  given  the  next  year,  and  at  this  time — 1782 — for  the 
first  time  the  town  voted  to  borrow  money  to  pay  the 
bounties. 


388  History  of  Stratford. 

At  the  same  meeting  a  tax  of  four  pence  hard  money  on 
the  pound  was  voted,  to  raise  beef  supplies  for  the  army,  and 
the  town  appointed  William  Pixlee  as  collector  to  seize  the 
cattle  and  have  them  estimated  and  delivered  to  the  receiver,, 
and  give  credit  for  them,  or  pay  for  them  from  the  town 
treasury. 

"Dec.  31,  1781.  On  motion  it  was  voted  that  the  select- 
men be  directed  carefully  to  inspect  all  persons  who  shall 
come  into  this  town,  and  such  as  do  not  come  well  recom- 
mended as  being  friends  to  this  country,  or  do  not  manifest 
the  same  to  their  satisfaction,  they  do  forthwith  warn  out,, 
and  if  need  be  prosecute  them." 

"December  31,  1781.  On  motion  it  was  voted  that  the 
town  treasurer  be  directed  to  pay  unto  John  Daskum  as  a 
gratuity  for  his  former  service  in  the  Continental  army  from 
the  commencement  of  the  war  to  the  present  day,  the  sum  of 
six  pounds,  hard  money,  and  to  be  paid  as  soon  as  may  be." 

Capt.  Joseph  Sull^*  whose  son  Isaac  in  181 2  became 
Commodore  in  the  American  Navy,  was  a  native  of  Derby  in 
this  state,  and  commanded  one  of  the  light  crafts  known  as 
"Commission  boats,"  which  were  employed  in  privateering 
service  against  the  British  and  Tories.  Upon  one  occasion 
he  ran  down  to  an  inlet  or  arm  of  the  sound  near  Throg's 
Neck,  where  the  British,  then  occupying  New  York,  were 
accustomed  to  send  vessels  for  firewood.  He  found  there, 
under  convoy  of  a  schooner  mounting  ten  guns,  and  of  ninety 
tons  burthen,  which  lay  at  anchor  in  the  stream,  a  number  of 
these  wood  vessels  loading,  and  surprised  and  captured  one 
of  them  that  night.  The  two  sailors  who  composed  her  crew, 
he  caused  to  be  secured  below,  and  with  his  own  men  num- 
bering about  fifty,  carefully  concealed  on  board,  he  weighed 
anchor  with  the  captured  craft,  a  little  after  midnight,  and 
bore  down  upon  the  British  gunboat. 

When  hailed  his  reply  disarmed  suspicion,  although  he 
was  warned  by  the  sentry  to  have  a  care  or  he  would  run 
foul  of  them.  "  No,  no  !  room  enough  !"  he  replied,  still 
keeping   on  his    course    till    he   ran    under  the    bows  of   the 

8  Maj.  W.  B.  Hink's  Historical  Sketches,  42. 


Revolutionary    War.  389 

schooner,  and  then  with  all  his  men  leai)ed  on  board.  After 
a  short  but  fierce  striig-gle,  the  schooner  was  taken;  when, 
with  the  two  vessels,  both  under  British  colors,  and  his  own 
boat  hoisted  upon  the  deck  of  one  of  them,  Captain  Mull  set 
out  upon  his  return,  passed  unsuspected  three  armed  vessels 
of  the  enemy  lying  at  anchor  off  Eaton's  Neck,  and  brought 
his  prizes  safely  into  Black  Rock  harbor. 

David  Blaketnanf  of  Monroe,  a  descendant  of  the  Rev. 
Adam  Blakeman,  the  first  minister  at  Stratford,  was  amon^ 
Captain  Hull's  crew  upon  this  occasion.  In  the  act  of  board- 
ing he  was  wounded  across  the  abdomen  by  a  cutlass  so  that 
his  bowels  protruded,  but  he  held  the  wound  together,  laying 
quietly  upon  his  back  until  the  vessel  was  captured,  when  the 
British  surgeon  dressed  his  wound.  He  recovered  and  lived 
to  be  an  old  man.  He,  in  consequence  of  a  peculiarity  of 
voice,  was  known  as  "  Squeaking  David. "° 

Zechariah  Slakenia^if  of  Stratford,  another  descend- 
ant from  the  same  clergyman,  was  killed  by  the  British  on 
the  day  when  Fairfield  was  burned,  July  11,  1779.  His  body 
was  brought  to  Stratford  and  laid  under  the  shade  of  an  old 
buttonwood  tree  on  the  green,  where  numbers  of  people 
flocked  to  view  it.  It  was  afterward  buried  in  the  graveyard 
near  the  place  where  a  stone  still  bears  the  name  of  his  son 
Abijah,  who  was  lost  at  sea.  The  story  goes  that  when  Mr. 
Blakeman  heard  that  the  British  had  landed  at  Fairfield,  he 
with  others  hurried  to  the  scene  of  action,  saying  as  he  did  so 
that  he  would  bring  down  at  least  one  red-coat,  but  was  shot 
through  the  body  by  one  of  the  enemy's  sentinels  while  in 
the  act  of  taking  aim. 

Washington  passing  throiigJi  Stratford. 

There  are  related'"  two  incidents  connected  with  Wash- 
ington's progress  through  this  part  of  the  country  during  and 
subsequent  to  the  Revolution.  The  first  was  related  by  Mrs. 
Alice  Thompson,  daughter  of  George  Benjamin,  of  Stratford, 


^  Manuscript  of  the  Rev.  B.  L.  Swan. 
10  Maj.  W.  B.  Hink's  Historical  Sketches,  44. 
26 


2Q0  History  of  Stratford. 

who  died  in  May,  1862,  aged  nearly  ninety-eight  years.  She 
was  eleven  years  of  age  in  1775,  and  may  have  been  thirteen 
or  fourteen  when  she  saw  Washington.  On  that  occasion  she 
with  other  girls  were  picking  berries  on  the  banks  of  the 
Housatonic  near  the  ferry,  when  suddenly  a  cry  was  heard 
that  soldiers  were  crossing  the  river,  and  presently  an  officer 
with  a  number  of  others  landed  and  asked  the  ferryman  to 
direct  them  to  the  tavern.  He  replied  :  "  Yonder  is  the 
tavern-keeper's  daughter,"  and  calling  Alice  bade  her  show 
General  Lafayette  the  way  to  her  father's  house.  She  walked 
beside  his  horse  on  their  way  to  the  village,  Lafayette  talking 
to  her  in  his  charming  broken  English,  telling  her  of  his  chil- 
dren and  asking  if  she  would  not  like  to  go  to  France  with 
him  to  see  them.  On  reaching  home  she  found  that  General 
Washington  had  arrived  by  the  western  road.  Her  mother 
thus  unexpectedly  called  upon  to  provide  a  dinner  for  two 
such  distinguished  guests  would  have  apologized  for  her  fare, 
but  was  reassured  by  Washington,  who  told  her  that  all  he 
wanted  was  simple  food,  and  that  what  was  good  enough  for 
her  family  was  good  enough  for  him. 

Mrs.  Benjamin  happened  to  have  some  potatoes,  then  a 
great  rarity,  and  Alice  obtained  leave  to  place  them  upon  the 
table.  In  doing  this  she  stepped  between  Washington  and 
Lafayette,  when  the  former,  placing  his  hand  on  her  head  and 
turning  her  face  toward  him  asked  her  name,  and  after  some 
other  questions  told  her  to  be  a  good  girl  and  gave  her  his 
blessing.  It  may  easily  be  supposed  that  she  never  forgot 
the  circumstances. 

The  late  Mrs.  Benjamin  Fairchild,  who  died  a  few  years 
since  aged  over  eighty,  well  remembered  another  visit  made 
by  Washington  to  Stratford  while  on  his  tour  through  New 
England  in  October,  1789.  At  that  time  Capt.  Alison  Benja- 
min lived  at  Old  Mill,  about  half-way  down  the  western  sh^pe 
of  the  hill;  the  house  is  still  standing  and  is  owned  by  Mr. 
Judson.  This  Capt.  Benjamin  built  a  sloop  of  forty-five  tons 
burthen  called  the  "  Hunter  of  Berkshire,"  in  a  field  south 
of  the  road,  just  opposite  his  own  door,  although  there  was 
no  water  in  sight.  It  was  nearly  completed  when  Washington 
passed,  and  surprised  at  the  sight,  he  alighted,  went  over  to 


Revolutionary   War.  -jqi 

the  place  and  questioned  the  workmen  as  to  how  they  ex- 
pected to  get  the  vessel  to  the  water.  In  reply,  he  was  told 
that  strong  ways  were  to  be  built  beneath  the  craft,  to  serve 
as  a  sled,  upon  which  when  winter  came  it  would  glide  down 
hill  to  the  creek,  a  branch  of  Yellow  Mill  stream,  fully  a 
quarter  of  a  mile  away,  and  in  the  spring  would  settle 
through  the  ice  into  the  water,  and  by  this  plan  it  was  sub- 
sequently launched. 

A  Midnight  Party  of  Regulars. 

In  the  winter  of  1777  or  1778,  the  house  of  Joseph  Lewis 
on  Old  Mill  Hill  was  visited  by  a  party  of  British  soldiers  on 
one  of  their  plundering  expeditions  from  Long  Island.  The 
family  being  roused  at  dead  of  night  by  the  crashing  in  of  the 
door,  were  unable  to  offer  the  slightest  resistance,  and  there- 
fore the  soldiers  not  only  stripped  the  house  of  all  supplies  of 
food  stored  for  the  winter,  but,  taking  the  quilts  and  cover- 
ings from  the  beds,  spread  them  on  the  floor  and  emptied 
into  them  the  contents  of  all  the  drawers  and  chests,  and 
even  the  wearing  apparel  in  daily  use,  tied  them  and  carried 
all  away. 

Mr.  Lewis  besought  them  to  leave  for  his  use  the  Conti- 
nental bills  found  in  the  till  of  one  of  the  chests,  as  they  could 
be  no  service  to  the  regulars,  but  the  officer  in  command 
tauntingly  answered  that  they  "  would  serve  for  a  bonfire," 
and  carried  them  with  the  rest  of  the  booty. 

Phebe  Lewis,  a  girl  of  twelve  years,  had  that  winter  fin- 
ished her  first  spinning  stint.  As  she  lay  in  her  trundle-bed 
while  the  soldiers  were  collecting  the  goods,  she  saw  the 
large  roll  of  wool,  dyed  dark  blue,  ready  for  the  weaving, 
tossed  upon  the  heap  of  plunder.  It  rolled  to  the  edge  near- 
est her  bed,  and  as  the  soldier  on  guard  turned  his  back  for 
an  instant,  she  grasped  it,  drew  it  into  the  bed  and  lay  upon 
it.  Of  all  the  family  stores  and  supplies  this  was  the  onlv 
article  saved.  The  occupants  of  the  beds  were  left  shivering 
under  a  single  sheet,  and  in  the  morning  were  fed  and  clothed 
by  the  charity  of  their  neighbors. 

Jabez  Huntington  Tomlinson,  a  student  of  Yale,  and 
engaged  to  be  married  to  Rebecca  Lewis,  was  spending  the 


392  History  of  Stratford. 

night  at  the  house.  The  soldiers  on  leaving  ordered  him  to 
rise,  dress  and  accompany  them.  He  was  taken  to  Long 
Island,  thence  to  New  York,  and  imprisoned  in  the  Old  Sugar 
House.  After  a  confinement  of  nearly  two  years,  he  suc- 
ceeded, through  the  connivance  of  a  guard,  in  sending  a  letter 
to  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  detailing  the  circumstances  of  his  cap- 
ture and  imprisonment,  and  praying  for  release.  Clinton, 
surprised  to  receive  so  scholarly  an  epistle  from  one  of  the 
despised  Yankees,  granted  the  young  man  an  interview  and 
subsequently  allowed  him  to  return  to  his  friends." 

Gen,  David  Wooster,  son  of  Abraham  and  grandson 
of  Edward  Wooster,  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  Derb}^  was 
born  at  Oronoke,  in  Stratford,  March  2d,  1710-11.  His  father, 
Abraham  Wooster,  from  Derby,  settled  at  Stratford  about 
1706,  in  the  southeast  corner  of  what  is  now  Huntington, 
where  he  remained  until  about  1720,  when  he  settled  at 
Quaker's  Farms,  in  Derby,  where  he  died. 

David  Wooster  was  graduated  at  Yale  College  in  1738. 
Something  more  would  probably  have  been  known  of  his 
early  life  but  for  the  burning  of  all  his  family  papers  by  the 
British  when  they  pillaged  New  Haven  in  1779. 

When  the  Spanish  war  broke  out  in  1739  he  was  em- 
ployed as  first  lieutenant,  and  in  1745  as  captain  of  a  coast 
guard. 

In  1746,  he  married,  in  New  Haven,  the  beautiful  and 
accomplished  daughter  of  Thomas  Clapp,  president  of  Yale 
College  ;  but  neither  the  society  of  a  charming  companion, 
his  love  of  classic  lore,  nor  his  youthful  inclination  for  a 
learned  profession  could  restrain  his  devotion  to  the  interests 
of  his  country.  He  continued  in  the  service  and  was  ap- 
pointed captain  in  Colonel  Burr's  regiment,  which  formed  a 
part  of  the  troops  sent  by  Connecticut  in  the  celebrated  suc- 
cessful expedition  against  Louisburg  in  1745. 

For  a  time  he  was  retained  among  the  colonial  troops  to 
keep  possession  of  the  conquest  he  had  assisted  in  effecting, 
and  he  was  soon  after  elected  among  the  American  officers  to 
take  charge  of  a  cartel  ship  for  France  and  England.     He  was 

"  Manuscript  of  Mrs.  Rufus  W.  Bunnell. 


Revolutionary   War.  -iq-i 

not  permitted  to  land  in  France,  but  was  received  in  Hni^land 
with  distinguished  honor. 

The  young  American  officer,  as  he  was  called,  was  pre- 
sented to  the  King  and  became  a  favorite  of  the  court  and 
people.  The  King  admitted  him  into  the  regular  service  and 
presented  him  with  a  captaincy  in  Sir  William  Pepperell's 
regiment,  with  half-pay  for  life.  His  likeness  at  full  length 
was  taken  and  transferred  to  the  periodicals  of  that  day. 
The  peace  of  Aix-la-Chapelle,  which  took  place  in  1748,  re- 
stored Louisburg  to  France,  and  the  young  American  officer 
to  his  home  and  family. 

In  the  French  war  of  1756,  he  was  appointed  colonel  of 
a  regiment  raised  in  Connecticut,  and  afterwards  to  the  com- 
mand of  a  brigade,  in  which  station  he  remained  until  the 
peace  of  1763,  when  he  returned  again  to  his  family. 

Soon  after  this  he  engaged  in  mercantile  business  in  New 
Haven,  and  held  the  office  of  his  majesty's  collector  of  the 
customs  of  that  port. 

When  the  Revolutionary  troubles  began,  although  an 
officer  in  the  British  regular  army,  entitled  to  half-pay  for 
life,  he  did  not  hesitate  to  take  sides  with  his  native  country, 
and  his  pen  and  sword  were  actively  employed  in  the  defense 
of  its  rights. 

After  the  battle  of  Lexington,  he,  with  a  few  others, 
while  engaged  in  the  General  Assembly  in  May,  1775,  planned 
the  expedition  from  Connecticut  to  seize  and  retain  the  fort 
at  Ticonderoga,  and  to  enable  them  to  carry  their  plans  into 
execution  they  privately  obtained  a  loan  of  eighteen  hundred 
dollars  from  the  treasury  of  the  state,  for  which  they  became 
personally  responsible  ;  the  result  being  that  on  the  loth  ot 
May,  this  fort  was  surprised  and  delivered  up  to  Allen  and 
Arnold,  and  their  brave  followers. 

Congress,  when  informed  of  this  transaction,  recom- 
mended that  an  inventory  of  the  cannon  and  military  stores 
found  in  the  fort  should  be  take-n,  "  in  order,"  as  they  say, 
"  that  they  may  be  safely  returned  when  the  restoration  of 
the  former  harmony  between  Great  Britain  and  these  colonies 
shall  render  it  prudent  and  consistent  with  the  overruling 
care  of  self-preservation." 


394  History  of  Stratford. 

The  military  experience,  as  well  as  the  daring  spirit  of 
General  Wooster,  recommended  him  to  Congress  when  rais- 
ing an  army  of  defence,  and  among  the  eight  brigadier  gen- 
erals appointed  by  that  body  on  the  22d  of  June,  1775,  he  was 
the  third  in  rank. 

During  the  campaign  of  1776  General  Wooster  was  em- 
ployed principally  along  the  Canada  line,  and  at  one  time  he 
had  the  command   of  the  Continental  troops  in  that  quarter. 

After  this  expedition  he  returned  home  and  was  ap- 
pointed first  major-general  of  the  militia  of  his  state.  During 
the  winter  of  1776  and  1777  he  was  employed  in  protecting 
Connecticut  against  the  enemy,  and  particularly  the  neigh- 
borhood of  Danbury,  where  large  magazines  of  provisions 
and  other  articles  had  been  collected  by  the  Americans.  He 
had  just  returned  to  New  Haven  from  one  of  his  tours  when 
he  heard  on  Friday,  the  15th  of  April,  1777,  that  a  body  of 
two  thousand  men,  sent  from  New  York  on  the  preceding 
day,  had  effected  a  landing  at  Norwalk  and  Fairfield  for  the 
purpose  of  destroying  the  magazines  at  Danbury,  which  ob- 
ject they  accomplished  the  next  day. 

On  hearing  this  news  Generals  Wooster  and  Arnold  set 
off  from  New  Haven  to  join  the  militia  hastily  collected  by 
General  Silliman,  who  numbered  about  six  hundred,  and  with 
this  small  force  it  was  determined  to  attack  the  enemy  on 
their  retreat,  and  a  part  of  the  men  were  put  under  General 
Wooster  and  a  part  under  General  Arnold.  General  Wooster 
with  his  men  pursued  the  enemy  the  next  morning,  but  he 
having  inexperienced  militia  and  the  enemy  having  several 
field-pieces,  his  men,  after  doing  considerable  execution,  were 
broken  and  gave  wav.  The  General  was  rallying  them  when 
he  received  a  mortal  wound.  A  musket  ball  hit  him  obliquely, 
broke  his  backbone,  lodged  within  him  and  could  not  be  ex- 
tracted. He  was  removed  from  the  field,  his  wounds  dressed 
and  he  was  conveyed  to  Danbury  where  all  possible  care  was 
taken  of  him.  His  wife  and  son  were  sent  for  and  came,  but 
skill  and  kindness  could  not  save  him,  for  he  died  on  the  sec- 
ond day  of  May,  1777,  at  the  age  of  sixty-six  years. 

Much  care  has  been  exercised  to  secure  lists  of  Revolu- 
tionary soldiers  from  Stratford,  with  very  little  success.     If 


Revolutionary    War.  3q5 

anythincr  further  shall  Ire  obtained  it  will  be  placed  in  the 
Appendix  of  this  book.  In  another  town  of  this  State,  some 
years  since,  an  aged  woman  was  asked  who  of  the  town  went 
to  the  war  as  soldiers.  Her  answer  was:  "Who  went? 
They  all  went."  This  answer,  apparently,  is  appropriate  to 
Stratford. 

Gen.  Joseph  Walker,  The  inscription  on  his  tomb- 
stone says:  "He  entered  the  American  Army  in  the  year 
1777,  served  his  country  in  the  several  grades  of  office,  from 
a  Captain  to  a  Major  General." 

Ca^yt,  Ubenezer  Coe,  wounded  at  Ridgefield,  April  27. 

1777. 

Capt.  JSfehemiah  GorJiam  served  through  the  war. 
He  died  Feb.  17,  1836,  aged  83  years. 

Ca2>t,  Beach  Tonilinsoiif  of  Ripton,  was  in  the  army. 

William  Thomj^son  was  killed  at  Ridgefield,  April  27, 
1777;  and  on  May  4,  1777,  the  Sunday  after  his  death,  the 
Rev.  Izrahiah  Wetmore  preached  his  funeral  sermon  at  Strat- 
ford. Text,  Isaiah  ix.  5.  The  manuscript  sermon  is  still  pre- 
served by  the  Wetmore  family. 

George  Thompson^  son  of  Daniel,  is  recorded  in  Rip- 
ton,  in  1776,  as  "died  in  the  arm3\" 

Af/ur  Tonilhisonf  of  Ripton,  son  of  Capt.  Beach  Tom- 
linson,  was  in  the  army. 

Samuel  JDeForest^  born  in  July,  1758, 

Abel  DeForestf  born  in  April,  1761, 

Mills  DeForestf  born  in  May.  1763, 

Gideon  DeForest,  born  in  September,  1765  ;  all  sons  of 
Joseph  DeForest  of  StiaLford,  were  in  the  war;  all  drew 
pensions  many  years,  and  all  met  in  a  reunion  at  Gideon's 
home  at  Edmeston,  Otsego  County,  N.  Y.,  in  1835,  fifty-four 
years  after  the  war  closed,  when  the  youngest  was  70  years 
of  age  and  the  eldest  yy. 

Capt.  Stexthen  3Iiddlebroo7c  and  his  company  were  in 
the  war  as  represented  by  receipts. 


396  History  of  Stratford. 

"Received,  March  15,  1779,  of  Silvanus  Starling,  one  of 
the  Selectmen  of  Stratford,  Fifty-seven  pounds,  twelve  shil- 
lings lawful  money,  which  is  in  full  for  my  services,  and  the 
persons  under  my  command,  in  keeping  guard  at  North  Fair- 
field in  April,  1777. 

Rec*^  per  Stephen  Middlebrook." 

Nathan  Gotham  was  born  in  1751  and  died  May  28, 
1839,  aged  88  years. 

Before  the  Revolution  he  and  John  Barlow  sailed  to- 
gether in  the  West  India  trade,  but  when  the  war  broke 
out,  they  discontinued  the  business  through  fear  of  the  Brit- 
ish war  vessels  by  whom  they  might  be  captured.  After  a 
little  time  Barlow  obtained  command  of  an  American  priv- 
ateer, to  sail  from  Boston,  and  engaged  Gorham  as  his  mate 
and  sail  maker. 

"  Ride  and  Tie.'' 

Their  journey  to  Boston  was  accomplished  in  the  follow- 
ing manner,  called  "  Ride  and  Tie."  They  purchased  an  old 
horse  for  seven  dollars,  with  which  they  started,  one  riding 
and  going  ahead  a  number  of  miles  then  tying  the  horse  so  it 
could  eat  grass,  pursued  his  journey  on  foot.  When  the 
other  came  to  the  horse  he  rode  him,  and  passing  his  fellow 
traveler  continued  his  stipulated  number  of  miles  then  tied 
the  horse  to  eat  and  took  his  journey  on  foot  as  before. 
When  they  had  in  this  manner  reached  near  Boston  they 
turned  the  horse  into  the  highway  to  care  for  himself,  and 
went  to  their  boat. 

They  sailed  with  the  purpose  of  capturing  vessels  from 
England  with  supplies  for  British  troops  in  America.  After 
sailing  around  about  ten  days,  they  sighted  a  ship  and  giving 
chase,  she  made  more  sail  as  if  trying  to  escape  being  cap- 
tured, and  the  privateer  being  a  fast  sailer  soon  came  up, 
and  running  along  side,  commanded  her  to  strike — or  in 
other  words,  to  surrender.  Upon  this  she  opened  her  ports, 
showing  herself  a  man  of  war,  and  being  so  near,  the  privateer 
could  only  surrender,  and  the  men  were  taken  as  prisoners  of 
war.  They  were  all  sent  to  New  York  and  put  on  board  the 
Jersey,  a  prison  ship  lying  in  the  East  river. 


Revolutionary    War.  -jq? 

Camp  disorder  (which  was  diarrhoea),  soon  broke  out 
among  the  prisoners,  carrying  off  from  ten  to  fifteen  a  day. 
Mr.  Gorham  being  a  good  oarsman  was  detailed  as  one  of  the 
boatmen  to  take  the  dead  ashore  and  bury  them,  and  thereby 
he  escaped  severe  illness.  This  burying  was  performed 
where  the  Navy  Yard  is  now  in  the  city  of  Brooklyn.  A 
large  excavation  was  made  and  when  a  corpse  was  put  in 
some  earth  was  thrown  upon  it,  and  thus  one  after  another, 
until  the  place  was  filled,  and  then  another  excavation  was 
made.  All  were  taken  ill,  but  many  not  severely,  enlisted 
in  the  British  service  as  the  only  way  to  escape  death,  as 
they  were  immediately  transferred  to  healthy  quarters.  As 
soon  as  Mr.  Gorham  was  taken  ill  he  enlisted  and  was  put  on 
board  a  war  vessel,  in  which  they  sailed  to  the  southward. 
One  morning  they  fell  in  with  a  privateer  and  tried  to  decoy 
her  alongside,  but  did  not  succeed.  The  privateer  was  armed 
with  a  long  32  pounder,  while  the  war  vessel  had  short  guns, 
and  the  firing  of  the  former  was  very  dangerous  to  the  latter, 
but  she  kept  at  a  distance,  and  at  evening  disappeared.  To 
repair  damages  the  war  vessel  put  into  St.  Augustine,  Flor- 
ida, that  being  then  a  Spanish  port,  and  while  repairing,  the 
soldiers  were  at  liberty  in  the  port.  Mr.  Gorham  and  two 
others  finding  an  old  canoe  agreed  to  try  to  make  their 
escape,  although  at, great  hazard.  They  saved  from  their 
rations  enough  to  last  them  two  or  three  days.  The  canoe 
being  leaky  Gorham  stole  a  calking  iron  to  make  it  tight 
when  they  should  reach  a  place  out  of  danger  of  being  cap- 
tured. They  coasted  the  canoe  most  of  the  way  in  sounds 
and  inland  waters  to  the  north  part  of  North  Carolina,  going 
ashore  nights  and  begging  what  they  needed  to  eat,  in  which 
effort  they  would  have  had  but  little  difficulty  had  it  not 
been  for  the  savage  dogs,  which  were  so  fierce  that  they 
several  times  feared  being  torn  in  pieces.  When  they  lelt 
the  canoe  to  come  on  land  Mr.  Gorham  put  the  calking  iron 
in  his  pocket  thinking  he  might  sell  it  for  a  few  pennies  or 
something  to  eat.  He  did  not  part  with  it,  however,  but 
brought  it  to  Stratford  and  kept  it.  About  1830  Mr.  Nathan 
Birdsey  McEwen,  grand-son  of  Nathan  Gorham,  had  built  a 
boat  and  desiring  to  calk  it  went  to  his  grandfather  to  borrow 


398  History  of  Stratford. 

a  calking  iron,  upon  which  he  gave  him  this  iron  that  he 
stole  from  the  British  war  ship  and  told  him  this  history 
how  he  came  by  it,  and  Mr.  McEwen  named  it  "  The  Story 
of  the  Calking  Iron."  In  the  year  1884,  Mr.  McEwen  being 
eip-hty  years  of  age,  and  the  iron  having  been  in  possession  of 
himself  and  his  grandfather  over  one  hundred  years,  he  gave 
it  and  its  history  to  his  nephew,  Robert  W.  Curtis,  for  trans- 
mission as  a  relic  of  the  hardships  of  the  American  Revolution. 
The  iron  has  a  stamp  of  the  British  crown  upon  it." 

Nathan  Gorham  was  in  active  service  in  the  Revolution, 
at  New  York  City,  and  told  the  following  story,  a  part  of 
which  has  already  been  published  as  Revolutionary  history: 

"  I  was  in  the  retreat  from  Long  Island  and  barely 
escaped  with  life.  The  Stratford  Company  was  the  last  to 
leave,  and  just  as  the  last  boat  was  leaving  the  British  Light- 
horse  were  coming  down  upon  it,  and  it  was  so  loaded  that 
three  men  were  left — John  Benjamin,  myself  and  another. 
We  ran  up  the  river  where  the  Navy  Yard  now  is,  and  find- 
ing a  small  boat,  although  dried  and  leaky,  we  launched  it 
and  jumped  in  and  with  pieces  of  a  rail  rowed  as  well  as  we 
could  for  the  New  York  shore,  bailing  with  our  hats.  We 
drifted  with  the  tide  up  to  a  place  called  Corlear's  Hook  and 
almost  to  where  the  British  had  commenced  crossing,  our 
boat  sinking  under  us  as  we  struck  the  shore.  We  started  on 
a  run  fearing  we  would  be  cut  off.  The  day  being  very  hot 
we  suffered  dreadfully  with  thirst,  when  seeing  a  well  the 
third  man  said  he  must  have  some  water  or  he  should  die. 
Benjamin  and  myself,  not  daring  to  go,  advised  him  not  to, 
but  he  went.  Benjamin  and  myself  narrowly  escaped  being 
cut  off,  but  the  man  who  went  to  the  well  was  never  heard  of 
again.  In  Frost's  History  of  the  United  States  (II.  211),  the 
three  are  reported  as  staying  behind  for  plunder,  but  after- 
wards returning  to  their  ranks,  which  is  a  decided  error." 

Nathan  Gorham,  although  three  years  in  the  service, 
enlisted  only  three  months  at  a  time,  and  therefore  received 
only  a  pension  of  thirty-six  dollars  per  year.  He  died  May 
28,  1839,  aged  88  years. 

'■^  Manuscript  of  Nathan  B.  McEwen. 


Revolutionary    War.  3Qg 

"John  Barlow  died  May  4,  1786,  in  the  37th  year  of  his 
age.  His  tombstone  is  in  the  Congregational  Cemetery,  on 
which  is  the  following  inscription,  which  he  copied  from  the 
monument  of  an  English  Admiral's  tomb  in  the  West  Indies: 

"Though  Boreas'  blasts  and  Neptune's  waves 
Have  tossed  me  to  and  fro  ; 
In  spite  of  death,  by  God'--  decree 
I  harbor  here  below. 
Where  I  do  now  at  anchor  ride 
With  many  of  our  fleet. 
Yet  once  again  I  must  set  sail 
Our  Admiral  Christ  to  meet." 

The  following  is  a  copy  of  the  Roll  of  Lieut.  William 
Hall's  Company  of  Guard,  stationed  for  four  years — from 
1777  to  1782 — in  the  old  Borroughs  store  building  on  the 
wharf  of  Bridgeport,  furnished  by  Wildman  Hall,  one  of  the 
members  of  the  company  and  its  last  survivor,  to  Dea.  Isaac 
Sherman.     The  said  Wildman  Hall  died  July  10,  185 1. 

Officers  i7i  ijSi. 

Lieut.  William  Hall,  Sargt.  Isaac  Patchen, 

Corpl.  Joel  Parish. 

Privates. 

Thomas  Cooke,  Samuel  French,  clerk, 

Ebenezer  Hawley,  Lyman  Hall, 

Samuel  Wheeler,  Ichabod  Beardsley, 

Zachariah  Wheeler,  Salmon  Patchin, 

Gideon  Wells,  James  Gregory, 

James  Crawford,  Josiah  Burritt, 

John  Porter,  Sherman  Burritt, 

William  Hubbell,  Denton  Seeley, 

Lyman  Knapp,  John  McEnzie, 

Ebenezer  Gregory,  Seth  Bulkley, 

Wildman  Hall.  Joseph  Hawes. 

A  Substitute  Paid  for. 

"Stratford  in  Connecticut,  Febru''  2o'\  1778. 
"This    may  certify  that  Phillip   Benjamin   and   Stephen 
Beers,    both  of  the  town  of  Stratford   in    Fairfield  County, 
have  hired  Joel  Beers,  an  able  bodied   Man,  to  Inlist  himself 


400  History  of  Stratford. 

to  serve  during  the  present  war  between  the  American  States 
and  Great  Britain,  in  one  of  the  sixteen  Battallions  raised  and 
commanded  by  Samuel  B.  Webb,  Esqr. 

"per  me  Joseph  Walker,  Lieu.  Sd.  Reg." 

Mr.  Nathan  B.  McEwen  gave  the  following,  told  to  him 
by  his  father: 

"  In  the  war  of  the  Revolution  my  grandfather  and  great 
uncle  Daniel  McEwen  owned  land  in  the  Great  Neck,  near 
Stratford  Point,  and  fearing  they  might  be  taken  prisoners, 
when  British  vessels  were  on  the  Sound  or  by  boats  coming 
from  Long  Island  for  that  purpose,  they  placed  my  father, 
then  a  small  boy,  on  Round  Hill — the  highest  land  on  the 
Neck — to  watch  for  any  vessel  that  might  land,  and  give  the 
alarm.  Many  a  tedious  hour,  he  said,  he  spent  there  for  that 
purpose. 

"  At  one  time  there  came  two  vessels  and  cruised  off  and 
on  most  of  the  day.  The  town  was  alarmed  and  the  militia 
were  called  out,  and  a  small  gun  which  in  derision  was  called 
the  Glister  pipe,  was  taken  down  the  neck  to  oppose  the  land- 
ing of  the  British. 

"  While  there  a  squall  came  up  sudden  and  struck  the 
brig  Kingfisher,  which  immediately  sank.  Then  a  great 
shout  went  up  from  those  on  shore.  Her  masts  being  out  of 
water  the  crew  took  refuge  in  the  riging.  It  was  not  known 
whether  any  were  lost  except  two  men  they  had  taken  pris- 
oners at  Branford,  and  their  bodies  drifted  ashore  near  where 
they  were  taken  prisoners." 

A   Traditionary  Story  ivell  authenticated. 

During  the  Revolution  there  was  much  contraband  traffic 
between  Connecticut  and  Long  Island,  where  the  British  sol- 
diers were  quartered  much  of  the  time,  which  was  very  profit- 
able if  the  parties  were  not  detected,  and  so  much  so  that 
loyal  men  would  sometimes  engage  in  it.  Many  fast  rowing 
boats  were  kept  for  this  purpose,  so  many  that  it  was  difficult 
to  obtain  witnesses  against  anyone,  because  nearly  all  boat- 
men were  interested,  and  they  were  seldom  caught  except  by 
government  boats  employed  for  that  purpose. 


Revolutionary    War.  40 1 

In  one  case,"  in  the  month  of  March,  the  weather  being 
fine,  several  young  men— John  Thompson,  William  South- 
worth,  William  Beers,  and  others,  hired  a  sailor  by  the  name 
of  Crowell,  who  came  in  with  a  boat  of  codfish  from  the  east, 
and  Nathan  Gorham,  another  sailor,  and  started  on  a  trip,  of 
the  kind  which  was  called  Corderoy.  The  name  was  in  con- 
sequence of  the  kind  of  cloth  obtained  in  exchange  for  the 
truck  carried  over. 

They  went  over  in  the  night  and  did  their  trading  in  the 
forenoon  of  the  next  day,  and  came  back  in  the  afternoon  near 
evening.  Arriving  near  the  north  shore  of  the  Sound,  they 
saw  a  government  boat  beating  off  and  on  at  the  mouth  of 
Stratford  harbor,  and  therefore  kept  off  in  the  Sound  waiting 
to  run  in  under  cover  of  darkness.  But  unfortunately,  a 
snow  squall  came  up,  and  they  were  compelled  to  run  before 
it,  the  wind  blowing  very  hard,  the  sea  high  and  frequently 
breaking  into  the  boat. 

Crowell  and  Gorham,  clothed  with  heavy  pea  jackets,  sat 
in  the  stern  of  the  boat  and  thereby  breaking  off  much  of  the 
sea,  each  holding  an  oar  to  steer  the  boat,  soon  became  coated 
with  ice  which  kept  them  warm,  while  the  others  bailed  the 
boat,  suffering  with  the  cold. 

They  thus  scud  the  boat  nearly  to  the  east  end  of  Long 
Island,  where  they  run  ashore.  Some  of  them  went  for  a 
light  and  on  returning  found  Beers  frozen  to  death.  Crowell's 
and  Gorham's  pea-jackets  were  so  frozen  that  it  was  neces- 
sary for  them  to  get  out  of  and  leave  them  where  they  sat. 
The  snow  having  become  deep  there  were  only  two  of  them 
able  to  reach  a  house,  where  they  found  a  gang  of  men  on  a 
carouse,  who  at  once  went  and  helped  bring  in  the^others, 
safely,  although  some  had  frozen  hands,  except  Beers,  who 
was  dead. 

After  staying  there  until  they  were  in  condition  to  return 
home,  and  having  rewarded  their  preservers  with  goods  they 
had  purchased,  they  returned  home  safely,  but  found  their 
friends  had  given  them  up  as  lost. 

William  Beers  was  a  young  man,  just  out  of  his  appren- 


13  Manuscript  of  the  late  Nathan  B.  McEwen. 


402  History  of  Stratford. 

ticeship,  but  twenty-one  years  of  age,  having  worked  in  a 
warm  shoe  shop  all  winter  and  therefore  could  not  endure 
the  cold. 

John  Thompson,  the  father  of  Joseph  Thompson,  lost  the 
ends  of  his  thumb  and  fingers. 

A  Great  Jubilee  Day  in  North  Stratford. 

"The  26th  day  of  May,  1783,  the  inhabitants  of  North 
Stratford  set  apart  as  a  day  of  Public  Rejoicing  for  the  late 
publications  of  peace.  At  one  o'clock,  P.  M.,  the  people  be- 
ing convened  at  the  Meeting  House,  public  worship  was 
opened  by  singing.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Beebee  then  made  a 
prayer  well  adapted  and  suitable  for  the  occasion.  They 
then  sung  a  Psalm.  Mr.  Lewis  Beebee,  a  student  in  Yale 
College,  made  an  oration  with  great  propriety.  The  congre- 
gation then  sung  an  anthem.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Beebee,  then  re- 
quested the  Ladies  to  take  their  seats  prepared  on  an  emi- 
nence for  their  reception  when  they  walked  in  procession, 
and  upwards  of  300  being  seated  the  committee  who  were 
appointed  to  wait  on  them  supplied  their  table  with  neces- 
saries for  refreshments.  In  the  meantime  the  two  companies 
of  malitia  being  drawn  up  performed  many  maneuvers,  and 
firing  by  plattoons,  genP  volleys  and  street  firing,  and  the 
artillery  discharging  their  cannon  between  each  volley  with 
much  regularity  and  accuracy.  After  which  a  stage  was  pre- 
pared in  the  center  and  the  following  toasts  were  given  : 

ist.     The  United  States  in  Congress  Assembled. 

2d.  Gen^  Washington  and  the  brave  Officers  and  soldiers 
of  his  command. 

3d.     Our  Faithful  and  Illustrious  Allies. 

4th.     The  Friendly  Powers  of  Europe. 

5th.  The  Governor  and  Company  of  the  State  of  Connect- 
icut. 

6th.  May  the  present  peace  prove  a  glorious  one  and  last 
forever. 

7th.     May  tyranny  and  despotism  sink,  and  rise  no  more. 

8th.  May  the  late  war  prove  an  admonition  to  Great 
Britain,  and  the  present  peace  teach  its  inhabitants  their  true 
interests. 


Revolnttoiiary    War.  403 

9th.     The  Navy  of  the  United  States  of   America. 

loth.  May  the  Union  of  these  States  be  perpetual  niid 
uninterrupted. 

nth.  May  our  Trade  and  Navii^ation  Extend  to  both 
Indies  and  the  Balance  be  found  in  our  favour. 

I2th.  May  the  American  Flag  always  be  a  sccjurge  to 
tyrants. 

13th.  May  the  Virtuous  Daughters  of  America  bestow 
their  favours  only  on  those  who  have  Courage  to  defend 
them. 

14th.  May  Vermont  be  received  into  the  Federal  Union 
and  the  Green  Mountain  Boys  flourish." 

"At  the  end  of  each  toast  a  cannon  was  discharged. 
"  The   whole  was  conducted  with  the  greatest  decency 
and  every  mind  seemed  to  show  satisfaction." 


CHAPTER    XVI. 


AFTER   THE   WAR. 


ONG  was  the  struggle  for  the  Independence 
of  the  United  States,  and  immensely  great 
was  the  victory.  Lord  Cornwallls  surren- 
dered his  army  and  navy  on  the  19th  of 
October,  1781,  which  was  the  virtual  close 
of  the  war,  although  peace  was  not  lawfully 
proclaimed'until  after  the  treaty  was  signed 
by  the  King,  September  3,  1783,  a  prelim- 
inary treaty  having  been  signed  November 
30,  1782. 

Naturally  it  might  be  expected  that  the 
spirit  and  enterprise  of  the  people,  by  such 
a  seven  years'  struggle,  would  be  broken  and 
greatly  reduced,  but  the  contrary  were  the 
precise  facts,  notwithstanding  the  fact  that 
the  waste  and  death  resulting  from  the  war 
had  been  very  great.  This  statement  is  warranted  by  the 
doings  of  the  inhabitants  in  the  town  meeting,  and  by  subse- 
quent history.  Before  the  war  closed,  the  increase  of  num- 
bers and  the  prosperity  of  the  people  are  manifested  in  the 
following  action  to  divide  the  township: 

"  March  20,  1780.  The  meeting  then  took  into  considera- 
tion the  expediency  of  dividing  the  town  into  two  townships, 
and  voted  that  on  condition  that  they  could  agree  on  a  proper 
line  of  division  they  would  apply  to  the  General  Assembly 
for  the  privilege  of  being  made  and  established  into  two 
townships,  and  thereupon  Messrs.  Mr.  Nathan  Birdsey,  Dan- 
iel Judson,  Esqr.,  Mr.  Joseph  Curtiss,  Col.  Samuel  Whiting, 
Samuel  Adams,  Esqr.,  Maj.  Agur  Judson,  Elisha  Mills,  Esqr., 
Capt.jNathan  Booth,  Capt.  Samuel  Blakeman,  Capt.  Benja- 


Dividing  the   Toiunship,  405 

min  Nichols,  Abraham  Brinsmade,  Esqr.,  Mr.  Stephen  Mid- 
dlebrook,  Capt.  John  Sherwood,  Capt.  Zechariah  Coe,  Stephen 
Burroughs,  Esqr.,  Daniel  Bennitt,  Esqr.,  Mr.  Silas  Nichols, 
Mr.  Judson  Curtiss,  and  Mr.  Zechariah  Summers  were  ap- 
pointed a  committee  to  view  and  affix  a  line  where  it  shall  be 
most  convenient  to  divide  the  town  into  two  townships  and 
make  report  to  this  meeting  at  their  next  adjournment." 

The  next  year  another  committee  was  appointed  lor  the 
same  purpose,  and  upon  their  report,  which  was  to  divide  the 
town  by  a  line  running  east  and  west,  setting  off  six  miles  in 
width  of  the  north  end  of  the  township  for  a  new  town,  a 
protest  was  made,  and  a  delegation  was  appointed  to  go  to 
the  General  Assembly  and  oppose  the  petition  prepared  to 
be  sent  to  that  body,  and  here  the  matter  ended. 

Soon  after  the  surrender  of  Cornwallis,  that  is,  December 
31,  1781,  another  effort  was  made  for  a  new  township. 

"  After  much  debate  it  was  finally  motioned  and  unani- 
mously voted  that  the  parish  of  New  Stratford  and  that  part 
of  North  Fairfield  parish  that  belongs  to  Stratford  and  such 
part  of  the  Northerly  part  of  North  Stratford  parish  as  may 
be  agreed  on  by  and  between  the  said  parishes  aforesaid,  be 
set  off  for  a  separate  distinct  town." 

This  proposition  was  not  granted  by  the  Legislature,  but 
it  reveals  the  spirit  and  courage  of  progress. 

The  next  year  a  proposition  was  brought  before  the  town 
to  allow  a  dam  and  mill  to  be  built  on  the  Pequonnock  river, 
which  resulted,  some  years  later,  in  the  establishment  of  the 
Berkshire  mills.' 

William  Pixleef  the  son  of  Peter  and  grandson  of 
William,  one  of  the  early  settlers  on  Old  Mill  green,  was  a 
man  of  good  standing,  owned  the  old  Pixlee  homestead,  and 


'  Dec.  30,  1782.  On  motion  made  by  William  Pixlee,  showing  to  this  meet- 
ing that  there  was  a  very  convenient  place  to  erect  a  tide  mill  on  Pequonnock 
River,  joining  his  home  lot,  which  would  be  very  serviceable  to  the  town  and  at 
Great  service  to  the  public  in  general  ;  and  asked  the  advice  and  approbation  of 
this  meeting  in  said  motion  ;  Voted  that  they  have  no  objections . against  the  erect- 
ing a  mill  at  the  place  proposed  in  case  no  damage  be  done  thereby  to  the  public 
by  obstructing  the  navigation  in  said  river  ;  nor  any  private  injur}-  to  the  property 
of  any  private  person. 
27 


4o6  History  of  Stratford. 

in  the  proposition  to  build  this  mill  was  following  out  the 
enterprise  of  his  grandfather,  who  was  a  spirited,  energetic 
man. 

Mr.  Pixlee  built  his  mill,  in  all  probability,  and  a  bridge 
across  the  Pequonnock  river,  and  opened  a  road  or  highway 
from  near  his  dwelling  at  Old  Mill  Green  down  to  it,  it  being 
the  street  now  known  as  the  Huntington  road,  for,  in  a  town 
vote  in  March,  1792,  the  selectmen  were  authorized  "to  em- 
ploy persons  to  keep  in  good  repair  the  bridges  called  Pixlee's 
Bridge  and  Benjamin's  Bridge;"  Pixlee's  bridge  being  at 
what  has  been  since  called  Berkshire  Mills. 

On  January  9,  1786,  another  proposition  for  town  im- 
provement was  accepted  by  the  town,  which  was  known 
several  years  as  Benjamin's  Bridge. 

"  Voted,  that  upon  consideration  that  a  highway  is 
opened  through  the  Newfield  to  the  Old  Mill  Creek  and  a 
good  substantial  cart-bridge  erected  across  said  creek  and  a 
highway  opened  to  New  Pasture  Point  by  John  Benjamin 
and  others  by  the  last  day  of  December  next,  then  said  Ben- 
jamin and  others  shall  be  entitled  to  receive  one-half  penny  on 
the  pound  out  of  the  2^  tax  laid  on  the  list  of  1785,  of  the 
town  treasurer." 

The  bridge  was  built  and  the  road  opened,  which  is  now 
the  Stratford  road,  and  after  six  years  the  town,  in  March, 
1792,  granted  another  privilege  in  conjunction  with  it. 

*•  Upon  application  of  Joseph  Walker  of  Stratford,  pray- 
ing liberty  for  the  exclusive  privilege  of  the  salt  water  River 
or  Creek  running  on  the  east  side  of  New  Pasture  Point, 
being  the  same  over  which  Benjamin's  Bridge  so-called  is 
erected,  for  the  purpose  of  building  a  Grist  Mill : 

Voted,  That  liberty  is  granted  the  said  Walker,  his  heirs 
and  assigns  forever,  for  the  purpose  aforesaid  ;  provided  that 
said  mill  and  dam  be  erected  within  seven  years  from  this 
date  ;  and  also  provided  the  mill  dam  does  not  injure  the 
bridge  erected  across  said  river  or  creek;  and  also  provided 
he  makes  all  damages  good  to  private  property." 

Three  years  later,  some  of  the  people  of  Stratford  insti- 
tuted measures  for  depriving  General  Walker  of  this  privi- 
lege, and  he  being  an  old  Revolutionar}^  soldier,  and  having  a 


The  Old  Yellozv  Mill.  407 

will  of  his  own,  determined  not  to  be  defeated.  He  had  then 
expended  much  money  and  time,  and  therefore  petitioned  the 
legislature,  at  the  October  session  of  1795,  for  action  on  the 
matter,  with  advantageous  result: 

"  Upon  the  petition  of  Joseph  Walker  of  Stratford,  in  the 
County  of  Fairfield,  showing  to  this  Assembly  that  the  inhab- 
itants of  the  town  of  Stratford  at  a  legal  town  meeting  held 
on  the  5th  day  of  March,  1792,  granted  to  him,  his  heirs  and 
assigns  the  exclusive  privilege  of  a  certain  salt  water  creek  or 
arm  of  the  sea  on  the  easterly  side  of  the  Newfield  Harbour 
in  said  town,  being  known  and  called  by  the  name  of  Old 
Mill  Creek,  for  the  purpose  of  erecting  a  tide  mill,  and  that 
he  has  proceeded  to  improve  said  grant,  and  laid  out  and 
expended  large  sums  of  money  in  prosecuting  said  business, 
and  that  he  now  finds  some  individuals  in  said  town  object  to 
his  proceedings  to  improve  said  grant,  praying  relief  as  per 
petition  on  file  : 

Resolved  by  this  Assembly,  That  said  grant  of  said  town 
of  Stratford,  as  aforesaid,  made  to  the  petitioner  be  and  the 
same  is  hereby  ratified  and  confirmed  ;  and  liberty  is  hereby 
granted  to  the  petitioner,  his  heirs  and  assigns  to  erect  and 
build  a  dam  across  said  creek  or  river,  at  or  near  Benjamin's 
Bridge,  in  such  manner  as  to  use  and  employ  the  mill  or  mills 
that  may  be  there  erected  to  the  greatest  advantage  ;  pro- 
vided, nevertheless,  that  nothing  in  said  resolve  shall  be  con- 
strued to  bar  said  town  of  Stratford  from  compelling  the 
petitioner,  his  heirs  and  assigns,  to  repair  any  injury  he  or 
they  may  do  said  Benjamin's  Bridge  by  erecting  said  mill- 
dam  ;  and  also  provided  that  nothing  in  this  resolve  contained 
shall  be  construed  to  bar  or  affect  the  right  which  an}^  indi- 
vidual may  have  to  any  action  against  the  petitioner,  his  heirs 
and  assigns  in  case  they  are  damnified  by  the  overflowing  of 
the  waters  occasioned  by  said  dam." 

Old  Mill  creek  is  what  is  now  called  the  Yellow  Mill- 
pond  and  Pembroke  lake,  and  extended  northward  to  Old 
Mill  Green.  The  elder  residents  of  Stratford  remember 
when  vessels  of  considerable  size  were  built  at  the  head  of 
the  creek  and  floated  down  and  over  the  causeway,  at  high 
water,  to  the  harbor. 


4o8  History  of  Stratford, 

The  tide  in  this  creek  always  set  back  to  Old  Mill  until 
the  railroad  culvert  was  built,  which  stopped  the  water  from 
flowing  above  that  point. 

This  mill,  built  by  Gen.  Joseph  Walker,  had  a  number  of 
owners,  the  last  of  whom  was  Mr.  George  F.  Cook,  and  he 
was  the  unfortunate  loser  when  it  was  set  afire  and  burned 
down  in  1884. 

The  mill  was  painted  yellow,  and  had  been  known  many 
years  as  the  Yellow  Mill. 

The  desire  for  a  new  township  or  townships  continued 
with  increased  interest  and  effort  and  in  1786,  in  town  meet- 
ing, they  gave  consent  that  Ripton,  North  Stratford  and  New 
Stratford  might  become  separate  towns,  and  in  1789,  Ripton 
and  New  Stratford  were  made  a  separate  township. 

In  August,  1787,  the  following  action  as  to  the  ferry  road 
was  taken :  "  Voted,  that  the  selectmen  procure  an  highway 
at  New  Pasture  Point  to  accommodate  the  Ferry,  and  if  they 
cannot  agree  with  the  owners  of  the  land,  to  apply  to  the 
County  Court  for  the  purpose  aforesaid." 

The  road  was  secured,  and  passed  around  the  point  from 
where  the  Steel  Works  now  stand,  along  the  shore  to  Benja- 
min's Bridge. 

The  only  public  road  or  highway  coming  to  this  Point 
was  what  is  now  Pembroke  street,  which  had  been  in  use 
probably  more  than  one  hundred  years. 

The  Congregational  Church  and  Meeting-house. 

The  third  meeting-house  in  Stratford  village  had  served 
the  congregation  well  about  forty  years,  was  in  good  repair, 
when,  on  the  afternoon  of  June  17,  1785,  it  was  burned  to  the 
ground,  being  struck  by  lightning.  This  edifice  stood  on 
Watch-house  Hill,  and  the  destruction  of  it,  so  soon  after  the 
Revolutionary  War,  was  a  great  calamity  to  the  society  and 
people. 

Some  description  of  this  unfortunate  occurrence,  and  the 
building  of  a  new  house,  has  been  preserved  by  the  thought- 
fulness  of  one  of  Stratford's  own  citizens,  having  been  writ- 
ten in  an  Almanac  for  that  same  year,  which  is  now  just  one 
hundred  years  ago  ;  and  it  is  here  produced  with  pleasure. 


Burning  the  Meeting-house.  409 

In  this  house  Mr.  Gold  had  preached  about  eight  years, 
and  Mr.  Izrahiah  VVetmore  twenty-seven  years,  but  had  re- 
signed his  pastorate  five  years  before,  and  Mr.  Stephen  W. 
Stebbins  had  preached  in  it  about  one  vear  when  it  was 
burned. 


The  burning  of  the  Stratford  Meeting-house  as  recorded  by 
John  Brooks. 

"On  Friday,  the  17th  day  of  June,  1785,  at  about  6  o'clock 
in  the  afternoon,  Stratford  meeting-house  was  struck  with 
lightning  and  within  about  one  hour  and  a  half  it  was  totally 
reduced  to  ashes.  The  fire  broke  out  from  the  steeple,  round 
the  plate  on  the  south  side,  all  in  an  instant.  The  house  on 
that  side  was  one  continued  blaze  instantaneously.  The 
quantity  of  fire  contained  in  the  clap  (;r  explosion,  was  sup- 
posed to  be  very  great,  and  all  efforts  to  save  the  house  was 
in  vain. 

"  The  Society  having  collected  timber  and  other  materials 
erected  another  house  of  the  same  dimensions  as  the  former 
and  placed  it  on  Hiell's  hill,  so-called.  The  frame  of  this 
new  house  they  commenced  raising  on  Friday,  the  17th  of 
May,  1786,  and  finished  it  on  Saturday  the  i8th  at  about  sun- 
down. 

"  The  society  with  united  zeal  proceeded  with  this  build- 
ing and  completed,  painted,  glazed  and  plastered  it  on  Satur- 
day, the  nth  day  of  November,  in  just  25  weeks  after  it  was 
erected;  and  on  the  Sunday  following,  Nov.  12,  1786,  the 
congregation  met  in  it  in  the  forenoon  for  the  purpose  of 
public  worship  which  was  conducted  by  the  Rev.  Stephen 
W.  Sebbins,  who  introduced  the  services  by  singing  the  I02d 
Psalm,  2d  part.  Next  in  succession  followed  a  very  pertinent 
extempore  prayer  suitable  to  the  occasion  and  dedication  of 
said  house.  The  ist  text  was  from  the  107  psalm  at  the  7th 
verse.  The  subject  matter  of  the  sermon  was  upon  the  duty 
of  attending  the  public  worship  and  other  ordinances  of 
Christ's  Church,  with  becoming  reverance  and  fear;  and  the 
sacrament  of  the  Lord's  supper  was  administered  the  same 
forenoon. 

"  In  the  afternoon  the  service   began  at  3  o'clock,  intro- 


4IO  History  of  Stratford. 

duced  in  the  usual  manner,  and  a  sermon  delivered  by  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Stebbins  before  a  very  numerous  audience  composed 
of  the  two  Societies,  in  this  place,  unitedly  convened  with 
their  respective  pastors — the  Rev.  Mr.  Learning,  the  Episco- 
pal Rector — and  a  number  of  gentlemen  from  the  other 
parishes  of  the  town.  The  sermon  was  on  the  subject  of 
God's  recording  his  name  in  his  temple  ;  and  William  Brooks 
had  a  child  baptized  by  the  name  of  Anna,"  the  first  to  whom 
that  ordinance  was  administered  in  said  house.'" 

This  was  a  commodious  edifice,  located  near  the  site  of 
the  present  house  of  worship  of  the  same  society,  and  it  con- 
tinued in  use  until  the  one  now  standing  was  built  in  1858. 
Of  this  building  a  good  picture  is  preserved,  showing  it  to 
have  been  an  imposing  structure  for  the  times,  built  with 
much  skill  of  architecture  and  workmanship.  This  is  espe- 
cially exhibited  by  the  representation  of  the  interior  of  the 
house.  There  were  doors  on  the  south  side  and  the  two  ends, 
it  being  the  same  style  of  meeting-house  that  prevailed  for  a 
hundred  years  or  more  in  this  State,  the  first  one  of  the  kind 
having  been  built  at  Farmington. 

When  this  house  was  to  be  torn  down,  and  the  carpen- 
ters had  commenced  their  work,  Mr.  Rufus  W.  Bunnell,  on 
the  morning  of  November  i,  1858,  stepped  into  the  front  door 
to  take  a  last  look  at  the  familiar  seats  and  walls,  when  the 
thought  struck  him — yes,  struck  him — to  make  a  drawing  as 
it  then  appeared.  This  he  did,  on  an  old  scrap  of  paper,  so 
perfectly  that  the  wood  engraver'  has  produced  the  accom- 
panying finely-finished  illustration  of  the  sacred  old  inclosure. 
The  paneling,  table,  carpet,  windows,  pulpit  and  sounding- 
board  over  it  are  to  be  seen  in  life-like  vividness,  as  they 
were  when  the  congregation  last  departed  from  that  long 
familiar  place.  The  sounding-board  was  finished  in  a  more 
ornamental  style  than  was  usual,  by  the  dome-like  paneling 


''■  The  family  record  says  Polly. 

*  This  record  was  made  by  John  Brooks  in  the  back  part  of  a  Connecticut 
Register  for  1785 — Green's  first  Register — the  calculations  being  made  by  Nathan 
DaboU,  of  the  academy  in  Plainfield.     (Manuscript  of  the  Rev.  B.  L.  Swan.) 

^  Mr.  John  E.  Sweet,  of  Bridgeport. 


The  Sou  I  Kit  iig-boa  rd. 


INTERIOR    OF    THE    CONGREGATIONAL    CHURCH    TAKEN    NOVEMBER    I,    185S. 


412  History  of  Stratford. 

above  it,  forming  a  mucii  more  imposing  appearance  than 
was  customary  in  the  meeting-houses  of  that  day.  It  was  not 
the  intention  of  the  artist  to  represent  the  pews,  but  only  the 
main  aisle  and  the  side  of  the  house  on  which  the  pulpit 
stood. 

It  is  with  much  satisfaction  that  the  accompanying  cut  is 
secured  for  this  work. 

This  was  the  fourth  house  of  worship  for  this,  the  old 
society,  and  in   1858  they  commenced  the    fifth,  which    was 
completed  in  modern  style  inside  and  out,  and  was  dedicated 
on  the  27th  of  October,  1859,  ^^^  ornament  to  the  village,  and  . 
a  pleasant  house  of  worship. 

The  Manual  of  this  Congregational  Church  of  Strat- 
ford is  a  more  than  usually  historical,  extensive  and  val- 
uable work  of  the  kind,  having  been  published  in  188 1,  con- 
taining 84  pages.  From  it  are  taken  the  following  sketches 
of  Ministers  and  list  of  Deacons: 

**jRei?.  Izrahiah  Wetmore/  the  third  son  of  Rev.  Izra- 

hiah  and  Sarah  (Booth)  VVetmore,  born  August  30,  1729,  at 
Stratford,  was  graduated  at  Yale  College  in  1748,  received 
the  degree  of  A.M.  from  the  same  institution  in  1751  ;  studied 
theology  and  entered  the  ministry  ;  was  settled  pastor  at 
Stratford  from  May,  1753,  until  1780,  at  Trumbull  from  1785 
until   1798. 

"  He  preached  the  Election  Sermon  before  the  Legisla- 
ture of  Connecticut  in  1773  ;  also  a  sermon  in  pamphlet  form 
at  the  ordination  of  David  Lewis  Beebe  to  the  pastorate  of 
the  first  Church  of  Christ  at  VVoodbridge,  February  23,  1791  ; 
and  other  autograph  sermons  still  preserved. 

"  He  was  warmly  attached  to  the  cause  of  Independence, 
and  it  is  related  of  him  that,  'When  the  news  of  the  suri'en- 
der  of  Lord  Cornwallis  to  General  Washington  reached 
Stratford  it  was  on  Sunday  and  during  worship.  Word  was 
immediately  taken  to  the  pulpit,  while  parson  Wetmore  was 
delivering  his  discourse.  Straightening  himself  to  his  full 
height,  and  making  known  the  intelligence,  he  said  :   It  is  no 

*  This  sketch  is  taken  from  the  Wetmore  Genealogy. 


Biographical  Sketches.  413 

place  for  boisterous  demonstrations  in  the  house  of  God.  but 
we  may,  in  giving  three  cheers,  only  go  through  with  the 
motions.'  " 

^'Rev,  Stephen  William  Stehhins,  son  of  Stej^hen 
Stebbins,  was  born  in  East  Long  Meadow,  Mass.,  June  26, 
1758,  graduated  at  Yale  College  in  1781,  and  ordained  pastor 
of  this  Church,  July  7,  1784.  Just  before  his  ordination,  the 
Church  made  declaration  of  independency  and  reaffirmed  the 
half-way  covenant.  He  was  dismissed  in  August,  1813,  and 
afterwards  settled  in  West  Haven. 

**Mev.  MattJieiv  M.  Duttoit  was  born  in  VVatertown, 
Conn.,  June  3,  1783,  graduated  at  Yale  College  in  1808,  and 
was  ordained  in  Stratford,  September  20,  18 14,  having  de- 
clined an  urgent  call  from  the  Church  in  Portsmouth,  N.  H., 
Mr.  Dutton  continued  pastor,  universally  esteemed  and  be- 
loved, until  the  autumn  of  182 1,  when  he  accepted  the  appoint- 
ment of  Professor  of  Mathematics  and  Natural  Philosophy 
in  Yale  College.     He  died  July   17,   1825. 

"  When  Mr.  Dutton  was  called  to  the  Church,  its  spiritual 
condition  was  very  low.  Various  causes,  long  operating,  had 
greatly  adulterated  the  doctrinal  belief  of  many  members. 
Some  of  the  most  prominent  had  become  believers  in  Univer- 
salism.  The  enforcement  of  discipline,  for  errors  in  belief, 
had  become  wholly  impracticable.  Mr.  Dutton,  as  a  condi- 
tion of  accepting  the  call,  stipulated  for  an  open,  thorough 
re-confession  by  the  Church,  of  sound  doctrine,  and  an  assent 
to  a  solemn  covenant  to  enforce  discipline.  The  Confession 
of  Faith  and  the  Covenant  now  in  use  were,  at  that  time, 
adopted,  and  only  those  who  would  assent  to  it  were  enrolled 
as  members  of  the  Church. 

"  Mr.  Dutton's  ministry  was  blessed  to  the  spiritual  life 
and  efficiency  of  the  Church.  In  1821,  on  one  Sunday,  seventy 
persons  were  added  to  the  Church. 

"-Ke«^.  Joshua  Leavittf  1>.2>.,  was  born  in  Heth, 
Franklin  county,  Mass.,  Sept.  8,  1794,  graduated  at  Yale  Col- 
lege, in  September,  1814,  and  ordained  pastor  of  this  Church 
in  February,  1825.  He  was  dismissed  in  1828,  to  become  the 
Agent  of  the    American  Seamen's  Friend   Society    in    New 


414  History  of  Stratford. 

York.  After  that  he  was  connected  with  the  religious  and 
secular  press,  and  also  with  several  institutions  of  Christian 
benevolence  and  moral  reform.     He  died  in  1873. 

'^Mev,  Thotnas  Rohbins  was  born  in  Norfolk,  Conn., 
August  II,  1777,  entered  Yale  College  in  1792,  and  at  the 
close  of  the  Junior  year  he  left  and  joined  the  Senior  class  in 
Williams  College,  where  he  was  graduated  in  August,  1796. 
In  September  following  he.  took  the  same  degree,  B.A.,  in 
his  former  class  at  Yale.  In  1803  he  was  ordained  Missionary 
of  the  Home  Missionary  Society,  to  the  northern  part  of 
Ohio,  where  he  labored  until  impaired  health  obliged  him  to 
return  East.  In  May,  1809,  he  was  installed  pastor  over  the 
Church  in  East  Windsor,  Conn.,  where  he  continued  until 
1827,  when  he  was  dismissed  at  his  own  request.  In  Febru- 
ary, 1830,  he  was  installed  pastor  of  this  Church,  and  on 
September  9th,  the  following  year,  he  was  dismissed.  He 
removed  to  Metapoisett,  Mass.,  where  for  fourteen  years  he 
labored  as  pastor,  and  then  resigning  his  charge  became 
librarian  of  the  Connecticut  Historical  Society  at  Hartford. 
He  died  at  Colebrook,  September  13,  1856,  in  the  80th  year 
of  his  age. 

**J?ev.  Frederick  TV.  Chajynian  was  born  in  Canfield, 
Trumbull  county,  Ohio,  November  17,  1806;  graduated  at 
Yale  College  in  1828,  and  ordained  pastor  of  this  Church, 
September  5,  1832.  He  was  dismissed  April  16,  1839,  ^"^ 
subsequently  settled  over  the  Church  at  Glastonbury.  He 
died  in  1876. 

^^Hev.  Williani  Bouton  Weed  was  born  in  Canaan, 
March  22,  181 1,  graduated  at  Yale  College  in  1830,  and  for 
several  years  devoted  himself  to  teaching.  He  was  converted 
under  a  sermon  which  he  heard  at  Chilicothe,  Ohio,  from  the 
text,  '  Be  ye  thankful.'  In  1836,  he  began  the  study  of  the 
law,  but  abandoned  it  for  the  ministry  and  was  ordained  at 
Stratford  pastor  of  this  Church,  December  4,  1839. 

"  During  his  ministry,  which  was  a  most  successful  one, 
Mr.  Weed  received  many  flattering  calls  to  other  pastorates. 
At  length,  thinking  that  a  new  field  of  labor  might  conduce 
to  the  invigoration  of  his  enfeebled  health,   he  accepted  the 


Biographical  Sketches.  415 

invitation  of  the  First  Church  in    Norwalk,  Conn.,  where  he 
was  installed  June  27,  1855.     He  died  December  3,   i860. 

Mr.  Weed  was  held  in  prominent  regard  by  the  ministers 
and  churches  of  the  State,  as  a  man  of  eminent  ability,  and 
his  teachings  are  gratefully  remembered  by  those  who  were 
permitted  to  receive  them.  A  book  of  his  sermons,  to  which 
is  prefixed  a  biographical  notice,  has  been  published. 

^^Rev.  Joseph  R.  JPafje  was  born  in  New  Brunswick, 
N.  J.,  and  was  ordained  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in 
Perry,  Wyoming  county,  N.  Y.,  February  6,  1839,  fron"  which 
place  he  came  to  Stratford,  where  he  was  installed  pastor 
February  11,  1857.  In  October,  1858,  he  was  dismissed,  and 
soon  assumed  again  the  pastoral  charge  of  his  former  Church 
at  Perry.  In  June,  1868,  he  removed  to  East  Avon,  where, 
for  about  five  years,  he  was  acting  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church.  In  November,  1872,  he  removed  to  Rochester, 
where  he  served  as  missionary  of  the  Rochester  Presbytery. 
In  February,  1875,  he  was  installed  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  in  Brighton,  N.  Y.  In  1876,  the  degree  of  D.D.  was 
conferred  on  him  by  Hamilton  College. 

Rev,  Renjctniin  L.  Sivan  was  born  in  Medford,  Mass., 
July  31,  1813;  entered  College  in  the  Junior  Class,  but  was 
providentially  hindered  from  completing  the  course.  He 
received  the  honorary  degree  of  A.M.  from  Yale  in  1844. 
He  was  ordained  pastor  of  the  Church  in  Fair  Haven,  Conn., 
in  1836;  was  installed  pastor  of  the  Church  in  Litchfield, 
Conn.,  in  1846.  He  was  acting  pastor  at  the  South  Church 
in  Bridgeport,  from  June,  1856,  to  November,  1858.  In 
September,  1858,  he  accepted  the  invitation  of  this  Church, 
and  was  installed  in  October,  1858,  and  dismissed  in  1863. 
In  the  spring  of  1866,  he  became  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  in  Oyster  Bay,  N.  Y.,  where  he  labored  until  the 
Autumn  of  1875,  vvhen  domestic  bereavement  and  ill  health 
obliged  him  to  resign  his  pastorate. 

Rev,  Lewis  Charpiot  was  installed  pastor  of  this 
Church  May  25,  1864,  and  dismissed  April  12,  1866. 

Rev,  Williani  K.  Hall  was  born  in  Boston,  Mass., 
Nov.  4,  1836,  was  graduated  at  Yale  College  in  1859;  pursued 


4i6  History  of  Stratford. 

his  theological  studies  in  New  Haven  and  Berlin,  Germany, 
and  was  ordained  October  17,  1862,  chaplain  of  the  Connecti- 
cut Volunteers.  He  was  installed  pastor  of  this  Church, 
October  24,  1866,  and  the  relation  was  dissolved  at  his  request 
in  May,  1872.  In  January,  1873,  he  accepted  a  call  from  the 
First  Presbvterian  Church  in  Newburgh,  N.  Y.  He  was 
chosen  moderator  of  the  New  York  Synod  in  1878,  and  in 
the  following  year  was  appointed  by  the  Secretary  of  War 
as  one  of  the  Board  of  Visitors  at  West  Point. 

Hev,  Frank  S.  Fitch  was  born  in  Geneva,  Ohio,  Feb- 
ruary 24,  1846,  He  was  graduated  at  Oberlin  College  in 
1870,  and  at  Yale  Divinity  School  in  1873.  He  was  ordained 
pastor  of  this  Church  June  17,  1873,  and  resigned  in  October, 
1878,  and  on  November  21st  of  the  same  year  was  installed 
pastor  of  the  Seventh  Street  Congregational  Church,  Cincin- 
nati, Ohio. 

Mev.  S.  H.  Dana  was  installed  pastor  March  12,  1879, 
and  dismissed  December  31,   1881. 

Hev,  Joel  Stone  Ives^  son  of  the  Rev.  Alfred  E.,  and 
Harriet  P.  (Stone)  Ives,  was  born  in  Colebrook,  Conn.,  Dec. 
5,  1847;  graduated  at  Amherst  College,  July  16,  1870,  and 
from  Yale  Divinity  School,  May  14,  1874;  licensed  to  preach 
by  the  New  Haven  Centre  Association,  May  4,  1873,  and  or- 
dained the  tenth  pastor  of  the  first  church  in  East  Hampton, 
September  29,  1874.  From  this  church  he  was  dismissed 
October  31,  1883  ;  began  to  preach  in  Stratford  November  i, 
and  was  installed  pastor  November  20,   1B83. 

He  married,  July  15,  1874,  Emma  S.,  daughter  of  Mr. 
Joel  Ives  Butler,  of  Meriden,  Conn.  Their  children  are 
Anne  Emma,  Mabel  Sarah,  died  in  1879,  and  Joel  Butler. 

This  Church  has  given  to  the  Ministry  the  following  named 
persons  from  her  nievibers  : 

^^Rev,  Benjamin  JBlakenian,  son  of  the  first  pastor, 
was  graduated  at  Harvard  College  in  1663.  Closed  a  min- 
istry at  Maiden,  Mass.,  in  1678.  He  afterwards  preached  at 
Scarborough,  and  was  subsequently  in  secular  business. 


Biographical  Sketches.  417 

Bev,  Charles  Cliamicey,  son  of  the  pastor  Israel,  was 
the  first  pastor  ot  the  Stratfield  Church  and  Society  from 
1695  to  1714,  he  having-  preached  for  that  people  considerably  if 
not  regularly  two  or  more  years  before  1695.     He  died  in  17 14. 

Itei\  Isaac  Chauncey,  son  of  the  pastor  Israel 
Chauncey,  was  pastor  at  Hadley,  Mass.,  from  1696  to  1745, 
when  he  died. 

Rev.  Nathaniel  Chauncey,  nephew  of  Israel  Chaun- 
cey, the  pastor,  was  the  first  recorded  graduate  of  Yale 
College,  and  was  pastor  at  Durham,  Conn.,  from  171 1  to  1756, 
when  he  died. 

Hev,  John  Beach,  son  of  Isaac  Beach,  of  Stratford, 
was  the  pastor  of  the  Congregational  Church  at  Newtown 
from  1725  to  1732,  and  Rector  of  the  Episcopal  Church  of  the 
same  place  from  1732  to  1782,  when  he  died. 

Rev,  John  Goodsell,  first  pastor  of  the  Church  on 
Greenfield  Hill  from  1726  to  1756,  when  he  died.  He  was 
only  twenty  years  of  age  when  he  settled  in  the  parish,  the 
Church  being  organized  at  the  time  of  his  settlement,  with 
twenty-six  members,  and  at  the  close  of  the  year  1741  the 
number  was  one  hundred  and  sixty. 

Rev*  Jereiniah  Curtis  was  the  first  pastor  at  South- 
ington,  and  labored  there  from  1728  to  1755.  He  died  there 
in   1795,  aged  eighty-nine  years. 

Rev.  Jonathan  Ingersoll  was  pastor  at  Ridgefield, 
from  1740  to  1778,  when  he  died. 

Rev.  Mark  Leavenworth  was  pastor  at  VVaterbury 
from  1740  to  1797,  when  he  died. 

Rev.  Nathan  Rirdsey  was  pastor  at  West  Haven 
from  1742  to  1758,  when  from  domestic  considerations  he 
retired  to  his  homestead  at  Oronoke  in  Stratford,  where  he 
died  in  18 18,  aged  103  years  5  months  and  9  days.  When  one 
hundred  years  old  he  made  the  prayer  at  the  ordination  of 
Mr.  Button.  He  had  twelve  children,  and  at  his  death  his 
grandchildren  had  numbered  seventy-six,  his  great  grand- 
children one  hundred  and  sixty-three.  The  Rev.  Joseph  P. 
Thompson,  D.D.,  was  a  descendant. 


41 8  History  of  Stratford. 

Hev,  David  Jtidson  was  pastor  of  the  Congregational 
Church  at  Newtown  from  1743  until  1776,  when  he  died. 

Hev,  Me^ekiah  Goldf  the  son  of  the  pastor,  was  pastor 
at  Cornwall  from  1755  until  1790,  when  he  died. 

Sev,  JEdefi  SurrougJis  was  pastor  ot  a  Church  at 
South  Killingly,  from  1760  until  1763,  then  pastor  at  Hanover, 
N.  H.,  from  1772  until  1809.  He  preached  at  Hartford,  Vt., 
from  1809  until  1813,  when  he  died,  aged  sevent3^-five  years. 
The  Rev.  E.  B.  Foster  was  a  descendant. 

Mev.  Andrew  Jiidson  was  pastor  at  Eastford  from 
1778  until  1804,  when  he  died. 

Mev,  Nehemiah  Beach  Bearilsley  was  ordained  in 
1816  and  died  in  1868. 

Bev.  Sjtencer  F.  Beard  was  ordained  in  1829,  and 
died  at  Andover,  Mass.  in  1876.  The  Rev.  William  H.  Beard 
and  the  Rev.  Edwin  S.  Beard  are  his  sons. 

Bev,  William  Miissell,  son  of  Alden  and  Sarah  (Nor- 
ton) Russell,  was  born  in  Stratford,  February  15,  181 5,  grad- 
uated at  Yale  College  in  1837,  and  Yale  Divinity  School  in 
1 841.  In  1842  he  was  settled  in  Wakeman,  Ohio,  where  he 
remained  three  years.  In  January,  1846,  he  commenced 
preaching  for  the  Congregational  Church  at  Easthampton, 
Conn.,  and  on  October  14th  was  settled  there  as  the  seventh 
pastor  of  that  Church,  remaining  until  October  11,  1855,  when 
he  was  dismissed.  The  next  year  he  was  installed  pastor  of 
the  Second  Congregational  Church  of  New  Ipswich,  N.  H., 
where  after  remaining  three  years  he  found  the  climate  too 
severe  for  his  health  and  was  dismissed.  In  i860,  he  became 
pastor  of  the  Church  in  Sherman,  Conn.,  and  remained  three 
years,  at  which  time  an  asthmatic  affection  of  long  standing 
obliged  him  to  relinquish  the  pulpit. 

Since  that  time  he  has  resided  in  Washington,  D.  C,  in 
the  service  of  the  Government. 

He  married,  May  10,  1842,  Sarah  Elizabeth  Brown,  of 
New  Haven.  Their  children  are  Hattie  Hamlin,  b.  Mar.  i, 
1844;  Sarah  Norton,  b.  July  6,  1847,  ^^^  Minnie  Williams,  b. 
Nov.  22,  1851. 


Biographical  Sketches.  419 

Mev,  Phineas  BJakenian,  ordained  in  1843. 

Bev.  Charles  Henry  liusfteU^  ordained  in  1S59. 

Bev,  Henry  Samuel  Bartiuin  was  j^raduated  at  Vale 
College  in  1862  and  became  a  Missionary  of  the  A.  B.  C.  F.  M. 
in  Persia  in  1867. 

Bev,  Samuel  F.  Emerson  was  graduated  at  Yale  Col- 
lege in  1872  and  Union  Theological  Seminary  in  1879. 

Bev,  Joyce  CiM'tis,  son  of  Solomon  and  Jerusha  (Walk- 
er) Curtis,  was  born  in  1787  and  died  in  1861. 

Bev,  Hezekiah  Gold  Vffovd^  son  of  Samuel  and  Abi- 
gail (Gold)  Ufford,  was  born  in  1779,  graduated  at  Yale  Col- 
lege in  1806,  and  died,  January  23,  1863,  aged  84  years. 

George  Wni.  Jiidson,  son  of  George  T.  Judson,  was 
graduated  at  Yale  College  in  1884,  and  is  now  in  Yale  Divinit}' 
School. 

Elder  and  Deacons  of  this  Chnrch. 

"  Philip  Groves  was  the  only  Ruling  Elder  in  this  Church 
from  near  its  organization  to  his  death  in  1676.  He  was  Dep- 
uty to  the  General  Court  from  this  town  as  early  as  1652,  and 
in  1654  was  chosen  Assistant  and  as  such  was  *  empowered  to 
marry  persons.' 

"John  Birdsey  is  referred  to  as  Deacon  in  167S.  He 
died  in  1690. 

"  Timothy  VVilcockson  is  referred  to  as  a  Deacon  in  1678. 
He  died  in  1714. 

"  Thomas  Welles  is  mentioned  as  Deacon  in  1707.  He 
died  in  1721. 

"  Robert  Walker  is  named  as  a  Deacon  in  1722.     He  died 

in  1743. 

"  John  Thompson  is  also  mentioned  as  a  Deacon  in  1722. 

He  died  in  1765. 

"  Job  Peck  is  styled  Deacon  on  his  grave  stone,  although 
no  record  of  his  appointment  has  been  .seen.  He  died  in 
1782. 


420  History   of  Stratford. 

"Elnathan  Wheeler,  appointed  in  1751,  and  died  in  1761. 
Isaiah  Brown,  appointed  in  1755,  and  died  in  1793. 
Ebenezer  Coe,  appointed  in  1784,  and  died  in  1820. 
Nathan  McEwen,  appointed  in  1791,  and  died  in  1810. 
Samuel  Ufford,  appointed  in  1801,  and  died  in  1821. 
Agur  Curtiss,  appointed  in  1801,  and  died  in  1838. 

Philo  Curtiss,  appointed  in ,  and  died  in  1852. 

Agur  Curtiss,  appointed  in ,  and  died  in  1868. 

David  P.  Judson,  appointed  in  1837,  and  died  in  1869. 

Agur  T.  Curtiss,  appointed  in  1858. 

Lewis  Beers,  appointed  in  1858,  and  died  in  1870. 

Charles  C.  Welles,  appointed  in  1867. 

Samuel  T.  Houghton,  appointed  in  1877. 

Samuel  E.  Curtis,  appointed  in  1877. 

Sketches  of  Prominent  Men. 

Hon*  William  Sainuel  Johnson^    son    of   the    Rev. 

Samuel  Johnson,  D.D.,  was  born  in  Stratford,  October  7, 
1727,  and  died  November  14th,  1819,  aged  92  years  and  two 
months.  His  mother  was  Charity,  widow  of  Benjamin  Nicoll, 
of  Islip,  L.  I.,  and  daughter  of  Richard  Floyd,  of  Brookhaven, 
L.  I.  He  was  fitted  for  college  by  his  father  and  was  grad- 
uated at  Yale  in  1744. 

After  this  he  pursued  his  studies  in  several  classical  lines 
while  fitting  himself  for  the  profession  of  the  law,  upon  which 
he  soon  entered,  and  gave,  at  once,  much  promise  of  a  re- 
markably successful  and  honorable  life  work. 

He  married,  at  the  age  of  twenty-two  years,  Ann, 
daughter  of  William  Beach,  of  Stratford,  in  1749,  and  made 
his  residence  in  his  native  town. 

In  1754,  he  was  commissioned  as  lieutenant  in  the  Strat- 
ford militia  company. 

In  1 761,  he  was  chosen  Representative  for  Stratford,  and 
again  in  1765  ;  and  the  next  year  he  was  elected  an  Assistant 
at  the  General  Court. 

When  the  first  Continental  Congress  assembled  in  New 
York  City  in  1765,  the  representatives  in  that  body,  from 
Connecticut,  were  William  Samuel  Johnson,  Eliphalet  Dyer 
and  David  Rowland. 


Biographical  Sketches.  421 

The  next  January  23,  1766,  the  University  of  Oxford, 
England,  conferred  on  him  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Laws. 

His  next  service  to  the  Colony  of  Connecticut  was  in 
reference  to  its  title  to  land  obtained  of  the  Mohegan  Indians, 
concerning  which  the  Rev.  E.  E.  Beardslcy,  D.D.,  makes  the 
following  brief  statement :" 

"  In  February,  1766,  Connecticut  was  cited  to  appear 
before  the  King  and  Lords  in  Council,  to  answer  in  a  matter 
which  had  been  kept  in  agitation  for  nearly  seventy  years, 
and  concerned  the  title  to  a  large  tract  of  land  that  Lieut. 
Governor  Mason  was  appointed  to  obtain  for  the  Colony, 
from  the  Mohegan  Indians.  He  took  the  deed  to  himself, 
and  the  fact  remained  unnoticed  until  after  his  death,  when 
the  property  was  claimed  by  his  heirs  for  services  rendered 
to  the  Indians,  as  their  agent.  It  was  a  part  of  their  suit, 
too,  to  oppose  the  claim  of  Connecticut  under  pretense  of 
protecting  the  rights  of  the  Indians ;  and  they  appealed  from 
the  legal  decisions  against  them  in  this  country  to  the  highest 
tribunal  in  England  :  while  the  title  of  the  land  was  valuable, 
the  most  important  question  was  one  which  affected  the  char- 
tered rights  of  the  Colony ;  for  had  they  succeeded,  *  the 
conduct  of  Mason  would  have  been  adjudged  fraudulent,  and 
the  British  Government  would  have  made  it  a  ground  for 
taking  away  the  charter.' 

"  Dr.  Johnson  was  appointed  by  the  General  Assembly 
at  its  October  session  in  1766,  to  proceed  to  England  and 
defend  in  that  case.  In  obedience  to  this  direction  he  arrived 
in  London  on  the  8th  of  February,"  expecting  to  remain 
there  a  few  months  at  longest;  but  it  was  nearly  five  years 
before  he  returned  to  his  home. 

His  long  stay  in  England,  in  which  he  was  largely  suc- 
cessful in  retaining  for  the  Colony  the  right  of  soil  to  the 
Mohegan  lands,  enabled  him  to  become  thoroughly  ac- 
quainted with  the  public  sentiment  in  that  country  towards 
the  Colonies,  which  knowledge  was  of  great  service  to  this 
country  after  his  return,  when  the  Revolutionary  conilict 
began. 

*  Life  and  Times  of  William  Samuel  Johnson,  35. 

28 


422  Hist07-y  of  Stratford. 

At  the  May  session  of  the  General  Assembly,  in  1772, 
Dr.  Johnson  was  appointed  one  of  the  Judges  of  the  Superior 
Court,  which  position  allowed  him  favorable  opportunities  to 
continue  his  literary  pursuits  and  correspondences  which  he 
had  industriously  improved  up  to  this  time,  and  which  course 
he  followed  to  the  close  of  life. 

In  1774,  he  was  elected  one  of  three  to  represent  Connec- 
ticut in  the  Congress  of  the  Colonies  to  meet  in  Philadelphia 
on  the  5th  of  September,  but  having  accepted  previously  an 
appointment  as  arbitrator  on  the  estate  of  Van  Renselaer  of 
Albany,  he  was  excused  from  serving  and  his  place  was  filled 
by  Silas  Dean. 

After  the  Declaration  of  Independence  he  remained  at 
home  most  of  the  time  except  as  related  on  page  421  of 
this  book,  maintaining,  in  regard  to  public  acts,  neutral 
ground  to  a  considerable  extent  in  relation  to  the  great  con- 
flict for  the  liberty  of  the  United  States,  until  peace  was 
declared. 

In  1782,  he  came  prominently  before  the  public  in  his 
profession  as  an  advocate  in  behalf  of  the  State  of  Connecti- 
cut, in  the  great  trial  of  the  claims  of  this  State  to  the  Sus- 
quehanna lands  in  Pennsylvania. 

From  November,  1784,  until  May,  1787,  he  was  a  repre- 
sentative in  Congress,  from  his  native  State. 

The  delegates  sent  by  the  Connecticut  Legislature  to 
form  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States,  in  1787,  consisted 
of  William  Samuel  Johnson,  Roger  Sherman,  a  signer  of  the 
Declaration  of  Independence,  and  Oliver  Ellsworth  ;  and  in 
this  great  work  each  of  these  men  rendered  distinguished 
service. 

While  thus  serving  his  country  he  was  elected,  on  the 
2 1  St  of  May,  1787,  president  of  Columbia  College  in  New 
York  City,  which  he  accepted  and  removed  his  residence  to 
that  place  where  he  remained,  serving  with  much  honor, 
until  his  resignation  in  the  year  1800,  when  he  retired  to  his 
old  home  in  Stratford. 

Dr.  Johnson  was  reared  in  the  Episcopal  Church  and  to 
it  he  maintained  his  loyalty  and  devotion  to  the  last,  and  as 
such  exerted  a  large  influence  in  behalf  of  that  Church  in  the 
Colony  and  State  of  Connecticut  and  in  the  United  States. 


Biographical  Sketches.  ^23 

His  literary  attainments  and  culture  were  amon^  the 
most  complete  and  attractive  of  any  among  Americans,  and 
his  elegance  of  diction  and  charm  of  delivery  were  in  few 
cases,  if  any,  surpassed  in  his  day. 


Adopting  the  Constitution. 

The  question  of  adopting  the  Constitution  of  the  United 
States  excited  great  interest  in  Stratford,  and  at  the  town 
meeting  held  to  elect  delegates  to  a  State  convention  to  rat- 
ify or  reject  that  instrument,  there  was  much  excitement, 
debate  and  anxiety,  there  being  considerable  strong  opposi- 
tion to  it.  The  town  meeting  meet  in  the  town  house  but 
adjourned  to  the  meeting  house,  probably  because  of  the 
great  number  present. 

By  the  favor  of  Professor  Charles  F.  Johnson,  of  Trinity 
College,  Hartford,  the  following  letter  of  Robert  Charles 
Johnson,  son  of  Dr.  Wm.  Samuel  Johnson,  to  his  father,  is, 
upon  solicitation,  submitted  to  be  published.  This  letter, 
although  from  a  young  man  of  only  twenty-one  years,  gives 
some  insight  into  the  excitement  and  contest  of  that  occasion, 
and  of  what  a  sincere,  earnest  young  person  can  do  if  wisely 
trained,  for  it  must  be  remembered  that  he  had  been  greatly 
favored  in  his  advantages  of  education  and  in  public  society. 
The  letter  was  written  to  his  father  with  no  idea  that  it 
would  ever  be  seen  by  any  other  person. 

"Stratford  November  1787. 
Honored  Sir:  This  afternoon  I  spoke  in  the  town  meet- 
ing. I  observed  the  outlines  of  the  declamation  you  read, 
and  chained  down  the  attention  of  a  numerous  audience  for 
upwards  of  three-quarters  of  an  hour.  Silas  Hubbell  at  the 
begining  of  the  debate  made  a  motion,  that  as  I  had  been 
much  with  you,  I  should  be  requested  to  deliver  mv  senti- 
ments of  the  Constitution.  The  proposition  was  laughed  at 
and  rejected.  I  was  then  determined  1  would  speak.  JNIajor 
[Joseph]  Walker  held  me  by  the  arm  and  said  1  should  ruin 
everything.  I  waited  till  the  moderator  called  for  the  votes, 
and  then  broke  from  him,  jumped  over  the  seats,  mounted 
the   pulpit   stairs   and    succeeded    beyond    my    expectations. 


424  History  of  Stratford. 

equal  to  my  wishes,  and  closed,  with  launching  an  empire  on 
the  sea  of  glory,'  amidst  a  general  clap  of  hands.  Every  one 
I  met  shook  me  by  the  hand  and  told  me  I  was  an  honor  to 
Stratford.  [Indeed  he  was.]  Then  I  went  to  hand  in  my 
vote,  and  the  moderator — Major  Judson — rose  from  his  seat, 
shook  me  by  the  hand,  and  said,  he  '  publickly  thanked  me 
for  the  information  and  pleasure  I  had  given,  and  that  I  was 
an  honor  to  Stratford.'  The  Selectmen  unitedly  requested 
that  I  would  preserve  the  train  of  my  arguments,  that  they 
might  print  it,  for  that  '  it  was  a*  pitty  that  they  should  be 
lost  after  making  such  an  impression.'  Can  I  not  now  by 
working  the  outlines  of  the  declamation,  and  by  close  logical 
reasons  intermingled  submit  it  to  men  of  sense  and  confirm 
my  reputation  ?  Sir,  please  write  me  as  soon  as  convenient, 
as  the  Selectmen  have  already  called  on  me  for  a  copy  of  my 
speech.  You,  sir,'  and  Esquire  Mills  are  chosen.  I  should 
certainly  have  been  elected  had  not  every  one  been  per- 
suaded from  my  information  that  you  would  attend.  Esquire 
Bennett  and  myself  were  equally  balanced,  and  had  I  had 
intriguing  on  my  side  should  have  carried  it  against  Esquire 
Mills.     Forgive  me  this  effusion  of  vanity." 

In  another  letter  to  his  brother  who  was  in  the  Bermudas, 
a  few  days  later,  Dec.  3d,  he  further  reveals  the  spirit  of  the 
occasion  :  "  The  new  Constitution  is  almost  the  only  subject 
of  conversation.  A  town  meeting  was  called  at  Stratford  for 
the  choice  of  delegates  to  the  Constitutional  Convention. 
All  our  Stratford  orators  spoke  and  were  heard  with  impa- 
tience by  a  powerful  opposition.  Deacon  Bennet  was  to  be 
the  man  known  to  be  a  violent  opposer  of  the  Constitution. 
....  After  I  sat  down  the  temper  of  the  house  seemed  to 
be  changed,  and  they  almost  unanimously  voted  in  my  father 
and  Esquire  Mills.  The  Constitution,  we  flatter  ourselves, 
will  be  adopted.  The  Pennsylvania  convention  is  in  favor  of  it. 
In  Connecticut  a  decided  superiority.  General  Parsons  says 
he  can  engage  to  raise  15,000  volunteers  who  will  stake  their 
lives  and  fortunes  on  the  event.      Delaware,  it  is  thought, 


■^  Dr.  Johnson  was  then   President  of  Columbia  College,  and  hence  was   in 
New  York  City. 


Biographical  Sketches.  425 

will  follow  Pennsylvania,  Massachusetts  doubtful,  but  expect- 
ed in  favour.  Virginia  and  Georgia  in  all  probability,  will 
adopt.  New  York  against.  Rhode  Island  out  of  the  c|ucs- 
tion  ;  as  much  the  scorn  and  derision  of  America  as  America 
is  of  the  rest  of  the  world. 

"  If  not  accepted,  America  will  in  all  probability  be  a 
scene  of  anarchy  and  confusion.  If  adopted  it  will  be  some 
time  before  peace  and  serenity  prevail.  I  will  sacrifice  my 
life  in  defence  of  it.  1  will  wade  up  to  my  knees  in  blood 
that  it  may  be  established." 

Such  were  the  perils  over  which  sailed  the  ship  of  state, 
and  such  the  spirit  of  the  young  men  who  manned  her  ;  a 
spirit  which  has  been  manifested  more  grandly,  if  possible,  in 
recent  days,  in  preserving  the  Union,  for  which  the  Fore- 
fathers suffered  so  much. 

•  Capt,  William  Hirdsey,  previous  to  1762,  owned  and 
lived  in  a  house  that  had  been  his  father's,  which  stood  at  the 
foot  of  Main  street,  facing  up  the  street.     It  was  an  old  house. 

In  this  year  Mr.  Birdse}'  then  built  a  fine  house  on  the 
northeast  corner  of  the  streets  where  now  resides  Dea.  Sam- 
uel E.  Curtis. 

Capt.  William  Birdsey  married  in  1745,  Eunice  Benjamin, 
and  was  a  wealthy,  prosperous  farmer,  and  not  far  from  the 
time  the  new  house  was  built,  the  Rev.  Samuel  Peters  married 
his  daughter. 

Mr.  Birdsey  lived  in  this  house  until  1779  or  '80,  when  the 
discouragements  as  to  the  success  of  the  Revolution  were 
very  many  and  great;  he,  fearing  if  the  British  won  the  day 
he  should  lose  all  his  property,  went  over  and  joined  the 
British  army  on  Long  Island,  where  he  remained  until  the 
war  was  over.  Then  he  returned  to  Stratford  to  find  that  the 
government  had  confiscated  his  property,  and  that  it  was  to 
be  sold  at  auction. 

The  people  of  Stratford,  knowing  him  to  have  been  a 
very  fine  citizen,  and  true  several  years  to  the  cause  of  Amer- 
ican freedom,  pitied  him,  and  agreed  among  themselves  not 
to  bid  on  certain  portions  of  the  property,  at  the  sale,  so  as 
to  allow  him  to  bid  it  in  at  a  low-price.  This  was  done  and 
he  secured  and  retained  the  old   house,  and  much  of  his  land 


426  History  of  Stratford. 

which  had  been  in  the  family  from  the  first.  It  is  said  that  at 
the  sale,  one  of  his  neighbors,  Samuel  Ufford,  bid  on  one 
piece  of  land  that  seemed  quite  desirable,  but  this  created 
such  excitement  that  he  came  near  being  mobbed.  Mr.  Bird- 
sey  lived  in  the  old  house  until  his  death. 

In  1802,  his  son  Everit  Birdsey  started  to  build  a  house 
on  the  site  of  the  old  house  fronting  up  Main  street.  But  as 
soon  as  he  had  removed  the  old  building,  the  town  authori- 
ties appeared  and  laid  the  highway  directly  over  the  site 
through  the  field  southward,  as  it  is  at  present,  and  in  1808, 
Everit  Birdsey  built  his  house  on  the  corner  directly  east  of 
the  old  site. 

Abel  JBeacJij  in  1767,  built  the  first  house  and  barn  on 
Stratford  Point.  It  stood  about  twenty  rods  west  of  the 
lighthouse.  His  own  residence  was  in  the  village  across  the 
street  from  the  site  of  the  first  meeting-house  at  Sandy 
Hollow.  He  was  a  prominent  man  in  business  and  enter- 
prise. 

Ziegrand  Camioiif  a  merchant  from  New  York  City, 
bought  the  house  and  estate  of  Abel  Beach  at  Stratford  Point, 
about  1768,  and  Mr.  Beach's  homestead  in  the  village  east  of 
Sandy  Hollow  opposite  the  site  of  the  first  meeting-house. 
This  house  was  built  by  Nathan  Beach,  father  of  Abel,  in 
1722,  who  left  it  to  his  son  Abel.  Mr.  Cannon  bought  also  a 
brig  of  Abel  Beach,  which  he  run  to  the  West  Indies. 

Edward  DeForest  married  a  daughter  of  Legrand  Can- 
non, and  to  this  daughter  the  father  gave  the  house  and  land 
at  the  Point,  and  Mr.  DeForest  lived  there  several  years 
until  he  killed  his  wife's  slave-woman  by  stabbing  her  with  a 
pitchfork,  which  created  much  talk,  but  nothing  was  done 
about  it.* 

Old  Time  Hospitality  runs  some  risks  not  to  be  cov- 
eted. The  late  Nathan  B.  McEwen  left  the  following  record 
connected  with  his  grandmother: 

"  The  house  known  on  Lindsley's  Map  as  the  Hon. 
Robert  Fairchild's  was  built,  in  1770,  by  my  great-grand- 
father, Josiah  Beers,  for  a  good  size  homestead. 

^  Manuscript  of  Nathan  B.  McEwen. 


Biographical  Skctc/ws.  427 

"  Tramps  and  travellers  in  those  days  had  to  find  l(Ki<;iiis^ 
and  food  in  private  families  when  too  poor  to  pay  for  thcni 
at  the  Inn,  which  was  easy  to  do,  as  it  was  considered  an  act 
of  charity  to  care  for  such. 

"  A  poor  man  called  on  Mr.  Beers,  late  in  the  day,  tor  food 
and  lodging,  saying  he  was  sick  and  unable  to  go  any  further, 
and  Mr.  Beers  took  him  into  his  home.  The  next  morning 
he  was  much  worse  and  could  not  go.  He  had  a  fever  and  at 
the  end  of  about  two  weeks  he  died.  Both  Beers  and  his 
wife  took  the  fever,  and  died  leaving  four  young  children, 
one  son  and  three  daughters. 

"  They  had  three  uncles  in  good  circumstances;  each  took 
a  girl  to  bring  up,  and  the  boy  was  put  out  to  work,  being 
old  enough  to  earn  his  living.  The  house  and  land  were  sold 
to  maintain  and  bring  up  the  girls. 

"  My  grandmother  was  taken  by  Stephen  Porter,  who 
lived  on  the  corner  of  Elm  street  and  Michell's  Lane  in  the 
lower  part  of  the  village.  The  other  girls  were  taken  by 
their  uncles  to  Stepney  in  Monroe.  Eunice  married  Stephen 
French,  and  the  other  married  John  Summers  Hawley,  and 
both  raised  a  family. 

"  My  grandmother,  Sally,  married  Nathan  Gorham.  The 
son  William  Beers,  married  and  had  children,  Lewis  and 
Mary.     He  was  a  sailor  and  acquired  some  property." 

Hon.  Robert  Walker  was  one  of  the  most  noted  men 
that  Stratford  ever  produced.  He  was  born  in  1704  and  died 
in  1772,  aged  68  years.  The  brief  summary  of  his  life  as  given 
on  his  tombstone  appears  to  have  been  very  true  and  appro- 
priate. "  He  sustained  many  important  offices  in  civil  life, 
for  many  years  before  and  at  the  time  of  his  death.  He  was 
one  of  his  Majesty's  Council  for  the  Colony  of  Connecticut, 
one  of  the  Judges  of  the  Superior  Court,  and  a  Colonel  of 
the  Militia;  all  which  offices  he  discharged  with  fidelity  and 
honor.  He  firmly  believed  and  conscientiously  practiced  the 
Christian  religion;  was  a  kind  husband,  a  tender  parent,  and 
faithful  friend." 

This  inscription  was  doubtless  written  by  his  pastor  and 
son-in-law,  the  Rev.  Izrahiah  Wetmore,  who  had  known  him 
intimately  nineteen  years,  and  it  would  be  difficult  to  improve 
the  epitaph. 


428  History  of  Stratford. 

Hon.  Robert  Walker  was  the  son  of  Robert  and  Ruth 
(VVilcoxson)  Walker,  who  was  the  son  of  Joseph  and  Abigail 
(Prudden)  Walker,  the  son  of  Robert  Walker,  one  of  the 
founders  of  the  Old  South  Church  of  Boston,  Mass.,  and 
could  therefore  boast  of  as  staunch  puritan  blood  as  any. 
His  father  was  deacon  in  the  Congregational  Church,  a  man 
of  influence  and  high  standing  in  the  town  as  well  as  in  the 
Church,  who  died  in  1743. 

Robert,  the  son,  after  graduation  at  Yale  College  in  1730, 
became  a  lawyer,  and  as  such  was  quite  celebrated,  having 
but  few  equals  in.  his  day,  not  excepting  his  rival  the  Hon. 
William  Samuel  Johnson,  between  whom  and  himself  there 
was  great  friendship.  He  was  first  sent  to  the  legislature  in 
1745,  and  served  in  that  body  fourteen  sessions,  and  where  he 
is  styled  first  Mr.,  then  Captain,  and  then  Colonel,  and  in 
1766,  he  was  chosen  an  Assistant  or  member  of  the  upper 
house  in  which  position  he  served  two  years. 

He  was  appointed  Judge  of  the  Superior  Court  first  in 
1762,  and  held  that  position  five  years.  He  was  also  Justice 
of  the  peace  in  his  own  township  several  years. 

Hobert  Walker ^  Jr.,  son  of  the  above,  was  also  a 
prominent  citizen,  a  lawyer,  judge  and  influential  man.  He 
was  graduated  at  Yale  College  in  1765,  and  was  appointed  by 
the  General  Court,  October,  1766,  "  Surveyor  of  lands  for  the 
county  of  Fairfield,  in  the  room  of  Mr.  Judah  Kellogg,  re- 
signed.'*'' This  was  a  fine  beginning  for  a  young  man  not 
twenty-one  years  of  age.  What  position  he  took  in  the  Rev- 
olution is  not  known,  but  soon  after  he  became  prominent  as 
a  lawyer,  became  Judge  of  Probate,  serving  a  number  of 
years  ;  Justice  of  the  peace,  and  a  well  known  and  well  tried 
public  citizen.  He  died  in  1810,  and  his  epitaph,  found  on 
page  233  of  this  work,  and  probably  written  by  his  pastor 
the  Rev.  Timothy  Cutler,  gives  high  praise  to  his  life  and 
character.     He  was  town  clerk  from  1789  to  1804. 

Gen.  Joaepli  Walker,  brother  of  Robert,  Jr.,  above, 
was  born  in  1756;  graduated  at  Yale  College   in   1774,  served 

'  Coll.  Rec,  xii,  502. 


Biographical  Skctc/ws.  429 

through  the  Revolution,  beginning  in  1777  as  captain  and 
closed  a  Major  General,  He  was  a  number  of  times  a  repre- 
sentative to  the  legislature;  was  a  prominent  businessman 
after  the  war.  He  built  the  first  mill  at  Benjamin's  Bridge, 
known  for  many  years  lately  as  the  Yellow  Mill  at  Pembroke 
Pond  or  Lake.  His  dwelling  house,  which  he  may  have  built, 
stands  a  few  doors  north  of  the  railroad,  on  Main  street  in 
Stratford  village.  It  is  the  old  style  of  a  long-roofed  house 
with  the  end  to  the  road  and  two  immense  elm  trees  in  front 
of  the  lot  in  the  street.  There  was  a  stone  in  the  front,  near 
the  top  of  the  chimney  with  the  date,  no  doubt,  on  it,  but  this 
stone  long  since  disappeared,  ver}'  much  to  the  regret  of  the 
historian  if  no  one  else. 

Mohert  Faivchildj  Esqv,,  was  born  in  1703  and  died  in 
1793,  "  In  the  90th  year  of  his  age,"  says  his  tombstone.  He 
was  one  of  the  remarkable  men  of  Stratford. 

He  probably  practiced  law,  but  held  the  office  of  Probate 
Judge  man}^  years.  His  house,  which  was  built  b}'  Josiah 
Beers,  in  1770,  is  still  standing  by  a  well  of  most  delicious 
water,  on  Main  street,  first  one  south  of  the  railroad,  with  the 
little  office  still  attached  where  he  spent  much  of  his  time  for 
many  years.  He  was  town  clerk  from  1759  until  1789,  and 
during  the  Revolution  he  was  a  firm  patriot,  and  some  of  the 
resolutions  recorded  and  printed  in  this  book  were  probably 
the  work  of  his  pen,  and  if  so,  they  show  the  energy,  decision 
and  earnestness  with  which  he  labored  and  used  his  pen  during 
that  great  conflict.  His  fame  as  town  clerk  and  probate 
judge  is  still  spoken  of  as  remarkable,  and  very  honorable 
to  the  town,  as  well  as  to  himself. 

Rev.  Wathaii  Birdsey  died  in  Stratford,  Jan.  28,  181 8, 
aged  103  yrs.  5  months  and  9  days.  He  was  born  Aug.  19, 
1714;  took  his  degree  in  Yale  College  in  1736,  was  settled  as 
a  minister  in  West  Haven,  1742;  preached  there  16  years, 
then  removed  to  his  patrimonial  estate  at  Oronoque  in  this 
town  where  he  resided  until  his  death.  He  married  but  once 
and  lived  with  his  wife  69  yrs.  She  died  at  the  age  of  88  yrs. 
He  had  12  children,  76  grandchildren,  103  great-grand- 
children, and  7  of  the  5th  generation  at  his  decease.     Of  his 


430  History  of  Stratford. 

12  children  6  were  sons  and  6  daughters,  a  daughter  being 
born  next  after  a  son  in  every  instance.  His  funeral  was 
attended  by  a  large  concourse  of  people,  among  whom  were 
about  ICO  of  his  posterity.  A  sermon  was  delivered  on  the 
occasion  by  the  Rev.  Stephen  W.  Stebbins  from  the  text, 
"All  the  days  of  Methuselah  were,"  etc. 

Mr.  Birdsey.  after  he  left  West  Haven,  continued  to 
preach  occasionally  for  many  years.  When  he  was  over  lOo 
years  he  officiated  in  the  pulpit  in  Stratford.  (See  Sprague's 
Annals.)  He  retained  his  mental  faculties  in  a  remarkable 
degree  until  his  death,  although  nearly  blind  and  quite  deaf 
at  the  last.     (From  Sprague's  Annals.) 

Mr.  Birdsey  married  Dolly  Hawley  of  Ridgefield,  who 
was  brought  up  by  her  aunt  Chenev  in  Boston,  of  whom  she 
learned  to  make  wax  figures  or  statuary.  Some  of  her  pro- 
ductions in  this  line  are  still  preserved  among  her  descendants, 
by  the  family  of  Aaron  Benjamin. 

Mr.  Birdsey  attended  personally  the  ordination  in  Strat- 
ford of  Rev.  Hez.  Gold  in  1722  ;  the  Rev.  Izrahiah  Wetmore  in 
1753;  the  Rev.  S.  W.  Stebbins  in  1784;  the  Rev.  Matthew  R. 
Button  in  1814,  at  the  last,  he  being  then  100  years  old,  offered 
the  ordaining  prayer,  and  afterwards  dined  with  the  council. 

It  is  stated  as  tradition,  that  Mr.  Birdsey,  when  a  young 
and  single  man,  dreamed  that  he  should  pass  the  night  some- 
where in  his  travels  where  the  supper  table  would  be  set  by 
a  young  lady  wearing  on  her  neck  a  blue  bandanna  handker- 
chief with  white  spots,  and  that  he  should  marry  her.  This 
all  came  to  pass  at  Mr.  Hawley's  in  the  person  of  Dorothy, 
whom  he  married. 

There  is  preserved  an  account  of  the  finding  of  a  very 
good  spring  of  water  by  the  Rev.  Nathan  Birdsey  in  answer 
to  prayer.  While  the  question  of  his  piety  and  true  Christian 
life  is  not  doubted,  it  is  nevertheless  true  that  if  he  had  looked 
tor  a  spring  of  water  with  the  same  earnestness  any  other 
time  he  would  have  found  it  just  the  same.  One  effect  of 
prayer  is  to  move  persons  to  do  their  own  duty  and  work, 
and  then  the  Great  Ruler  of  the  Universe  does  his,  or  has  it 
already  done,  long  before  the  prayer  is  made. 


Biographical  Sketches.  431 


TJie   War  of  1S12. 

No  town  acts  are  recorded  in  reference  to  this  war.  A 
few  items  have  been  gathered,  while  hurriedly  coUcctinLT  the 
the  material  for  this  work. 

During  this  war  against  England,  the  United  States 
employed  vessels  owned  by  individuals  as  privateers,  or 
in  other  words,  granted  Letters  of  Marque  to  capture  Eng- 
lish vessels  wherever  found.  Capt.  Samuel  C.  Nicoll  being 
a  qualified  person  was  thus  engaged  and  some  account  of 
his  services  are  here  given.  In  such  cases  the  engaging  in 
this  kind  of  employment  is  regarded  the  same  as  going  to  the 
field  of  battle  in  the  army.  The  work  of  a  privateer  is  very 
different  from  that  of  pirates.  The  following  brief  account 
of  Capt.  Nicoll  is  taken  from  Cogshall's  History  of  the  Amer- 
ican Privateers,  chapter  vii.;  published  in  1856. 

"  The  privateers  Scourge  and  Rattlesnake  appear  to 
merit  something  more  than  a  passing  remark,  as  they  were 
often  in  company  in  a  distant  sea,  on  the  same  cruising 
ground,  and  as  they  were  very  fortunate  in  capturing  and 
annoying  the  enemy's  trade  and  commerce,  I  shall  devote  a 
separate  notice  to  them  as  their  just  due. 

Though  the  worthy  captains  of  both  these  vessels  have 
passed  away  from  earthly  scenes,  I  hope  their  acts  and  deeds 
in  their  country's  service  will  ever  be  appreciated,  while 
bravery  and  patriotism  are  held  in  high  regard  by  civilized 
nations. 

"  The  Scourge  was  owned  in  New  York,  and  commanded 
by  Capt.  Samuel  Nicoll,  a  native  of  Stratford,  Conn.  He  was 
a  worthy,  intelligent,  enterprising  man,  and  a  good  patri(n. 

"  The  Scourge  was  a  large  schooner  privateer,  mounting 
15  guns,  with  musketry,  etc.,  and  suitably  officered  and 
manned  for  a  long  cruise.  She  sailed  from  New  York  in 
April,  181 3,  for  the  north  coast  of  England  and  Norway. 

"  Captain  Nicoll  was  a  man  of  sound  judgment,  and  a 
good  financier.  After  he  had  made  one  or  two  successtul 
cruises,  he  found  it  more  to  his  advantage  to  remain  on  shore 
in  the  different  parts  of  Norway,  where  he  sent  in  most  ot  his 
prizes,  and  attend  to  the  sale  of  them  than  to  go  to  sea,  and 


432  History  of  Stratford. 

leave  the  management  of  his  rich   prizes  in   the  hands  of  dis- 
honest or  incompetent  persons. 

"  On  the  19th  of  July,  while  Captain  Nicoll  was  off  the 
North  Cape  in  the  Scourge,  he  fell  in  with  and  cruised  for 
several  days  in  compan}'  with  Commodore  Rodgers,  in  the 
United  States  frigate  President,  who  was  then  cruising  in 
those  high  northern  latitudes. 

"After  Commodore  Rodgers  left  that  region  for  a  more 
southerly  one,  the  Scourge  proceeded  off  the  coast  of  Nor- 
way, and  alternately  off  the  North  Cape,  to  intercept  British 
ships  sailing  to  and  from  Archangel. 

"  The  following  list  comprises  a  portion,  but  by  no  means 
all  the  prizes  captured  by  the  Scourge.  A  great  number 
were  sent  into  the  different  ports  in  the  United  States  and 
Norway,  particularly  into  the  harbor  of  Drontheim,  and 
many  others  were  disposed  of  in  various  ways. 

"  Brigs  Nottingham,  266  tons  and  4  guns,  and  Britania, 
4  guns,  both  from  Onega,  Russia,  for  Hull,  cargoes  lumber; 
after  an  action  of  fifteen  minutes,  no  lives  lost ;  taken  by  the 
Scourge. 

"  Prosperous,  260  tons  and  4  guns,  in  ballast,  from  New- 
castle ;  given  up  to  dispose  of  the  prisoners  by  the   Scourge. 

"  Latona,  of  Shields,  by  the  Scourge. 

"  Experiment,  of  Aberdeen,  by  the  Scourge. 

"Ship  Brutus,  taken  by  the  Scourge  and  Rattlesnake; 
given  up  to  dispose  of  the  prisoners. 

"  Westmoreland,  from  London,  partly  laden  with  sugars; 
taken  by  the  Scourge. 

"  The  Brothers,  of  126  tons,  from  Lancaster ;  by  the 
Scourge, 

"  Brig.  Burton,  Ludlin,  of  266  tons,  and  4  guns,  from 
Onega  for  Hull  ;  by  the  Scourge. 

"  Brig  Hope,  260  tons,  4  guns,  cargo  of  linseed  ;  also  the 
Economy,  of  181  tons,  and  2  guns,  with  tar;  both  from 
Archangel  for  England  ;  by  the  Scourge. 

"  After  these  captures  the  Scourge  was  refitted,  at  Dron- 
theim, and  rigged  into  a  brig,  for  a  new  cruise  under  the 
command  of  Capt.  J.  R.  Perr}-,  Captain  Nicoll  remained  in 
Drontheim  to  look  after  the  prizes. 


Biographical  Sketches.  433 


The  Chandelier. 

It  is  said  that  during  these  cruising  voyages  as  a  pri- 
vateer, Captain  Nicoll  obtained  the  very  elegant  chandelier 
which  he  gave  to  the  Episcopal  Church  of  Stratford,  and 
which  was  used  many  years  for  lighting  the  Church.  It  was 
a  richly  ornamented  article,  for  which  he  was  offered  in  New 
York  eighteen  hundred  dollars,  and  if  it  was  still  preserved 
whole  would  be  worth  a  large  sum  of  money,  but  it  was  dis- 
tributed some  years  since  in  pieces,  to  any  who  desired. 


Scatter,  Men,  Scatter.'" 

In  this  conflict  of  1812,  with  Great  Britain,  vessels  of  war 
frequently  came  up  the  Sound  and  lay  off  Stratford  to  obtain 
supplies  from  the  Housatonic  river;  and  their  presence  was 
alarming  to  the  people  of  Stratford,  they  fearing  the  soldiers 
would  land,  plunder  or  burn  the  town  or  carry  off  men  as 
prisoners  of  war.  To  prevent  such  calamities  a  guard  of  sol- 
diers was  stationed  at  the  mouth  of  the  river  to  keep  watch 
and  give  alarm,  should  there  be  any  occasion. 

One  afternoon  such  a  war  vessel  came  and  lay  off  the 
harbor  late  in  the  afternoon,  and  just  at  night  Sergeant  James 
Coe,  with  several  soldiers  under  his  command,  was  sent  as  a 
guard  to  watch  the  movements  of  the  enemy.  It  being  near 
dark  when  they  took  their  post  of  observation,  and  hence 
they  thought  they  saw  several  men,  in  groups,  slightly  mov- 
ing, as  if  in  consultation,  ready  to  move  forward.  Charles 
Burritt,  who  had  worked  about  there  in  the  day  time,  and 
had  guarded  there  in  the  night,  knew  that  what  seemed 
to  be  groups  of  soldiers  were  only  bunches  of  thistles  which 
grew  there  and  were  moved  by  the  wind,  said  softly  to  Ser- 
geant Coe,  "Shall  I  shoot?  I  have  two  in  range;  1  can  kill 
them  both."  "  No,  no  !"  said  ^he  sergeant,  "  don't  fire,  but 
Scatter  boys!  Scatter  !  or  we  shall  all  be  killed."  And  scatter 
they  did,  in  double  quick,  still  carrying  on  the  joke.     Soon 


Manuscript  of  Nathan  B.  McEwen. 


434  History  of  Stratford. 

the  story  was  taken  up  by  the  younger  men,  and  the  ser- 
geant being  a  man  easily  teased,  did  not  soon  hear  the  last  of 
"Scatter,  men!  scatter!"  which  was  the  proper  command  to 
be  given  had  there  been  real  danger. 

The  Old  Ptiif¥ip  of  the  Cedar  of  Lebanon  would  furnish 
quite  a  history  if  it  could  reveal  secrets. 

Capt.  Samuel  C.  Nicoll  built  the  dyke  at  the  Lordship  farm 
about  1815.  In  1818,  the  dwelling  and  barns  were  built. 
That  year  he  brought  from  New  York  a  red  or  Spanish  cedar 
pump,  some  say  a  cedar  of  Lebanon,  taken  from  a  Spanish 
vessel  that  was  being  repaired  at  that  port;  the  pump  being 
old  and  hence  unfit  for  further  service.  He  set  it  in  his  yard 
for  watering  his  cattle  at  the  Lordship  farm. 

After  standing  there  about  forty-three  years,  it  was  taken 
out,  somewhat  rotten  at  the  lower  end,  but  was  afterwards 
used  by  the  Spiritualists  to  pump  water  from  the  hole  at  the 
gold  diggings  about  a  mile  east  from  the  Lordship  farm,  near 
the  shore. 

The  old  pump  was  made  of  two  pieces  bound  together 
with  iron  hoops.  After  a  time  it  was  brought  to  the  village 
and  became  the  property  of  Nathan  B.  McEwen  for  some 
work  he  did  in  pay. 

So  the  old  pump,  after  being  transported  in  active  ser- 
vice over  the  great  seas,  many  years,  did  about  sixty  years 
service  on  land,  and  then,  although  much  of  the  wood  was 
filled  with  nails  yet  Mr.  McEwen  secured  quite  a  number 
of  beautiful  canes,  and  thus,  in  parts,  the  old  cedar  pump 
travels  on. 

Mosquitoes  sure.  It  is  said  mosketoes  are  not  as  plen- 
tiful as  they  were  fifty  years  ago. 

In  1822,  the  lighthouse  keeper  lost  a  cow  by  the  mos- 
quitoes. He  shut  the  cow  in  the  barn,  but  the  mosquitoes 
attacked  her  so  numerously  that  she  broke  out  of  the  barn  in 
order  to  get  away  from  the  torment.  Then  they  came  in 
clouds  and  stung  her  so  that  she  swelled  as  large  as  a  hogs- 
head and  died  from  the  effect." 

"  Manuscript  of  Nathan  B.  McEwen. 


Biographical  Sketches.  435 

John  Selby  lived  near  the  lower  wharf  in  Stratford. 
He  was  a  young  man  who  had  worked  his  way  to  the  com- 
mand of  a  brig  running  to  the  West  Indies.  In  an  evil  hour 
he  was  tempted  to  smuggle  a  few  hogsheads  of  rum,  the  do- 
ing of  which  proved  his  ruin. 

He  commanded  a  brig  built  all  of  mahogany  in  the  West 
Indies,  with  which  he  came  into  and  went  up  the  Housatonic 
river  to  Friar's  Head,  where  in  the  night  he  unloaded  some 
casks  of  rum  and  put  them  into  a  building  to  save  the  tariff 
or  duties.  A  young  man  being  near,  courting  late  in  the 
night,  discovered  the  transaction  and  complained  to  the  au- 
thorities that  he  might  get  the  reward,  which  was  half  the 
vessel  and  half  the  cargo.  The  vessel  was  seized  by  the  gov- 
ernment, condemned  and  sold.  Capt.  Selby  was  fined  and 
imprisoned.  After  lying  in  prison  a  long  time,  his  wife 
smuggled  a  saw  in  to  him  with  which  he  broke  jail  and  went 
pirating,  and  was  gone  several  years. 

Finally,  becoming  tired  of  the  business,  and  desiring  to 
see  his  family,  which  consisted  of  a  wife  and  three  children, 
he,  through  agents,  made  a  compromise  with  the  government 
and  was  pardoned  by  paying  nine  thousand  dollars.  He 
came  home  a  dissipated,  wretched  man." 

Oysters  are  now  a  commodity  of  large  growth  and 
commerce. 

When  the  white  settlers  first  came  they  found  piles  of 
oyster  shells  in  various  places  on  Great  Neck  and  where  now 
the  village  of  Stratford  is  located.  These  beds  of  oyster 
shells  when  now  dug  up  as  they  frequently  are,  reveal  the 
fact  that  many  of  the  oysters  that  the  Indians  gathered  were 
remarkably  large,  and  probably  very  rich  as  food. 

There  has  been  found  no  town  acts  for  the  first  one 
hundred  years  restricting  the  taking  of  oysters  by  the  Indians 
or  inhabitants  of  the  town. 

In  December,  1764,  for  the  first  is  found  a  vote  of  the 
town  restricting  the  time  for  taking  oysters,  thus:  "That  if 
any  parties  should  take  oysters  between  April  20th  and  the 
loth  day  of  September  they  should  pay  a  fine  of  ten  shillings," 
and  a  committee  was  appointed  to  prosecute  if  necessary. 


^'^  Manuscript  of  Nathan  B.  McEwen. 


436  History  of  Stratford. 

From  1790,  to  1810,  the  matter  received  considerable 
attention,  restricting  not  only  the  time  for  taking  them  but 
also  the  instruments  with  which  the  work  should  be  done. 

At  present  the  territory  for  oyster  beds  is  mapped  out, 
bought  and  sold,  and  deeded  with  as  much  precision  as  the 
cultivated  land  on  the  shore,  and  every  year  the  matter 
assumes  new  interest  and  additional  proportions. 


Ferries  in  Stratford. 

The  Ferry  was  started  by  Moses  Wheeler,  as  heretofore 
stated,  but  while  the  ferry  property  belonged  to  Mr.  Wheeler 
the  privilege  of  conducting  a  ferry  across  the  river  did  not. 
This  privilege  was  given  to  Mr.  Wheeler  for  the  first  twenty- 
one  years,  and  afterwards  leased  to  him  and  other  parties. 

In  January,  1690,  a  committee  of  the  town  was  appointed, 
who  leased  "  the  Stratford  Ferry  to  Samuel  Wheeler,  son  of 
Moses  Wheeler  for  21  years  from  the  i8th  of  November  next." 

To  this  record  Moses  Wheeler  appended  the  following, 
he  being  then  ninety-two  years  of  age. 

"  To  y^  Committee  of  y^  town  of  Stratford,  Gent"".  These 
may  inform  you  that  for  the  natural  love  and  affection  y*'  I 
have  to  my  dearly  beloved  son  Samuel  Wheeler,  I  doe  by 
these  presents  transmit  all  my  right,  title  and  interest  of  y® 
ferry  in  the  bounds  aforesaid  with  all  benefits  and  profitable 
improvements  accrewing  thereunto  by  virtue  of  any  gift, 
grant  or  lease  whatsoever  in  as  full  and  ample  manner  as  ever 
it  was  made  to  me  or  intended,  as  witness  my  hand  this  6'^ 
day  of  January,  1690. 

Moses  Wheeler. 

Signed  in  presence  of ) 
Thomas  Hicks.        ) 

Previous  to  1719,  Richard  Blackleach  had  leased  and 
conducted  the  ferry  some  years,  and  a  town  committee  was 
appointed  to  lease  it  twenty-one  years  longer. 

In  1727  the  Assembly  granted  the  liberty  to  the  town  of 
Milford  to  establish  a  ferry  and  keep  a  boat  on  the  east 
side  of  the  river.     Whether  the  ferry  on   the  east  side  was 


Ferries  and  Bridges.  ^^7 

established  or  not,  or  how  lon<r  it  continued,  if  at  all,  is  noX. 
known,  but  in  May,  1758,  the  subject  came  up  again  before 
the  Assembly  and  they  gave  notice  for  the  towns  and  ferry- 
man— Josiah  Curtiss  of  the  Stratford  side — to  appear  in  the 
next  October  session  and  give  their  reasons,  if  any,  why  a 
ferry  should  not  be  established  on  the  east  side,  and  at  that 
session  they  ordered  that  "  there  be  a  boat  kept  on  the  east 
side  of  Stratford  Ferry  River  for  transporting  passengers, 
etc.;"  and  the  privilege  was  granted  to  the  town  of  Milford, 
upon  the  condition  of  their  erecting  a  dwelling  house  at  or 
near  said  ferry  place,  commodious  for  the  reception  and  en- 
tertainment of  travellers,  and  procuring  and  keeping  a  good 
boat,  etc." 

In  May,  1761,  Peter  Hepburn,  of  Milford,  having  taken 
the  ferry  on  the  east  side,  petitioned  the  Assembly  and  re- 
ceived liberty  "  to  keep  a  house  of  public  entertainment  at 
said  ferry  the  year  ensuing." 

In  this  way  the  ferry  was  continued  until  a  little  after  the 
year  1800. 

In  1802,  the  Legislature,  upon  the  petition  of  Jonathan 
Sturges  and  others,  incorporated  a  company  to  build  a  bridge 
across  the  Housatonic  river  at  or  near  the  ferry  place  between 
Stratford  and  Milford,  by  the  name  of  The  Milford  and  Strat- 
ford Bridge  Company,  and  in  1803,  the  same  body  changed 
the  name  to  that  of  Washington  Bridge. 

In  1807,  the  company  were  released  from  building  the 
bridge  on  "stone  abutments  and  stone  piers,"  and  were 
allowed  to  build  it  "  on  piers  and  abutments  constructed 
with  wood  and  stone,  in  a  substantial  and  workmanlike  man- 
ner ;  and  the  privilege  of  a  lottery  was  granted  to  raise 
money  in  aid  of  building  the  bridge,  provided  the  bridge 
should  be  built  within  five  years. 

In  1813  the  bridge  was  standing,  and  rates  of  toll  were 
established. 

This  Washington  Bridge  is  still  a  standing  institution  ot 
very  complete  and  substantial  construction,  but  how  many 
times  it  has  been  rebuilt  is  not  known. 

The  Zoar  Bridge  Comjyany  was  granted  incorpora- 
tion in  May,    1807,  and  rates  of  toll  established.     This   was 

29 


438  History  of  Stratford. 

then  at  the  northern  extremity  of  Huntington,  but  before 
1789  the  place  was  at  the  north  end  of  Stratford. 

In  1762,  the  privilege  was  granted  to  Edmund  Leaven- 
worth to  establish  a  ferry  "  at  the  narrows  a  little  above 
Derby  Neck." 

In  May,  1716,  Sergt.  Joseph  Hawkins  was  granted  liberty 
by  the  Assembly  to  establish  a  ferry  across  the  Housatonic 
river  at  what  is  now  Birmingham  Point,  and  also  to  run 
across  the  mouth  of  the  Naugatuck  river  a  little  below,  when- 
ever he  had  occasion. 

In  1737,  the  Assembly  granted  this  privilege  to  Moses 
Hawkins,  son  of  Sergt.  Joseph,  he  having  the  exclusive  right 
at  that  place. 

In  1745,  Capt.  Moses  Hawkins  being  deceased,  the  Assem- 
bly granted  this  ferry  privilege  to  Joseph  Hawkins. 

In  1763,  John  Stephens  had  a  ferr}^  at  Derby  Narrows, 
across  to  Stratford  side.  When  this  ferry  was  removed  from 
Hawkins  Point  down  to  the  Narrows,  the  Leavenworth  ferry 
was  established  above  Derby  Neck. 

The  ferry  at  Derby  Narrows  continued  many  years  after 
the  year  1800,  and  was  often  called  the  Huntington  ferry,  as 
it  landed  passengers  on  the  west  side  of  the  river,  in  the  town 
of  Huntington. 


More  about  Mills. 

In  1730,  Robert  Wheeler  was  granted  libert}^  to  "  set  up 
a  grist  mill  on  the  east  sprain  of  the  Farmill  river  below  Pine 
Swamp,  a  little  below  the  beaver  dam." 

"December  31,  1739.  Voted  liberty  to  Mr.  Nathan  Cur- 
tiss  and  Judson  Burton  to  make  a  dam  and  erect  a  sawmill 
over  Unkaway  mill  river,  so-called,  being  west  of  Tashua  on 
their  own  land." 

The  Tide  Mill  at  the  Eagle's  Nest  was  built  first  on  the 
east  side  of  Nesumpaws  creek,  and  was  the  first  flouring  mill 
in  Stratford,  and  was  probably  conducted  by  the  Hurd  family 
at  first ;  then  some  years  by  the  Blakeman  families,  the  two 
sons  of  Rev.  Adam,  James  and  Samuel.     After  that  it  is  prob- 


Mills  and  Sailing    Vessels.  430 

able  that  this  mill  was  left  and  went  to  decay,  and  no  mill 
was  there  for  nearly  one  hundred  years.  To  this  first  mill 
there  seems  to  have  been  a  road  or  horse  path  from  the 
southern  end  of  Stratford  village,  southwest  across  the 
swamp,  perhaps  near  or  in  the  path  still  called  Chauncey's 
Lane  ;  the  Rev.  Mr.  Chauncey  having  owned  land  on  that 
lane  it  was  called  after  his  name. 

In  1765,  a  new  mill  was  built  on  the  old  site,  still  on  the 
east  side  of  the  stream,  and  a  house  was  also  built  the  same 
year  on  Eagles'  Nest,  the  highest  land  in  that  vicinity,  by 
Samuel  Judson;  the  cellar  of  which  was  plainly  to  be  seen  a 
few  years  since. 

Afterwards  the  mill  \vas  kept  for  a  time  bv  Nicholas 
Darrow.  About  the  year  1800  a  great  freshet  carried  away 
the  foundations,  the  mill  and  several  rods  of  earth  where  it 
stood,  making  the  stream  much  wider.  There  was  a  dike 
about  three  feet  high  around  the  mill  inclosing  considerable 
land,  to  keep  out  the  high  tide,  which  was  also  destroved,  and 
drowned  all  the  miller's  hogs  and  poultr}-. 

After  a  short  time  a  large  mill  was  built  at  the  same 
place,  on  the  west  side  of  the  stream,  but  using  the  same  dam. 
This  mill  was  four  and  a  half  stories  high,  about  60  tect  in 
length  and  40  in  width.  It  was  built  of  very  heavy  timber, 
the  posts  being  twelve  inches  square,  for  the  purpose  of  stor- 
ing corn,  which  was  ground,  kiln-dried  and  shipped  to  the 
West  Indies,  packed  in  large  hogsheads.  Within  the  mem- 
ory of  the  late  Nathan  B.  McEwen,  William  S.  Johnson  and 
William  A.  Tomlinson  were  engaged  in  this  enterprise.  The 
mill  was  also  used  to  grind  wheat  and  rye,  as  a  grist  mill. 

The  mill  was  owned  and  kept  by  William  Samuel  John- 
son and  afterwards  by  his  son  Edward,  as  a  grist  mill,  until 
August  30,  1851,  when  it  was  consumed  by  fire.  • 

The  water  was  so  deep  that  large  sloops  came  to  the  side 
of  the  mill  and  took  on  their  loads  for  the  West  Indies. 

Vessels  were  owned,  built  and  sailed  from  Stratford. 
Many  have  been  the  men  who  were  owners  and  part  owners, 
sailors  and  masters  of  vessels  which  sailed  from  Stratford, 
and  the  list  of  the  sons  of  Stratford  whose  dust  was  buried  in 
the  deep,  deep  sea  is  a   long  one.     The  items  or  particulars. 


440  History  of  Stratford. 

and  names  of  these  which  have  been  gathered  for  record  here 
are  scarcely  worth  mentioning,  yet  by  time  and  search  much 
fuller  record  could  be  secured. 

Among  the  first  ship  owners  and  ship  builders  at  Strat- 
ford was  Joseph  Hawley. 

"  October  27,  1678.  This  writing  witnesseth  that  I,  John 
Rogers,  of  New  London,  in  the  Colony  of  Connecticut,  doe 
acknowledge  that  I  have  received  of  Joseph  Hawley  of  Strat- 
ford the  full  and  just  sum  of  fifty-eight  pounds  one  shilling 
two  pence  ;  which  said  money  was  improved  in  the  building 
of  a  ship,  which  said  ship  now  rideth  in  Fairfield  harbor, 
called  the  John  and  Esther." 

In  the  remainder  of  the  record,  this  sum  is  said  to  be 
one-eighth  of  the  value  of  the  ship. 

In  1680  John  Prentice  bought  of  Joseph  Hawley  one- 
eighth  part  of  this  ship. 

In  1679,  Richard  Blackleach  bought  one-eighth  part  of  a 
vessel  called  the  "  Katch  Tryall  of  Milford,"  for  sixty  pounds 
money. 

James  Bennitt,  a  shipwright,  built  a  vessel  at  Stratford  in 
1696. 

Stratford  was  among  the  established  ports  of  entry  in 
1702,  but  had  been  the  same  many  years  before,  probably 
from  the  first,  since  there  was  a  collector  of  customs  here 
soon  after  the  settlement.'^ 


^^  "Ma}',  1702.  Be  it  enacted  by  the  Deputy  Governor,  Council,  and  Repre- 
sentatives, in  General  Court  assembled,  and  by  the  authority  of  the  same  :  That 
the  maritime  towns  and  places  hereafter  named  and  no  others  shall  be  held, 
deemed  and  adjudged  to  be  Lawful  Ports  within  this  Colony,  that  is  to  say,  New 
London,  Saybrook,  Gilford,  Newhaven,  Milford,  Stratford,  Fairfield  and  Stamford, 
at  every  of  which  aforesaid  ports  an  officer  shall  be  held  and  kept  for  the  entring 
and  clearing  of  all  ships  and  other  vessels  trading  to  or  from  this  Colony,  to  be 
called  and  known  by  the  name  of  the  Navall  Office,  with  such  fees  as  have  been 
accustomed  ;  and  at  one  of  the  ports  aforesaid  and  not  elsewhere,  all  ships  or 
other  vessells  is  trading  to  or  from  this  Colony  shall  lade  and  unlade  all  goods, 
commodities,  wares  and  merchandise  whatsoever,  which  they  shall  import  or 
export." 

Col.  Rec,  vi.  374. 


Stratford  Churches.  441 


The  Universalist  Church  of  Stratford. 

A  church  of  this  denomination  was  built  in  Stratford,  as 
appears  from  the  following-  extract  from  the  paper  of  that 
day  called  the  "  Universalist  Union." 

"  The  Church  recently  completed  at  Stratford  by  the 
First  Society  of  Universalists  in  that  place  was  solemnly  ded- 
icated to  the  service  of  '  God  the  Saviour  of  all  men,  espe- 
cially those  that  believe,'  on  the  24'^''  of  November,  1837. 
The  day  was  unusually  fine  and  the  house  well  filled  with 
attentive  worshippers.  This  small,  but  neat  and  commodious 
edifice  has  been  tastefully  planned  and  finished  in  a  style 
which  does  great  credit  to  the  architect.  It  is  thirty  by  forty 
feet,  has  a  gallery  at  one  end,  the  pews  are  arranged  in  the 
modern  style  and  it  will  seat  comfortably  from  200  to  250 
persons.  It  does  not  stand  on  so  high  ground  as  the  other 
churches  of  the  place,  nor  reach  quite  so  high  towards 
heaven,  but  we  are  fully  justified  in  the  belief  that  its  propri- 
etors and  attendants  rank  as  high  in  point  of  moral  worth, 
sincerity,  zeal,  and  pious  devotion  as  any  church  in  Stratford. 

"  The  order  of  exercises  on  the  occasion  were  :  Voluntary 
by  the  choir;  Reading-  the  Scriptures  by  Br.  F.  Hitchcock; 
Hymn;  Introductory  prayer  by  Br.  F.  Hitchcock;  Hymn; 
Sermon  by  Br.  S.  J.  Hillyer,  text  I.  Chron.  xvi.  29;  Dedica- 
tory prayer  by  Br.  B.  B.  Hallock ;  Hymn;    Benediction. 

"The  morning,  afternoon  and  evening  services  were 
attended  by  large  congregations."  Mr.  F.  Hitchcock  was  the 
pastor  of  this  Church. 

In  the  Manual  of  the  Congregational  Church  of  this 
place  it  is  stated  that  "  when  Mr.  Button  was  called  to  this 
Church,  its  spiritual  condition  was  very  low.  Various 
causes,  long  operating,  had  greatly  adulterated  the  doctrinal 
belief  of  many  members.  Some  of  the  most  prominent  had 
become  believers  in  Universalism." 

This  belief  resulted  in  a  new  society  and  a  church  edifice 
in  1837,  as  recorded  above. 


442  History  of  Stratford. 


The  Methodist  Episcopal  C/iurch  in  Stratford.^* 

Tradition  says  that  the  Rev.  Jesse  Lee  preached  in  Strat- 
ford on  the  4th  of  July,  1789,  it  being  the  first  sermon 
preached  here  by  a  Methodist  minister.  The  first  Methodist 
class  was  organized  here  on  the  19th  of  May,  1790,  by  Mr. 
Lee,  consisting  of  John  Smith,  John  Peck,  and  Margaret  and 
Amy  Plumb.  Bishop  Asbury  preached  in  the  town  house  on 
June  7,  1 791,  and  met  the  class,  which,  organized  only  a  little 
over  one  year  before,  now  numbered  twenty  members.  From 
this  time  to  about  18 10,  when  the  first  house  of  worship  was 
erected,  the  preaching  services  were  held  in  private  houses; 
much  of  the  time  in  the  residences  of  Capt.  John  Peck  and 
Elnathan  Wheeler.  No  record  is  known  to  be  preserved  of 
the  precise  date  when  the  first  church  was  built,  nor  of  the 
names  of  the  first  officers  and  members.  The  Conference 
records  show  that  in  1810,  Nathan  Emery  and  John  Russell 
were  preachers  on  the  Stratford  Circuit,  and  Joseph  Crawford 
was  the  presiding  elder ;  in  181 1,  Aaron  Hunt,  Oliver  Sykes 
and  J.  Reynolds  were  preachers,  and  William  Anson  was 
presiding  elder ;  in  1812,  Seth  Crowell,  Gilbert  Lyon  and  S. 
Beach  were  the  preachers,  and  Elijah  Hawley  was  presiding 
elder;  in  1813,  E.  Washburn,  James  Coleman  were  preachers, 
and  Nathan  Bangs,  presiding  elder. 

The  preachers  from  1814  to  1879  were  as  follows:  1814, 
E.  Wolsey  and  H.  Ames  ;  in  181 5,  E.  Hibbard  and  B.  English  ; 

in  1816,  R.  Harris  and  Dickerson  ;  in   1817,  R.  Harris 

and  E.  Canfield  ;  in  1818,  S.  Bushnell  and  A.  Pierce;  in  1819, 
B.  Northrop  and  D.  Miller;  in  1820,  Bela  Smith  and  D. 
Miller;  in  1821,  Bela  Smith  and  James  Coleman;  in  1822, 
Laban  Clark  and  Eli  Bennett;  in  1823,  Laban  Clark  and  John 
Nixon;  in  1824,  E.  Denniston  and  William  Pease;  in  1825,  E. 
Denniston  and  Julius  Field;  in  1826,  S.  D.  Ferguson  and  V 
Buck;  in  1827,  E.  Bennett  and  V.  Buck;  in  1828-9,  John 
Lovejoy  and  J.  H.  Romer;  in  1830-31,  H.  Bartlett  and  Charles 
Sherman;  in  1832,  S.  Martindale  and  L.  C.  Cheney;  in  1833, 
J.  P.  Youngs  and  J.  Tackaberry  ;  in  1834,  R.  Gilbert ;  in  1835^ 

'■*  Compiled  for  the  Fairfield  County  History  by  Mr.  H.  A.  Sutton. 


Churches  in   West  Stratford.  443 

D.  Miller;  in  1836,  D.  Miller;  in  1837,  C.  \V.  Turner ,  in 
1838,  Clark  Fuller  a  part  of  the  year,  and  Asahel  Brons  the 
other  part;  in  1839-40,  Abram  S.  Francis,  during  whose  pas- 
torate the  present  church  was  built:  in  1S41-42,  Paul  R. 
Brown,  under  whose  labors  a  number  were  added  to  the 
Church;  in   1843-44,  Daniel  Smith,  a  successful  laborer;   in 

1845-46,   Harvey   Husted  ;    1847, Frost;  in    1848-9,  C. 

Kelsey ;  in  1850-51,  Morris  Hill;  1852-53,  Jacob  Shaw;  in 
1854,  G.  C.  Creevy  ;  in  1855-56,  L.  D.  Nickerson  ;  in  1857-58, 
William  T.  Hill;  in  1859-60,  S.  A.  Seaman;  in  1861-62,  J. 
W.  Simpson;  in  1863-65,  Bennett  T.  Abbott;  in  1S66-67,  T. 
D,  Littlewood  ;  in  1868-70,  Joseph  Smith;  in  1871-73,  Joseph 
Vinton;  in  1874-76,  A.  V.  R.  Abbott ;  in  1877-79,  Benjamin 
Pillsbury  ;  in  1880,  S.  A.  Seaman. 


Summer  field  M.  E.  Church  lu  Stratford.^^ 

About  the  ist  of  January,  1871,  the  following  persons  met 
in  a  room  on  Barnum  street.  West  Stratford,  and  established 
a  mission:  Rev.  W.  W.  Bowditch,  pastor  of  Washington  Park 
M.  E.  Church,  Rev.  George  A.  Parkington,  George  \V. 
Bacon,  Solomon  Bachelor,  W.  W.  Stannard,  and  a  number  oi 
others. 

Rev.  George  A.  Parkington,  then  a  local  preacher,  but 
since  a  member  of  the  New  York  East  Conference,  was  se- 
lected to  preach  in  the  mission.  He  preached  his  first  sermon 
here  January  15,  1871,  and  on  January  29,  1871,  a  Sunday- 
school  was  organized,  with  Wesley  W.  Botsford,  Superin- 
tendent; Frank  N.  Cox,  Secretary  and  Treasurer,  and  David 
Clark,  Librarian.  The  school  began  with  thirty  members, 
and  in  due  time  a  membership  class  and  regular  prayer  meet- 
ing were  established,  with  Solomon  Batchelor  as  class  leader. 

Soon  after  a  committee  was  chosen  to  proceed  in  prepar- 
ing for  and  building  a  church,  consisting  of  George  W.  Bacon, 
Solomon  Batchelor,  Calvin  Hall,  I.  Hurd  and  L.  B.  Vaill ; 
and  George  A.  Parkington,  having  joined  the  Conference  in 


'5  Fairfield  County  History,  765. 


/|/j/j  History  of  Stratford. 

April,  1872,  was  sent  to  the  Summerfield  Church,  this  being 
the  name  selected  for  the  new  enterprise. 

The  subscription  list  commenced  with  the  name  of  Susan 
Hubbell,  who  gave  five  hundred  dollars,  and  George  W. 
Bacon  gave  the  same  amount,  which  were  followed  by  Solo- 
mon Batchelor,  Isaac  Hurd,  P.  T.  Barnum  and  Francis  Ford, 
who  each  gave  one  hundred  dollars.  A  site  was  selected,  the 
building  commenced,  and  on  March  16,  1873,  the  edifice  was 
dedicated  by  Bishop  Edmund  S.  Janes. 

The  Trustees  elected  June  3,  1872,  were  Solomon  Batch- 
elor, L.  B.  Vaill,  James  Lobdell,  Calvin  Hall,  Smith  Lewis, 
Sylvester  Bradley,  Gilead  L.  Andrews,  Emmanuel  Sciviter 
and  Frank  Fairchild. 

The  pastors  have  been:  1872-73,  George  A.  Parkington  ; 
1874-76,  A.  P.  Chapman  ;  1876-78,  Larmon  W.  Abbott;  1878, 
Edward  L.  Bray. 


Trinity  Memorial  Church  in  West  Stratford.^^ 

On  the  20th  of  September,  1871,  the  first  of  a  series  of 
Wednesday  evening  services  was  held  in  West  Stratford,  at 
the  house  of  Silas  Scofield,  Esq.,  in  Rivere  Place,  by  the  Rev. 
Sylvester  Clarke,  Rector  of  Trinity  Church,  Bridgeport. 
On  the  following  Sunday,  September  24th,  a  Sunday-school 
was  begun  in  the  school  house  of  the  same  Newfield  district. 
The  corner-stone  of  a  chapel  was  laid  by  the  Rt.  Rev.  Bishop 
Williams,  of  Connecticut,  on  Wednesday,  Nov.  29,  1871.  The 
building,  after  being  inclosed,  waited  through  the  winter 
before  it  was  plastered. 

The  first  service  in  it  was  the  celebration  of  the  holy 
communion  on  Sunday  morning.  May  19,  1872. 

The  chapel  is  in  memory  of  the  Rev.  Gurdon  Saltonstall 
Coit,  D.D.,  rector  for  nearly  thirty  years  of  St.  John's 
Church,  Bridgeport,  who  died  in  Southport,  Conn.,  Nov.  10, 
1869. 

This  parish  is  a  mission  of  Trinity  Church,  Bridgeport. 

'^  From  Fairfield  County  History,  page  766. 


CJmrches  in    West  Stratford.  445 


Neiu field  M.  E.  C/uirch  in  West  Stratford:' 

On  the  second  Sunday  of  May,  1871,  D.  W.  Currier  and 
Theodore  Courtright  called  on  the  neighbors  of  Newfield 
School  District,  and  gave  notice  that  they  would  open  a 
Sunday-school  on  the  following  Sunday  afternoon  in  the  barn 
of  Nirum  Hawley.  At  the  appointed  time  two  children  met, 
and  the  next  Sunday  there  were  fifteen  present.  Mr.  Court- 
right  was  elected  superintendent.  The  school  increased  in 
numbers  and  interest  until  the  barn  became  too  small,  when 
they  removed  to  a  more  commodious  place  in  a  store  building 
owned  by  John  French. 

In  the  mean  time  a  society  was  established,  and  a  Sunday- 
school  organized  on  Sunday,  September  24,  1871,  called  a 
Union  Sunday-school.  This  school  met  in  the  district  school 
house  until  the  completion  of  a  chapel,  which  was  erected 
and  ready  for  use  on  the  3d  day  of  March,  1872. 

These  two  schools  united  in  one,  August  18,  1872,  and 
the  whole  was  turned  over  to  the  Rev.  A.  C.  Eggleston,  pas- 
tor of  the  Washington  Park  M.  E.  Church. 

This  organization  was  called  the  Newfield  Methodist 
Episcopal  Society,  which  assumed  all  debts  and  purchased 
the  property,  securing  the  chapel  and  the  site. 

The  following  spring,  1873,  they  applied  to  the  Confer- 
ence, and  the  Rev.  R.  S.  Eldridge  was  sent  to  them  as  their 
pastor,  who  labored  successfully  one  year.  The  next  year 
the  Rev.  E.  A.  Blake  was  appointed  as  their  pastor,  who 
served  one  year.  Since  that  time  the  church  has  had  no  reg- 
ular pastor,  but  has  been  supplied  from  other  churches. 

Schools  in  Stratford. 

Teaching  children  to  read  and  write  was  attended  to  in 
the  families  by  the  first  settlers.  Very  soon  the  Colony  made 
some  provisions  for  educating  children. 

The  town  of  Stratford  gave  early  attention  to  providing 
schooling  for  the  children  in  it. 

1'  From  Fairfield  County  History,  page  766. 


44^  History  of  Stratford. 

In  October,  1678,  the  town  voted  twenty  pounds  of 
money  "  for  maintainance  of  a  school  master,  the  rest  of  the 
money  to  be  levied  upon  the  children  privileged  by  the 
school."  In  December  of  the  same  year  they  voted  a  school 
master  "  to  teach  small  children  to  read  and  write." 

A  special  provision  was  made  by  the  town  as  follows: 

"October  31,  1687.  Also  it  was  voted  at  the  same  meet- 
ing that  what  land  the  town  hath  at  or  near  the  ferry,  upland 
and  meadow  now  in  the  possession  of  Moses  Wheeler,  sen"^., 
that  the  produce  and  benefit  thereof  shall  henceforth  forever 
be  paid  and  improved  for  and  towards  the  maintaining  of  a 
publique  school  for  and  in  the  town  of  Stratford." 

This  was  land  the  use  of  which  was  granted  to  Moses 
Wheeler  twenty-one  years,  gratuitously  in  view  of  his  main- 
taining a  ferry  across  the  Housatonic  river,  and  his  twenty- 
one  years  having  expired  they  thenceforward  devoted  the 
income  to  the  support  of  "  a  publique  school."  That  is,  it 
was  so  much  towards  a  free  school,  which  is  the  earliest  pro- 
vision of  the  kind  seen  on  record  by  the  author  of  this  work. 

So  far  as  seen  there  was  but  one  school  in  the  town  until 
December  13,  1715,  when  it  was  voted  that  "our  neighbors 
north  of  Tanner's  Brook,  may  set  up  a  school  house  at  the 
north  end  of  the  town,  they  doing  it  at  their  own  expense." 

The  next  year  there  were  two  schools  in  the  village,  and 
in  January,  1716-17,  they  voted  that  "the  farmers  at  Long 
hill,  Oronock,  Putnee,  Mohegin  hills,  Trapfalls,  Fairchilds, 
and  Nichol's  Lakes  and  Pambrook,  shall  have  the  use  of  their 
part  of  the  40  shillings  pr.  thousand  allowed  by  law  for  seven 
years  ensuing,  provided  they  educate  their  children  accord- 
ing to  law,"  and  Sergt.  John  Hurd  and  Sergt.  Andrew  Pat- 
terson were  chosen  a  committee  for  Pembroke, 

This  shows  that  there  were  forty  shillings  drawn  from 
the  Colony  upon  each  one  thousand  pounds  on  the  town  list 
for  schools. 

In  1722,  Capt.  Josiah  Curtiss,  Samuel  Uffoot  and  Abel 
Birdsey  were  the  committee  for  the  South  School,  and 
Thomas  Welles,  James  Judson  and  Ephraim  Clark  for  the 
North  School.  Hence,  Thomas  Welles  was  living  within 
this  district,  and   possibly  on   what  is  now  the   Elias   Welles 


Schools  ill  Stratford.  aaj 

place,  where  the  great  elm  tree  stands;  and  that  tree  was  in 
all  probability  set  there  about  twenty  years  later. 

In  1740,  the  schools  being  under  the  care  of  the  Ecclesi- 
astical Society,  were  named  the  South  School,  North  School, 
Pembrook  School  and  Putnee  School.  In  1741,  the  names 
were  a  little  changed  and  they  were  called  the  South  End 
School,  the  North  End  School,  Oronoke  and  Putncc  and 
Pembrook  School. 

After  this  period  schools  increased,  new  districts  were 
organized  until  the  whole  town  was  under  a  thorough  system 
of  common  school  education.  Those  young  men  who  desired 
to  go  to  college  were  prepared  in  their  education  by  the 
parish  ministers,  until  the  erection  of  the  Academy. 


The  Stratford  Academy. 

"Town  Meeting  December  17,  1804.  Whereas,  Samuel 
W.  Johnson,  Ezekiel  Lovejoy  and  other  inhabitants  of  this 
town  have  subscribed  one  thousand  dollars  for  the  buildine-  of 
a  school  house  or  academy  for  the  education  of  youth,  and 
have  applied  to  this  town  for  liberty  to  erect  the  same  on  the 
public  square  called  the  Meetinghouse  Hill. 

"  Voted,  that  the  applicants  have  liberty  to  erect  a  house 
for  the  purpose  aforesaid  on  the  Meetinghouse  Hill,  where 
the  old  meetinghouse  formerly  stood,  with  the  privilege  of 
enclosing  the  same  with  a  fence  suitable  for  ornament  and 
convenience  not  exceeding  three  rods  from  each  side  of  said 
house. 

Test,  Aaron  Benjamin,  Town  Clerk." 

In  May,  1806,  the  proprietors  were  made  a  corporate 
body,  by  the  following  declaration  :  "  Resolved  by  this  Assem- 
blv,  That  Samuel  VVm.  Johnson,  Jabez  H.  Tomlinson,  Stephen 
W.  Stebbins,  Ashbel  Baldwin,  Robert  Fairchild,  Roswell 
Judson  and  Solomon  Curtis,  the  present  trustees  of  said 
Academy,  and  others  who  now  or  hereafter  may  be  proprie- 
tors of  said  Academy,  be,  and  they  are  hereby  created  and 
made  a  body  corporate,  by  the  name  of  "  The  Proprietors  of 
the  Stratford  Academy," 


448  History  of  Stratford. 

In  1836,  this  Academy  was  still  standing,  and  the  hill  had 
become  known  as  Academy  Hill,  which  name  is  still  fre- 
quently used. 

Stratford  Union  School. 

The  year  1883  marks  a  new  era  in  educational  enterprise, 
spirit  and  accomplishments,  for  in  that  year  a  union  of  four 
districts  was  formed  ;  and  a  new,  two-story  brick  school  house 
was  built  in  1884-85,  at  a  cost  of  $20,000,  and  the  school  was 
opened  in  it  with  a  full  complement  of  teachers,  September 
14,  1885. 

The  following  was  the  first  School  Committee  after  the 
consolidation  ;  George  H.  Spall,  Howard  J.  Curtis  and  Chas. 
B.  Curtis;  and  Edwin  F.  Hall,  Clerk,  and  Albert  Wilcoxson, 
Treasurer. 

The  following  are  the  names  of  the  Building  Committee: 
Robert  H.  Russell,  Rufus  W.  Bunnell,  Charles  B.  Curtis, 
Charles  D.  Curtiss,  and  David  W.  Judson. 

The  school  opened  with  the  following  list  of  teachers: 
Mr.  Wilfred  M.  Peck,  Principal;  MissAddie  T.  Oilman,  Miss 
Mary  E.  Cable,  Miss  H.  Lina  Lobdell,  Miss  Eleanor  A.  Peck, 
and  Miss  Minnie  Judson. 

Samuel  Fulsotn  came  from  Windham,  Conn.,  to  Strat- 
ford, probably  in  the  spring  of  1743,  he  having  then  a  wife 
Ann,  and  two  children.  His  descendants  have  the  tradition 
that  he  came  specially  to  do  the  iron  work  on  the  Episcopal 
Church  then  to  be  built,  he  being  a  blacksmith.  It  is  also 
said  that  he  brought  other  blacksmiths  with  him  to  work, 
and  who  did  work  in  his  shop. 

He  became  a  communicant  in  the  Episcopal  Church  here 
in  1743,  and  purchased  his  first  land  in  Stratford  in  1745,  it 
being  the  corner  where  now  Mrs.  Hudson's  dwelling  stands. 
This  lot  of  one  acre  had  been  owned  some  years  by  John 
Moss,  who  had  died,  leaving  it  with  a  house  and  barn  on  it, 
to  his  two  children  Joseph  and  Mary  Moss.  After  Mary's 
part  was  taken  off,  Joseph  sold  his  right  to  John  Benjamin 
and  Samuel  Fulsom,  who  afterwards  divided  it,  Mr.  Fulsom 
retaining  the  corner.  On  this  homestead  lived  the  Fulsom 
family,  the  father  continuing  many  years  the  work  of  a  black- 
smith. 


History  and  not  Fiction.  4^0 

Glorianna  Fidsom,  the  last  but  one  of  this  family  of 
nine  children,  was  born  December  24,  1753,  and  grew  to  be  a 
very  beautiful  young  lady  at  the  age  of  sixteen  years,  the 
charming  companion  of  many  like  her  in  Stratford  at  that 
day,  only  she  is  said  to  have  been  more  beautiful  than  any 
other.  She  possessed  light  brown  hair,  bright,  sparkling 
blue  eyes,  a  fine  personal  figure  with  a  lively,  entertaining 
manner,  and  all  the  modest  culture  of  those  frugal  days. 

In  the  autumn  of  the  year  1770,  when  the  beauty  of  the 
country  was  all  aglow  with  preparations  for  the  coming  win- 
ter, there  came  into  Stratford  a  stranger,  of  rather  remarkable 
appearance,  who  stopped  at  Benjamin's  tavern,  then  located 
where  the  dwelling  of  Mr.  Frederick  A.  Benjamin  now  stands. 
He  was  John  Sterling,  from  Edinburgh,  Scotland,  the  son  of 
a  Baronet,  and  he  had  been  sent  out  by  his  father  on  a  visiting 
tour  to  America,  going  first  to  Canada  and  thence  to  New 
York.  By  what  fatality  he  came  to  Stratford  is  not  known, 
nor  can  it  be  guessed  unless  it  was  to  find  the  very  cradle  of 
liberty,  which  it  has  always  been  understood  he  did  find,  both 
in  politics  and  marriage.  His  manner  was  pleasant  and  enter- 
taining, but  he  seemed  to  be  a  person  without  any  object  of 
worldly  or  religious  business,  and  therefore  was  viewed  as  a 
suspicious  character. 

He  saw  the  beautiful  Glorianna  in  church,  he  saw  her  in 
singing-school;  he  went  wherever  he  could  see  her,  became 
acquainted  with  her,  and  sought  her  in  marriage.  This  prop- 
osition all  opposed  except  the  father  and  "  sweet  sixteen," 
The  mother  imposed  every  opposition,  so  did  Anna,  the  eld- 
est sister,  but  Johnny  won  the  race,  and  came  out  Mr.  Sterling 
with  Mrs.  Glorianna  Sterling  as  mate,  March  10,  1771. 

He  then  tarried  in  Stratford,  and  after  a  time  wrote  home 
for  money.  The  father  sent  some,  and  wrote  him  to  return 
home,  but  he  wrote  that  he  was  married  and  could  not  come, 
so  say  the  descendants  of  the  Fulsom  family  ;  others  say,  he 
did  not  write  home,  which  is  improbable,  but  that  his  father 
heard  of  his  son's  marriage  and  the  beauty  of  his  wife,  by 
some  mariners,  who  were  there  from  Stratford. 

When  funds  ran  low  again,  Mr.  Sterling,  like  a  true 
Yankee,  engaged  in  teaching  school,  "in  the  old  Pendleton 
house,"  where  he  continued  several  months,  if  not  more  than 
a  year. 


450  History   of  Stratford. 

In  December,  1771,  the  daughter  Mary  Glorianna  was 
baptized,  and  a  pupil  was  taken  in  charge,  to  board  in  the 
family. 

In  the  autumn  of  1772,  the  Baronet  in  Edinburgh,  became 
impatient  at  the  stay  of  his  son  in  America  and  wrote  a  per- 
emptory requirement  for  his  son  to  come  home  and  bring  his 
wife  with  him,  but  this  latter  seemed  impossible  then,  and  he 
departed  alone,  assuring  her  he  would  send  for  her  as  soon  as 
possible. 

When  he  had  departed,  the  whole  town  was  musical  with 
whisperings,  suspicions  and  reports  that  the  great  Mr.  Ster- 
ling had  deserted  his  wife  and  that  she  would  see  and  hear  no 
more  of  him. 

On  March  14,  1773,  another  daughter,  named  Maria  Jane 
was  baptized  in  Stratford. 

Soon  a  letter  came  from  Mr.  Sterling  that  a  ship,  fitted 
for  her  special  comfort,  would  be  in  New  York  at  a  certain 
time,  to  convey  her  to  Scotland  in  the  best  style  possible  ; 
that  he  had  sent  her  a  quantity  of  goods,  of  elegant  material, 
which  she  must  have  made  in  New  York,  and  that  he  had 
sent  servants  to  attend  to  the  necessary  work  and  preparations 
for  her  journey.  Her  relatives  in  Stratford  have  pieces  of 
the  silk  for  the  dress  which  she  was  to  wear  at  her  reception 
when  she  should  arrive  at  her  home  in  Scotland,  which 
though  now  changed  in  color  was  originally  white  embossed 
silk,  with  colored  flowers  in  small  boquets  scattered  sparsely 
over  it. 

After  making  her  wardrobe  as  complete  as  possible,  Mrs. 
Sterling  sailed  for  Europe  with  her  two  children  and  two  ser- 
vants, a  nurse  and  maid,  who  had  been  sent  out  to  attend  her. 
Mr.  Sterling  sent  an  invitation  to  his  sister-in-law  Anna  Ful- 
som  to  accompany  his  wife,  and  goods  for  her  outfit,  but  her 
mother  would  not  give  her  consent,  although  it  was  much 
to  Anna's  regret,  saying,  it  was  enough  to  bury  one,  for  she 
should  never  see  Glorianna  again,  and  she  could  not  bury  two. 
Mrs.  Sterling  wrote  back  that  when  she  arrived  in  Scotland 
there  were  so  many  carriages  on  the  wharf  that  she  was  at  a 
great  loss  to  know  what  it  meant,  but  found  they  were  all 
there  to  meet  her. 


History  and  not  Fiction.  451 

After  her  arrival  she  had  governesses  in  the  house  to 
teach  her  the  acconnplishments  befitting  the  future  Lady  of 
Sterling  Castle.  She  never  returned  to  America,  although 
she  alwa3'S  intended  to  do  so,  but  she  kept  up  a  continued 
correspondence  with  her  family,  often  sending  them  valuable 
presents,  especially  to  her  mother  and  her  sister  Anna. 
Quite  a  number  of  these  articles  are  still  preserved  in  Strat- 
ford ;  also  a  razor  case  left  by  Mr.  Sterling,  and  the  remains 
of  what  was  once  a  very  beautiful  doll,  which  was  sent  with 
a  complete  doll's  outfit  to  her  little  niece,  the  six-year  old 
daughter  of  her  sister  Anna,  who  had  become  the  second  wife 
of  Abraham  Tomlinson,  the  father  of  Miss  Huldah  and  Miss 
Polly  Tomlinson.  Their  mother,  the  first  wife,  was  a  daugh- 
ter of  parson  Gold. 

During  the  Revolution  Mrs.  Sterling  had  very  little 
communication  with  her  friends  in  America,  but  as  soon  as 
peace  was  declared  correspondence  was  resumed  and  she  sent 
presents  of  various  kinds.  There  is  still  preserved  quite  a 
good  sized  box  that  came  from  her  filled  with  presents. 

She  was  very  anxious  that  members  of  her  family  should 
visit  her,  and  was  much  delighted  when  her  brother,  Nathan 
Fulsom  wrote  that  he  would  go  and  see  her.  She  directed 
him  where  to  go  when  he  arrived  in  Liverpool  and  have  an 
outfit  made  at  her  expense.  He  went,  and  after  remaining 
some  months  he  returned,  bringing  glowing  accounts  of  the 
grandeur  with  which  his  sister  was  surrounded. 

Her  husband,  upon  the  decease  of  his  father,  in  1791,  suc- 
ceeded to  the  office  of  a  Baronet,  which  he  held  to  his  death, 
and  the  Baronness,  although  so  widely  separated  from  her 
family  in  America,  kept  up  a  most  cordial  intercourse  with 
them  as  long  as  she  lived,  sending  several  of  her  children  to 
visit  them.  Her  youngest  brother,  John  Fulsom,  visited  at 
her  home  after  his  brother  Nathan  had  been  there. 

In  Playfair's  Baronetage  of  Scotland  it  is  stated  that  Sir 
John  and  Glorianna  Sterling  had  nineteen  children  in  the  first 
eighteen  years  of  their  marriage.  It  is  said  by  the  descend- 
ants of  her  relatives  here  that  she  was  the  mother  of  twenty- 
two  children.  The  Baronetage  of  Scotland  shows  that  one 
of  her  sons  succeeded  his  father  in  that  office  and  that  her 
descendants  held  the  office  in  1879. 


452  History  of  Stratford. 

It  may  be  seen  by  the  above  dates  which  are  taken  from 
Stratford  town  records  and  those  of  the  Episcopal  Church, 
that  the  story  which  connects  Sir  John  Sterling  with  the 
American  Revolution  cannot  be  correct,  since  he  was  married 
and  he  and  his  wife  Glorianna  and  their  children  were  at 
home  in  Scotland  before  the  war  in  America  began.  Then, 
also,  the  above  dates  correspond  and  confirm  all  the  leading 
facts  of  the  story  as  given  by  Misses  Elizabeth  and  Maria 
Peck,  still  living  in  Stratford,  whose  mother  was  the  daughter 
of  Anna  Fulsom,  the  eldest  sister  of  Glorianna.  These  ladies 
well  remember  their  grandmother,  and  heard  her  as  well  as 
their  own  mother  narrate  the  story,  often,  in  their  early  years, 
and  their  mother  many  times  in  later  years  ;  and  they  are  au- 
thority for  the  above  plain  statement  of  facts.  It  is  very 
pleasant  to  the  author  of  this  work,  that  by  the  assistance  of 
several  persons  of  Stratford,  the  above  true,  straightforward 
and  agreeable  history  has  been  obtained,  since  a  variety  of 
versions  have  been  heretofore  given  to  it. 


St.  John  s  Lodge,  No.  8,  of  Free  and  Accepted  Masons. 

The  following  history  of  St.  John's  Lodge  has  been  col- 
lected and  arranged  by  Mr.  Nathan  B.  Wells,  from  a  historical 
address  by  the  Rev.  C.  H.  VV.  Stocking  in  1866,  and  the 
Manuel  of  the  lodge  and  other  records : 

"  The  original  charter  of  St.  John's  Lodge,  Stratford, 
was  granted  by  the  R.  W.  George  Harrison,  Provincial  Grand 
Master  of  the  Colony  of  New  York,  dated  April  22,  1766. 
On  the  7th  of  May  following,  a  preliminary  meeting  to  the 
formal  opening  of  the  lodge  was  held,  and  Monday,  the  12th 
day  of  May,  designated  as  the  day  for  organizing. 

"  On  the  appointed  evening  there  were  present  Joseph 
Clark,  W.  M.;  James  Dunn,  S.  VV.;  John  Harpin,  J.  W .,  pro 
tern.,  and  '  visitant '  Brother  Lemuel  Brooks.  The  lodge  hav- 
ing been  'opened  in  due  form  and  cloathed  with  all  their 
honors,  after  having  dedicated  the  same  to  the  Holy  St.  John, 
they  proceeded  to  raise  the  following  Brethren  to  the  Sublime 
Degree  of  Master  Mason,  to  wit:  Brother  Henry  Van  Dyck, 


The  Masonic  Lodge.  At-t 

Brother  Ephraim  Peet,  Brother  Abijah  Beach,    Brother  Wil- 
liam Mcintosh.' 

"On  the  15th  of  the  same  month  the  four  new  brethren 
were  appointed  to  the  subordinate  offices.  Henry  Van  Dyck, 
S.  W.;  Ephraim  Peet,  J.  W.;  Abijah  Beach,  Trcas.;  James 
Dunn,  Sec. 

"  The  element  ot  discipline  early  entered  into  the  work- 
ings of  the  lodge.  Refusal  to  obey  the  Master's  gavel  was 
punished  by  a  fine  of  two  shillings,  to  be  paid  immediately, 
or  suffer  expulsion.  Obscenity  paid  a  fine  of  one  shilling; 
talking,  one  shilling;  profanity,  two  shillings.  Initiation  fees 
were  £1,  to  the  box,  and  three  shillings  to  the  Tyler. 

"  Twelve  successive  times  Samuel  Benjamin  represented 
the  lodge  at  the  annual  communication  of  the  Grand  Lodge, 
walking  the  distance  with  glad  though  weary  feet,  that  so  his 
candlestick  should  not  be  removed.  Matthias  Nicoll,  Benja- 
min Fairchild  and  Rev.  Ashbel  Baldwin  appear  as  frequently 
representing  their  lodge  at  the  grand  communications  in 
honest  discharge  of  their  Masonic  obligations. 

"  This  lodge  worked  under  its  old  colonial  charter  as  St. 
John's,  No.  I,  until  October  9,  1792.  It  then  came  in  under 
another  charter  from  the  newly  formed  Grand  Lodge  of  the 
State,  as  St.  John's,  No.  8.  The  NicoUs,  the  ^Benjamins,  the 
Fairchilds,  the  Johnsons,  and  others  who  might  be  mentioned, 
appear  among  their  fellows  as  zealous  craftsmen  who  knew 
their  work  and  wrought  it  well. 

"  The  following  are  the  names  of  the  Past  Masters  of  this 
lodge,  with  their  terms  of  office:  1766-68,  Joseph  Clarke; 
1768-69,  Henry  Van  Dyke  ;  1769-70,  Joseph  Clarke  ;  1770-73, 
Stiles  Lewis;  1773-79,  Joseph  Clarke;  1779-80,  Stiles  Lewis; 
1780-84,  John  Thatcher;  1784-86,  Peter  Nicoll;  1786-88, 
Matthias  Nicoll;  1788-90,  John  Thatcher;  1790-95,  J.  L. 
Wooster;  1795-96,  John  Thompson;  1796-97,  Matthias 
Nicoll ;  1797-98,  Ashbel  Baldwin  ;  1798-1804,  Matthias  Nicoll ; 
1804-7,  John  Thompson  ;  1807-8,  Nathaniel  Kennedy;  1808- 
II,  Ashbel  Baldwin;  1811-12,  George  Smith;  1812-15,  Mat- 
thias Nicoll;  1815-21,  William  T.  Shelton  ;  1821-27,  Matthias 
Nicoll;  1827-33,  Samuel  Benjamin  ;  1833-36,  Benjamin  Fair- 
child;  1836-40,  John  Goulding;  1860-62,  A.  B.  Judd;  1862- 
30 


454  History  of  Stratford. 

63,  Nathan  B.  Wells;  1863-66,  George  Jewell;  1867-68,  Ezra 
Whiting;  1868-70,  William  A.  Lewis;  1870-72,  Walter  J. 
Bristol;  1872-73,  Melville  J.  Curtis;  1873-75,  Henry  G.  B. 
Cuzner  ;  1875-77,  Lasper  K.  Whitney;  1877-79,  Samuel  A. 
Patterson;  1880-81,  Nathan  F.  Wilcoxson  ;  1882-3,  John  W. 
Beach;   1884,  Henry  F.  Mechan. 

The  officers  for  the  year  1885,  are:  Nelson  E.  Dorman, 
W.  M.;  George  W.  Cradduck,  S.  W.;  Daniel  C.  Wood,  J.  W. 
Samuel  A.  Patterson,  Secretary  ;  Ezra  Whiting,  Treasurer 
John  W.  Beach,  George  H.  Zink  and  Henry  P.  Stagg 
Trustees;  Charles  F.  Judson,  S.  D.;  Frederick  P.  Welles,  J 
D.;  Bernard  H.  Merrick,  S.  S.;  Charles  E.  Lovell,  J.  S. 
Lasper  K.  Whiting,  Marshall;  Rev.  Thomas  J.  Watt,  Chap 
lain  ;  George  W.  Lampson  and  George  H.  Spall,  Auditors 
and  Joseph  W.  Dufour,  Tyler. 

The  number  of  members  at  present- is  about  one  hundred 
and  thirtv. 


"  Orouoq7ie  Lodge,  No.  go,  I.  O.  O.  /^." 

This  lodge  was  instituted  by  Grand  Master  A.  W,  Phelps, 
in  the  old  Masonic  Hall.  The  first  officers  installed  were: 
J.  W.  Dufow,  N.  G. ;  G.  T.  Lewis,  V.  G. ;  Charles  D.  Curtis, 
Treas.;  H.  A.  Sutton,  Sec. 

"  Charter  members  :  Joseph  W.  Dufow,  George  T.  Lewis, 
Francis  S.  Avery,  Lucius  E.  Hendric,  H.  A.  Sutton,  John 
Cradduck,  Charles  D,  Curtis,  William  Shilston,  Perr}^ 
Beardsley,  C.  Lester  Young,  Laspore  K.  Whitman,  Lewis  S. 
Hubbell,  Abram  T.  Peck. 

"  The  following  is  a  list  of  Noble  Grands  from  the  organ- 
ization to  1881  :  Joseph  W.  Dufow,  George  T.  Lewis,  John 
Cradduck,  Francis  S.  Avery,  Laspore  K.  Whitney,  John  Kug- 
ler,  Charles  E.  Curtis,  A.  S.  Allen,  D.  W.  Judson,  A.  C.  Ellis, 
William  Young,  Lewis  S.  Hubbell,  A.  C.  Ellis,  A.  McEwen, 
George  Cradduck,   William  Blaney." 

1*  Fairfield  County  History,  768. 


The  Public  Greens.  455 


The  Borough  of  West  Stratford. 

West  Stratford,  as  a  borough  was  organized  Julv  3, 
1873.  The  officers  for  1873  and  1874,  were:  A.  VV.  Lewis, 
Warden ;  Alfred  Beers,  James  Bounds,  E.  B.  Peck,  John 
French,  William  H.  Bunnell,  and  Harvey  Birdsey,  Burgesses  ; 
Charles  H.  Hinman,  Clerk;  H.  B.  Drew,  Treasurer;  D.  C. 
Wood,  Collector;  H.  T.  Quire,  Bailiff;  J.  R.  Lockwood,  and 
Frank  Bacon,  Registrars  of  Voters. 

This  is  a  rapidly  growing  borough,  and  will  without 
doubt,  soon  become  a  part  of  the  city  of  Bridgeport. 

The  Bridgeport  Hospital  is  located  within  its  boundaries. 
There  are  two  school  houses  ;  the  one  in  the  lower  district 
has  four  teachers  and  about  290  scholars,  and  in  the  upper 
district  200  scholars. 


The  Public  Greens  of  Stratford  Village. 

It  has  been  represented  that  these  greens  were  always 
the  property  of  the  town,  but  the  records  show  quite  the 
contrary. 

In  1745,  Hezekiah  Gold,  Joshua  Judson,  Joseph  Booth, 
Ebenezer  Beech,  David  Judson,  John  VVilcoxson,  Abram 
Curtis  and  Daniel  Curtis,  gave  four  pieces  of  land  to  the 
town  for  public  greens ;  three  of  them  constituted  the  green 
at  Academy  Hill  in  the  rear  of  the  Episcopal  Church,  and 
one  of  them  the  Uptown  Green.  The  deed  is  to  be  found  in 
the  records  of  the  Town  Acts,  Book  No.  5,  page  153. 

From  the  Revolution  to  1850,  there  were  in  Stratford 
about  fifty  men  of  noted  prominence,  as  indicated  in  the  list 
of  Representatives,"  of  whom  it  would  be  a  satisfaction  and 
pleasure  to  make  biographical  sketches,  if  time  and  space  in 
this  book  would  allow,  but  as  the  facts  are,  these  must  be  left 
for  the  genealogies  and  a  future  historian. 


1^  The  list  of  Representatives  will  be  found  in  the  Appendix  to  this  book. 


456  History  of  Stratford. 

Besides  the  following-  sketches  of  descendants  of  the 
older  families,  space  is  allowed  for  brief  notices  of  two  or 
three  persons  who  with  their  families,  became  residents  of 
this  town  more  recently,  and  whose  literary  productions  and 
beneficent  public  labors  call  for  the  notice  and  space  here  cor- 
dially given. 


TJie  Benjamin  Family  of  Connecticut. 

From  the  manuscripts  of  Governors  Eaton  and  Winthrop 
are  obtained  the  following  account  of  the  first  settler  in  this 
country  of  the  family  of  Benjamin. 

^^  John  Henjatnin,  Esqr.,  Gentleman,  was  the  first  of 
that  name  who  came  to  this  country.  His  ancestors  were 
Welch  and  were  among  the  first  of  the  landed  Gentry  of 
England.  He  came  in  company  with  Governor  Winthrop  to 
the  Massachusetts  colony  in  July,  1630,  and  settled  in  Water- 
town  of  the  same  colony  [adjoining  the  present  Cambridge] 
and  died  in  that  town,  June,  1645.  His  house,  accidentally 
destroyed  by  fire,  was  unsurpassed  in  elegance  and  comfort 
by  any  in  the  vicinity.  It  was'  the  mansion  of  intelligence, 
refinement,  religion  and  hospitality  :  visited  by  the  clergy  of 
all  denominations  and  by  the  literati  from  far  and  near.  He 
called  his  eldest  son  John  and  after  the  father's  death  the 
family  removed  to  Connecticut." 

Col.  John  Benjamin^  the  third  in  descent  from  John 
Benjamin,  Gent.,  of  Gov.  Winthrop's  colonists,  was  born  in 
Stratford,  Conn.,  in  1731.  He  was  married  to  Lucretia  Backus^ 
of  Windham,  Conn.,  daughter  of  Dr.  Backus,  an  eminent 
physician  of  that  place.  He  is  described  as  a  man  of  comely 
person  and  strong  mental  powers,  of  philosophic  tastes  and 
studies,  of  which  honorable  mention  was  made  by  President 
Stiles  of  Yale  College.  He  was  an  earnest  and  energetic 
patriot  of  '76.  He  took  part  in  the  battle  ot  Ridgefield,  and 
received  a  ball  in  the  shoulder  on  that  occasion  which  he  car- 
ried to  the  end  of  his  life.  He  died  in  Stratford,  Conn.,  Sept. 
14,  1796.  He  left  four  daughters,  one  of  whom  married  Josiah 
Meigs  and  was  the  mother  of  the   late   Dr.  Chas.  Meigs,  of 


Biographical  Sketches.  457 

Philadelphia,  and  of  Mrs.  John  Forsyth,  wife  of  the  Secretary 
of  State,  in  the  administrations  of  Jackson  and  Van  Buren. 
He  also  left  six  sons,  one  of  whom. 

Col.  Aaron  Benjamin,  was  the  hero  of  that  genera- 
tion of  the  famil3^  Col.  Aaron  Benjamin  was  born  in  Strat- 
ford, Conn.,  Aug.  17,  1757.  He  entered  the  Revolutionary 
army  in  July,  1775,  when  not  quite  18  years  of  age,  and  re- 
mained with  it  in  active  duty  till  the  peace  of  1783.  He  was 
in  nearly  all  of  the  principal  battles  of  that  memorable  war. 
Among  his  experiences  were  Montgomery's  expedition  to 
Canada,  the  battles  of  White  Plains,  Princeton,  Monmouth, 
Germantown,  Fort  Mifflin.  Stony  Point,  the  winter  at  Valley 
Forge,  innumerable  encounters  with  the  enemy,  which  have 
no  record  in  history,  hand  to  hand  fights  as  perilous  as  "  the 
imminent  and  deadly  breach." 

It  is  said  that  he  was  more  than  a  hundred  times  under  fire. 

At  Stony  Point  he  was  on  the  forlorn  hope  and  he  was 
the  second  man  to  enter  the  fort  in  that  famous  midnight  vic- 
tory. He  was  a  Lieutenant  and  Adjutant  during  most  of  the 
Revolutionary  war,  and  his  son,  Hon.  Frederick  A.  Benjamin, 
has  in  his  possession  many  volumes  of  Order  Books  in  his 
father's  handwriting.  In  these  books,  among  many  other 
interesting  items  is  the  complete  plan  of  the  attack  on  Stony 
Point,  arranged  with  great  precision  and  embraced  in  the 
Order  for  the  preceding  day. 

Many  were  the  incidents  of  the  war  related  by  this  gallant 
actor  on  its  battle  fields;  most  of  them  have  no  place  in 
History,  but  are  preserved  as  sacred  traditions  among  his 
descendants.  After  thirty  years  of  peace  this  veteran  of  the 
War  of  Independence  received  a  commission  of  Lieut.  Col. 
and  was  again  called  into  the  service  of  his  country  in  the 
War  of  1812.  During  most  of  this  conflict  he  commanded 
the  military  post  of  New  London. 

In  person  he  was  of  medium  stature,  but  commanding 
presence.  He  was  a  man  of  large  humanity,  of  great  purity 
of  character,  of  iron  energy,  and  equally  unyielding  integrity 
and  honor. 

He  died  in  November,  1828,  leaving  a  widow,  four  sons, 
and  four  daughters. 


458  History  of  Stratford. 

Hon.  Frederick  A.  JBenJamiUf  residing  in  Stratford, 
on  the  old  place  of  his  ancestors,  is  the  only  survivor  of  these 
eight  children.  He  was  for  many  years  a  merchant  in  the 
city  of  New  York,  and  after  retiring  from  business  he  returned 
to  his  native  state  and  town,  making  it  his  home.  Mr.  Ben- 
jamin was  a  member  of  the  State  Senate  in  1862,  and  of  the 
Electoral  College  in  1864. 

Among  the  descendants  of  Col.  Aaron  Benjamin  his  mil- 
itary mantle  has  fallen  upon  his  grandson,  Col.  Samuel  N. 
Benjamin,  now  one  of  the  Adjutant  Generals  of  the  U.  S. 
army,  whose  brilliant  record  in  the  War  of  the  Rebellion  was 
worthy  of  his  grandsire. 

Jesse  Olnei/f  A.M.f""  was  born  at  Union,  Tolland  County, 
Oct.  12,  1798.  He  exhibited  in  childhood  a  remarkable  fond- 
ness for  geography,  as  well  as  aptness  in  classical  studies; 
was  for  twelve  years  a  teacher  in  the  Hartford  Grammar 
School,  where  he  was  the  first  American  teacher  to  introduce 
the  method,  now  generally  adopted,  of  separating  geography 
from  astronomy,  and  beginning  the  former  study  by  familiar- 
izing the  pupil  with  the  description  and  surroundings  of  his 
own  town,  county  and  state,  advancing  thence  to  national  and 
foreign  geography. 

His  School  Geography  and  Atlas,  first  issued  in  1828, 
almost  immediately  became  a  standard  throughout  the  coun- 
try, has  had  a  sale  of  several  millions  of  copies,  and  has  been 
the  model  of  which  all  subsequent  school  geographies  have 
more  or  less  been  imitations. 

In  183 1,  appears  the  National  Preceptor,  a  reading  man- 
ual far  superior  to  any  predecessor  in,  the  United  States, 
which  was  followed  by  a  series  of  readers  and  outline  maps, 
an  Arithmetic,  and  a  School  History  of  the  United  States. 

Mr.  Olney  was  also  author  of  a  small  volume  of  poems, 
anonymously  published  at  Hartford.  To  perfect  himself  in 
his  favorite  studies  he  visited  Europe  several  times,  residing 
at  Paris  for  considerable  periods. 

His  residence  was  at  Southington  from  1834  to  1854,  and 
at   Stratford   for  the   remainder  of   his  life.      He  served  ten 

^^  Johnson's  New  Universal  Cyclopaedia,  vol.  iii.  949. 


Biographical  Sketches.  44Q 

terms  in  the  Connecticut  legislature,  where  he  was  an  active 
worker  in  behalf  of  educational  interests,  and  was  elected 
State  Comptroller  of  public  accounts  in  1867.  He  died  at 
Stratford,  Juh-  30,  1872. 

^ev.  James  Harvey  Linsley,  son  of  James  and  Sarah 
(Maltby)  Linsley,  was  born  in  Hartford,  Conn.,  May  5,  1787. 
His  ancestors  came  from  the  town  of  Lindley,  near  London, 
England.  His  was  the  eighth  generation  of  his  family  in  this 
country. 

He  graduated  at  Yale  College  in  181 7.  While  there,  a 
temporary  illness  obliged  him  to  postpone  his  preparation  for 
the  ministry,  that  goal  of  his  desires,  and  aim  of  his  studies. 

During  this  period  of  waiting  he  was  made  principal  of 
the  Academy  at  New  Haven,  and  of  that  at  New  Canaan. 
Later  he  opened  a  private  school  of  his  own,  the  object  ot 
which  was  to  prepare  young  men  for  College  ;  although  at  this 
time  he  was  offered  the  charge  of  five  other  academies,  in  as 
many  different  towns. 

He  came  to  Stratford  in  182 1  with  his  highly  cultured 
and  accomplished  wife,  Mrs.  Sophia  B.  Linsley.  This  lady 
was  the  daughter  of  Col.  William  Lyon,  of  New  Haven. 

As  an  instructor  Mr.  Linsley  was  widely  known  and 
eminently  successful.  He  dismissed  his  school  in  1831,  thus 
closing  this  portion  of  his  life. 

On  the  9th  of  June,  183 1,  he  was  ordained  to  the  ministry 
at  the  Baptist  State  Convention  of  Connecticut.  He  had 
already  opened  a  mission  at  the  lower  wharf,  in  Stratford, 
wholly  at  his  own  expense.  Here  he  held  services  and 
preached  gratuitously  for  about  five  months.  In  1832  he 
established  a  Baptist  Church  in  Milford,  and  in  1835,  the 
First  Baptist  Church  in  Bridgeport.  During  this  period  he 
supplied  for  a  while  the  pulpit  in  Milford,  and  for  a  longer 
time,  that  in  Stratfield.  He  was  constantly  invited  to  the 
pastorate  in  other  places,  and  in  this  last  year,  1835,  he 
received  calls  from  five  or  six  different  churches,  most  ot 
them  among  the  first  of  the  denomination  in  the  State.  But 
he  declined  them  all.  He  preached  his  farewell  to  his  latest 
charge,  his  people  in  Stratfield,  on  the  first  Sunday  in  1836. 

Again  the  loss  of  health  caused   his  physicians  to  forbid 


460  History  of  Stratford. 

him  further  public  speaking-.  Brief  as  this  part  of  his  life 
was  he  had  reached  the  position  of  one  of  the  most  prominent 
and  influential  clergymen  of  his  denomination. 

Mr.  Linsley  was  among  the  earliest  and  most  fearless 
pioneers  in  the  temperance  movement.  In  1830  he  addressed 
crowded  houses  on  this  theme,  and  he  was  one  of  the  first 
clergymen  in  the  State  who  sent  on  his  name  as  a  subscriber 
to  the  total  abstinence  pledge.  He  was  the  leader  in  organiz- 
ing the  first  temperance  society  in  Stratford,  of  which  he  was 
made  president.  For  his  persistent  and  undaunted  efforts  in 
the  cause  of  temperance,  then  so  unpopular  everywhere,  he 
had  the  honor  of  being  burnt  in  effigy.  The  parties  to  this 
transaction  selected  an  evening  when  Mr.  Linsley  was  absent 
from  Stratford.  The  effigy  was  carried  on  a  bier  to  Academy 
Hill,  where  it  was  consumed,  with  expensive  but  appropriate 
orgies.  When  these  ended  one  or  two  of  the  ringleaders  had 
become  so  helplessly  intoxicated  that  the  same  bier  conveyed 
them  to  their  homes. 

For  the  twenty-five  years  preceding  his  death  Mr.  Lins- 
ley's  contributions  to  the  press,  religious,  literary  and  scienti- 
fic, were  too  great  in  number  for  mention  in  this  brief  sketch. 

But  the  achievements  which  crowned  this  successful  life; 
which  gave  his  name  the  widest  publicity,  and  which  will  con- 
tinue to  illumine  it  in  the  records  of  history,  were  those  won 
in  the  difficult  fields  of  science.  Many  as  were  his  attainments 
in  other  sciences,  in  that  of  the  Natural  History  of  his  native 
State  he  was  without  a  peer.  His  catalogues  of  the  Zoology 
of  Connecticut,  including  the  five  classes,  Mammalia,  Birds, 
Reptiles,  Fishes  and  Shells,  were  first  published  in  the  Ameri- 
can Journal  of  Science  for  1842,  1843  ^^^^  1844.  Of  Mammalia 
he  discovered  several  more  species  than  had  been  found  else- 
where in  New  England,  one  new;  of  Birds,  many  more  than 
Wilson,  the  distinguished  ornithologist  had  found  in  the 
United  States;  of  Amphibia  and  Reptiles  he  detected  species 
unseen  elsewhere  in  New  England  ;  and  of  Shells  he  ascer- 
tained more  than  double  the  number  supposed  by  other  nat- 
uralists to  be  resident  in  the  State,  and  of  these,  many  were 
entirely  new. 

The  value  of  this  great  and  unprecedented  work  on  the 


Biographical  Sketches.  461 

Zoology  of  Connecticut  can  not  be  estimated.  It  was  rapidly 
accepted  by  the  scientific  world  as  acknowledged  authority, 
and  such  it  still  remains. 

During  the  progress  of  these  s'^^udies,  which  iMr.  Linslcy 
accomplished  in  the  brief  period  from  1837  to  1843,  '^e  was 
elected  to  the  membership  of  various  scientific  societies  of 
the  highest  importance. 

Numberless  publications,  American  and  European,  relio-- 
ious,  literary  and  scientific,  contain  notices,  sketches  and 
biographies  of  this  most  useful  and  distinguished  life.  And 
the  acts  and  opinions  of  one  so  upright  and  so  learned,  find 
constant  mention  in  the  diversified  literature  of  the  present 
time. 

Mr.  Linsley  died  at  his  residence  in  Stratlord,  Dec.  26, 
1843,  leaving  a  widow  and  two  daughters. 

Gideon  Totnlinson  was  for  tour  years  from  1827  Gov- 
ernor of  Connecticut,  and  six  years  from  1831  Senator  of  the 
United  States.  For  special  reasons  the  further  record  of  his 
life  is  placed  with  the  genealogy  of  the  Tomlinson  family. 

David  Plant  was  for  four  3'ears  from  1S23  Lieutenant 
Governor  of  Connecticut  and  a  very  widely  known  and  influ- 
ential lawyer,  politician  and  citizen.  (See  genealogy  of  his 
family). 

JDea.  David  JP7aut  Judson,  son  of  Daniel  and  Sarah 
(Plant)  Judson,  was  born  in  Stratford,  April  16,  1809;  gradu- 
ated at  Yale  College  in  183 1,  a  classmate  of  Dr.  Porter,  now 
President  of  Yale  College.  He  read  law  two  years,  but  did 
not  follow  the  profession. 

Here  in  his  native  town  the  remainder  of  his  life  was 
passed,  in  the  fine  old  house  built  by  his  father  in  1803,  much 
of  it  as  an  invalid,  except  a  small  portion  passed  at  the  South, 
during  several  successive  winters,  in  the  hope  of  benefiting 
his  health  and  prolonging  his  life. 

In  1853,  he  married  Elizabeth  S.,  daughter  of  Rev.  Fred- 
erick Gridley,  of  East  Lyme,  who,  together  with  their  three 
children,  a  daughter  and  two  sons  survive  him.  He  died 
May  24,  1869.  He  was  a  highly  esteemed  citizen.  He  gave 
considerable  attention  to  his  family  genealogy. 


462  History  of  Stratford. 

Several  remarkable  relics  of  the  Judson  family  are  still 
preserved,  especially  the  old  court  cupboard  and  chest 
brought  to  America  by  William  Judson,  the  first  of  the  name 
here.  It  is  of  English  oak — both  dark  and  light  shades — six 
feet  high,  five  feet  wide,  two  feet  and  two  inches  deep,  highly 
ornamented  with  engraved  work.  The  chest  is  also  orna- 
mented in  the  same  style,  being  four  feet  long,  three  feet  four 
inches  in  height,  and  twenty-one  inches  deep,  and  remarkably 
beautiful.  There  is  also  a  large  chair  brought  to  this  country 
by  the  same  person,  which  is  a  beautiful  article. 

Several  articles  of  much  interest  are  preserved  by  this 
famil}^  which  belonged  to  parson  Wetmore  more  than  one 
hundred  years  ago;  his  inkstand,  his  punch  bowl  and   others. 

Of  these  large  court  cupboards,  there  were  three  brought 
to  Stratford  by  the  earliest  settlers  :  one  by  William  Judson, 
one  by  John  Welles  and  one  by  Robert  Coe.  The  one  which 
belonged  to  the  Welles  family  has  gone  to  ashes,  but  the  one 
brought  by  Robert  Coe  is  in  the  possession  of  Mrs.  George 
A.  Talbott,  of  Stratford,  which  is  a  particularly  quaint  article. 


What  Might  have  been  Written. 

Very  much  that  is  not  recorded  in  this  book  is  just  as 
worthy  to  be  here  as  anything  in  it,  but  the  fact  that  the 
author  could  not  obtain  it  in  the  time  allowed  for  the  collec- 
tion of  material,  is  the  only  excuse  or  reason  why  such  matter 
is  not  here. 

It  is  hoped  that  the  perusal  of  this  book  will  stimulate 
many  persons  to  write  for  preservation,  general  public  occur- 
rences, and  their  family  histories,  so  that  future  historians 
may  have  more  ready  access  to  them. 

There  will  be  found  in  the  genealogical  part  of  this  book 
many  brief  sketches  of  persons  and  families. 


BRIDGEPORT 


CHAPTER  XVII. 


STRATFIELD  SOCIETY. 


RIDGEPORT,  denominated  Park  City, 
f^^  stands  on  the  shore  of  Long  Island  Sound, 
'"  fift3'-five  miles  from  New  York  City.  The 
locality,  when  first  seen  by  English  people, 
was  the  site  of  an  Indian  village  of  about 
one  hundred  and  fifty  wigwams,  occupied 
by  five  or  six  hundred  Indians,  of  the 
Pequonnock  settlement  or  tribe.  The  south- 
ern part  of  the  territory  for  about  a  mile  in 
width  was  a  part  of  a  fertile  plain  of  a  sandy, 
and  loamy  soil,  extending  along  the  shore  of 
the  Sound  from  the  mouth  of  the  Housatonic 
River  to  Southport,  a  distance  of  twelve 
miles.  This  plain  when  discovered  by  the 
English  was  covered  with  forests  only  in 
part,  there  being  intervening  fields,  which  in  places  were  cul- 
tivated by  the  Indians  in  raising  corn.  At  a  distance  of  about 
a  mile  from  the  shore,  the  hills  begin  to  rise,  and  continue 
gradually  northward  for  twelve  or  fifteen  miles,  furnishing  a 
fine  farming  country,  and  many  most  picturesque  localities. 
The  City  of  Bridgeport  being  so  favorably  situated,  it 
could,  if  it  should  ever  see  fit,  extend  itself  to  a  half  million 
of  inhabitants,  with  perfect  safety  to  health,  ease  of  access, 
charming  picturesqueness  of  local  parts,  and  unsurpassed 
salubrity  of  atmosphere  from  the  great  ocean  and  the  hills  of 
the  country. 

With  these  advantages  in  its  favor,  Bridgeport  has  be- 
come a  city  of  about  forty  thousand^  inhabitants,  and  the 
story  of  its  growth,  from  the  first  few  families  which  sat 
down  among  the  Indians  about  the  year  1665,  until  it  reached 


466 


History  of  Stratford. 


its  present  maturity  of  numbers,  is  to  be  briefly  told  in   the 
succeeding  pages. 

Two  families  at  first  located  west  of  the  Pequonnock 
river  within  the  township  of  Stratford.  These  were  Henry 
Summers,  Sen.,  and  Samuel  Gregory,  and  their  first  houses 


THE    LOG    HOUSE    OF    1665. 

were  probably  log  houses,*  located  near  the  present  junction 
of  Park  and  Washington  avenues.    • 


'  The  accompan3Mng  cut  of  the  log-house  was  drawn  by  Esquire  Isaac  Sher- 
man, as  representing  the  kind  of  house  some  of  his  ancestors  at  Pequonnock 
resided  in  at  their  first  settlement  here. 


Bridgeport.  467 

At  that  time  there  were  no  highways  laid  out  in  the 
vicinity.  A  reservation  of  four  rods  wide  on  the  east  side  of 
the  boundary  line  between  Fairfield  and  Stratford,  for  a  high- 
way, had  been  made  in  laying  out  the  lots  of  land  along  that 
line,  but  the  highway  had  not  been  surveyed.  A  well-worn 
Indian  path,  which  served  as  a  cartway,  passed  to  the  n(jrth- 
east  over  Golden  Hill  where  now  Washington  avenue  is 
located  ;  which  was  made  a  legal  highway  in  1686,  and 
passed  diagonally  through  the  Indians'  Reservation.  The 
one  hundred  and  more  wigwams  were  mostly  located  near 
the  springs  on  the  southern  declivity  of  Golden  Hill. 

It  was  in  1687,  when  the  King's  highway,  now  North 
avenue,  was  laid  out,  and  still  later  when  the  Toilsome  Hill 
road,  now  Park  avenue,  was  surveyed. 

The  one  relieving  social  comfort  to  these  earliest  settlers, 
although  there  were  a  few  neighbors  residing  at  Old  Mill 
Green,  was  the  fact  that  the  Fairfield  men  had  crowded  out 
eastward  nearly  to  Stratford  line,  for  Col.  John  Burr's  home 
had  been  established  some  years,  when  the  celebrated  Indian 
council  was  held  under  the  historic  oak  tree  in  May,  1681, 
which  was  about  half  a  mile  west  from  Samuel  Gregory's 
house. 

The  Indians  were  so  numerous  that  the  children  of  these 
families  were  afraid  to  go  out  of  their  dwellings,  and  if  they 
were  out  and  saw  an  Indian  coming  they  ran  with  great 
fright  to  get  into  their  houses.  Persons  are  now  living  who 
have  seen  those  who  heard  others  tell  how  dreadfully  afraid 
they  were  of  the  Indians  when  they  were  children,  and  had 
many  times  run  to  enter  their  homes  to  escape  the  coming 
Indians  ;  and  the  Indian  children,  it  is  said,  were  equally 
afraid  of  the  white  people. 

Thus  began  the  home  of  the  white  man,  where  now  sits 
the  queen  of  the  realm — the  city  of  Bridgeport,  with  her 
towering  spires,  fine  public  buildings,  elegant  residences  and 
beautiful  parks.  Then  there  were  only  two  families,  now 
there  are  ten  thousand,  nearly.  But  it  was  so  long  ago  !  two 
hundred  and  fifteen  years.  The  fii'St  hundred  years  produced 
only  a  farming  community,  with  beautiful  fields,  comely  resi- 
dences and  a  numerous,  toiling,  happy  people,  with  now  and 


468 


History  of  Stratford. 


then  a  vessel  sailing  out  of  the  harbor.  The  next  fifty-nine 
years  gave  the  embryo  city,  and  the  life  of  that  city  for  sixty- 
one  years  gives  the  aggregate  of  nearly  forty  thousand  living 


THE   BURR   HOUSE   AND  THE   HISTORIC   OAK   TREE.      {See page  4g.) 


Bridgeport.  469 

souls.  Then  there  were  two  log-  houses  and  a  hundred  wig- 
wams ;  now  the  blazing  sunlight  is  dazzled  by  its  own  re- 
flected rays,  from  ten  thousand  roofs,  spires,  minarets,  castles 
and  domes  lifted  towards  the  king  of  day  by  skilled,  artistic 
hands.  Then  the  weary  ox  dragged  slowly  the  jolting  cart 
along  the  stumpy  highway  as  if  an  age  were  too  short  for  the 
journey  of  a  day,  now  the  flying  monster  engine  drives  along- 
upon  the  polished  steel  as  if  a  day  were  too  long  for  the 
journey  of  an  age,  and  the  blazing  electric  fires  dispel  the 
midnight  darkness  that  of  yore  was  far  too  long  for  the  sleep 
of  man.  The  farmer  in  his  manly  frock  of  tow  plowed  the 
smooth  fields  and  gathered  in  his  abundant  harvest  from  year 
to  year  with  increasing  pleasure  and  gain  ;  while  his  womanly 
wife  spun  the  tow  to  make  the  frock  and  provided  the  frugal, 
healthful  repast,  by  the  strength  of  which  the  harvests  were 
gathered  and  the  homes  made  comfortable,  cheerful  and 
attractive  to  kindred  and  friends  far  and  near.  But  the 
charming  old  country  homes  have  long  since  departed  to  give 
place  to  their  burnished  city  successors. 

Such  was  the  ordinary  life  eighty  and  a  hundred  years 
ago,  where  now  the  streets  are  thronged  with  rich  costumes 
of  silks  and  satins,  and  gay,  brilliantly  ornamented  equipages, 
the  product  of  a  marvelous  growth  of  industrial  and  com- 
mercial enterprises,  such  as  is   not  frequent  in  New  England. 

Here  grew  up  on  these  farms  a  multitude  of  strong,  enter- 
prising young  men,  who,  fortunately,  are  not  all  yet  departed 
to  the  land  of  rest,  by  the  strength  of  their  paternal,  physical 
and  intellectual  inheritances,  have  made  a  fame  of  honor  at 
home  and  abroad,  for  their  native  place,  such  as  to  challenge 
the  rivalry  of  all  neighboring  regions  or  countries;  and  with 
these  young  ifien  grew  up  also,  beautiful,  intelligent  and  finely 
cultivated  young  ladies,  the  equal  in  every  respect  to  their 
accomplished  brothers  and  successful  men  of  the  community. 

But  in  order  to  a  full  understanding  of  the  great  changes 
which  have  taken  place  in  this  locality,  and  the  success  which 
has  marked  the  enterprising  efforts  of  the  people,  it  is  neces- 
sary to  review  the  history  of  two  hundred  and  twenty  years, 
or  from  1665  to  1885,  by  an  abbreviated  account  of  the  various 
stages  through  which  the  citizens  of  this  locality  have  passed. 
31 


470  History  of  Stratford. 

The  third  and  fourth  settlers  in  this  place  were  appar- 
ently Capt.  John  Beardsley,  near  Samuel  Gregory's  home, 
on  now  Park  avenue,  and  his  brother  Samuel  Beardsley,  east 
of  the  site  of  the  present  Bridgeport  jaii,  or  as  one  of  the 
deeds  says,  "  west  of  Ireland's  brook  and  north  of  the  Fair- 
field road." 

Not  long  after,  Samuel  Wells,  son  of  the  first  John,  estab- 
lished his  home  in  what  is  now  the  southern  part  of  Bridge- 
port, east  side  of  Park  avenue,  and  there  dwelt  until  his 
decease  and  his  descendants  after  him  for  about  one  hundred 
years. 

Then  soon  came  other  settlers  in  the  northern  part  of 
Bridgeport,  a  Hawley  family,  a  Booth  family  and  Sherman 
family,  and  others,  pushing  the  settlement  several  miles  back 
into  the  woods.  There  came  also  a  number  of  families  from 
Fairfield,  and  one,  Samuel  French,  from  Derby.  Although 
the  progress  was  slow  the}'  continued  to  grow  in  numbers 
and  wealth.  At  the  end  of  twenty-two  years  they  petitioned 
for  church  privileges,  but  did  not  succeed  until  twenty-five 
3'ears  had  passed. 


TJie  Stmt  field  Ecclesiastical  Society. 

The  movement  began  by  the  organization  of  a  school, 
which  is  described  by  Maj.  Wm.  B.  Hincks  in  his  "  Historical 
Notes,"  as  follows:^ 

"  The  oldest  document  signed  by  the  inhabitants  of  the 
plantation  as  such,  that  I  have  been  able  to  find  any  account 
of,  is  a  petition  to  the  General  Court  dated  May,  1678,  sub- 
scribed by  Isaac  Wheeler,  John  Odell,  S^,  and  Matthew  Sher- 
wood, in  behalf  of  the  people  of  the  place.  The  distance  of 
nearly  four  miles  that  separates  them  from  Fairfield  Centre 
is  too  great,  they  say,  to  be  easily  traversed  by  the  children, 
especially  the  younger  ones,  and  therefore  they  had  set  up  a 
school  of  their  own,  and  employed  an  experienced  teacher. 
Forty-seven   children  were  already  in  attendance.     The  ex- 

^  Historical  Notes,  32. 


Bridgeport.  ^71 

pense  of  the  school  they  propose  to  bear  themselves,  but  ask 
to  be  freed  from  taxation  for  the  benefit  of  the  one  in  Fair- 
field. Rev.  Samuel  Wakeman,  minister  at  Fairfield,  adds  a 
favorable  indorsement  to  the  petition,  though  most  of  his 
parishioners  were  opposed  to  granting  it.  The  General 
Court  referred  the  matter  to  the  Fairfield  county  Court,  with 
power  to  act,  and  recommended  that  body  to  make  an  allow- 
ance to  the  petitioners,  equal  to  or  greater  than  their  annual 
school-tax."' 

This  action  of  the  General  Assembly  applied  only  to  the 
inhabitants  of  Fairfield,  residing  at  Pequonnock,  for  the  in- 
habitants of  Pequonnock,  in  Stratford  township,  had  a  school 
on  the  east  side  of  the  line  very  early,  at  least  soon  after  the 
organization  of  the  Fairfield  Village  Society;  and  it  is  prob- 
able that  before  that  they  attended  school  at  Stratford  village. 

Whether  the  people  of  Pequonnock  held  services  before 
the  year  1690,  may  be  a  question,  since  Mr.  Chauncey  gave 
a  receipt,  as  follows,  except  a  little  part  of  it  which  is  torn 
from  the  page  of  the  record  book. 

" said  inhabitants  to  me  the  said  the  year 

sixteen  hundred  eyghtey  and  eight  to  the  year  sixteen  hundred 

ninetey  and  foure  exclusively,  that  I  doe  fully  and  freely as 

above  said  inhabitants  and  their  heirs  forever  from as 

above  said  from  me  or  my  heirs,  &c.:  I  doe of  Decem- 
ber, seventeen  hundred . 

Subscribed,  Charles  Chauncey." 

This  indicates  that  he  had  served  the  people  as  a  minister 
from  1688  to  1694,  but  had  given  no  receipt  for  the  salary 
they  were  obligated  to  pay  him,  and  hence  the  receipt  was 
given  in  1700. 

The  first  page  of  the  earliest  Society's  book  contains  the 
following  record  : 

"The  Records  of  the  Acts  of  the  Society  of  Fairfield 
Village,  began  in  the  year  1693. 

It  was  then  voted  pr.  the  said  Society  that  Mr.  Charles 
Chauncey  for  his  encouragement  in  the  ministry  in  this  place 
shall  have  sixty  pounds  in  good  provisions  for  the  year  ensu- 

3  Col.  Rec,  iii.  8. 


472  History  of  Stratford. 

ing  to  be  paid  him  by  way  of  Rate,  each   man  according-  to 
the  list  of  his  estate  given  in. 

'•  March  19,  1694.  At  a  meeting  of  the  Society  of  this 
place  it  was  voted  that  Mr,  Charles  Chauncey  should  have 
for  his  encouragement  in  the  ministry  sixty  pounds  in  good 
provisions  pay,  for  the  year  ensuing,  to  be  raised  by  way  of 
Rate  according  to  custom." 

The  proprietors  of  undivided  lands  in  Stratford,  having- 
given  certain  lands  to  other  societies  in  the  town,  gave  to 
this,  in  1719,  several  acres  of  land,  and  afterward  added  to 
the  number.  "  Granted  to  our  neighbors  of  Stratfield  parish 
that  belong  to  Stratford  fifteen  acres  of  pasture  land  ...  for 
and  towards  the  support  of  a  Presbyterian  minister  amongst 
them  forever,  for  the  only  benefit  of  our  neighbors  belonging 
to  Stratford." 

"  i/of,  Mr.  Jos.   Bennitt  of  Stratfield,  having  payd   full 

satisfaction  majority  of  merchants  in  Stratfield  for  his 

trading  in  said  place — Merchant :  the  said  society  do  acknowl- 
edge the  same  and  authorize  it  to  be  entered  on  the  record  of 
Stratfield,  Joseph  Bennit,  Merchant.     Voted  as  above. 

Samuel  Hubbell,  Clerk." 

This  shows  that  a  merchant  was  established  in  the  place 
by  the  vote  of  the  society. 

Twelve  years  later  another  petition  was  sent  to  the  Gen- 
eral Assembly,  signed  by  forty-six  tax-payers  for  ecclesias- 
tical privileges,  which  furnishes,  probably,  nearly  a  complete 
list  of  the  householders  in  the   settlement  in  the  year  1690.* 

*    State  Papers,  Ecclesiastical,  i,  105.     Copy  furnished  to  Maj.  Wm. 

B.  HiNCKS,  BY    the   courtesy    OF    Mr.  C.  J.   HOADLY,  StATE  LIBRARIAN. 

Petition  for  Ecclesiastical  Privileges. 

"  To  the  Gen"  Court  of  Connecticut  (whom  we  honor),  in  their  next  session 
at  Hartford. 

We,  the  inhabitants  and  persons  of  Poquannocl<,  do  in  all  humility  address 
and  apply  ourselves  unto  you  in  mann"-  method  and  form  following: 

Manifesting  unto  this  hono"-"^  respected  representative  body  that  this  vicinity 
of  Poquonnock  afores'*  appertaineth  part  to  the  town  of  Fairfield,  and  part  to  the 
town  of  Stratford,  unto  which  two  townships  it  hath  been  fully  responsible  accord- 
ing to  obligations,  for  meeting  house  and  school  dues,  rates  and  assessments  ; 
we,  the  dwellers  there,  have  to  the  towns  we  have  been  engaged  to,  ever  punct- 


Bridgeport. 


473 


At  that  time,  Fairfield  opposed  the  request  of  the  petitioners, 
and  it  was  not  granted,  but  in  May,  1694,  they  renewed  their 
request,  and  no  opposition  being  offered,  liberty  was  granted 
to  organize  a  society.  The  acquiescence  of  the  Fairfield  and 
Stratford  churches  was  perhaps  due  to  the  influence  of  the 
Rev.  Israel  Chauncey,  who  had  interested  himself  in  their 
behalf. 

Of  the  forty-six  names  attached  to  the  petition  (M  1790, 
thirteen  of  them,  and  perhaps  others,  were  inhabitants  of 
Stratford,  residing  west  of  the  Pequonnock  river. 


uall)'  paid  our  acknowledgements,  taxes  and  charges,  as  we  have  from  time  to 
time  been  laid  under  such  bonds  and  indisputable  engagem''.  But  njw  since  we 
are  by  tlie  blessing  and  grace  of  Almight)'  God  risen  and  advanced  to  somewhat 
more  maturity  and  ripeness,  and  grown  more  populous  than  before,  in  capacity  to 
stand  within  ourselves,  without  running  for  succor  six  or  seven  miles  on  one 
hand,  and  at  least  four  on  the  other ;  we  doe  make  it  our  joynt  ardent  request  and 
passionate  petition  to  this  honour'd  esteem'd  Court,  that  you  would  in  the  great- 
ness of  your  goodness,  and  out  of  your  sincere  zeal  to  the  comfort  of  this  part 
every  way,  so  order  it  in  your  new  convention  that  wee,  every  one  of  us,  that  are 
settled  inhabitants  of  and  steady  dwellers  in  Poquoniiock,  may  be  exempted  and 
relaxed  from  anj'  minister's  rate  or  rates  and  schooU  masiours  salerys,  either  in 
Fairfield  or  Stratford  afores'',  purposing  (God  smiling  on  and  favouring  our  enter- 
prises) to  suit  o''selves  in  time  convenient  w"'  such  meet  instrum"  for  ye  pulpit 
and  scholl,  as  may  most  and  best  serve  the  interest  of  our  God,  and  do  our  souls 
and  children  most  good  ;  such  as  shall  bee  most  painfull  pious  and  profitable  (or 
these  ends  to  w'^^  they  were  ordain'd,  and  are  improv'd.  And  your  humb.  peti- 
tioners shall  ever  continue  to  pray  for  your  long  life  and  prosperity,  subsigning 
this  our  address,  dated  1^  May,  1690. 

John  Bardsle,  S'.,  Sam"  Hubbell, 

Richard  Hobbell,  S^.,  Sam"  Bardsley,  S^, 


Matthew  Sherwood, 
Sam"  Wells. 
Isaac  Wheeler, 
James  Benitt, 
David  Reynolds, 
Nathn"  Knap, 
Will  Barsley, 
Matthew  Sharwood,  Jr., 
Isack  Wheeler,  S'., 
Thomas  Griffin, 
Roburd  Bishop, 
Sam"  Morhous 
Jacobe  Wakelen, 
Samuel  Bardsle, 


Samuel  Hall, 
David  Sherman, 
Richard   Hubell, 
Samuel  Gregory, 
Sam"  Tredwell, 
John  Odell,  S^, 
Izhak  Hall, 
John  Wheller, 
Thomas  Wheller, 
Joseph  Seely, 
Moses  Jackson,  Jr., 
Samu"  Jackson, 
Matthew  Sherwood,  Jr., 
Moses  Jackson,  S'., 


Ephraim  Wheller, 
Daniel   Bardsle, 
Samuel  French, 
Samu"   Hubbell. 
Timothy  Wheller. 
Thomas  Benit, 
Ed.  Tredwell, 
Jacob  Joy, 
John  Odell,  Junr., 
John  Benitt,  Jnr., 
Thos.  Morhous,  Jr., 
John  Sherwood, 
Joseph  Joy, 
Sam"  Sumers. 


474  History  of  Stratford. 

In  May,  i69i,the  Court  granted  liberty  to  the  inhabitants 
at  Pequonnock  "  to  procure  and  settle  an  orthodox  minister 
among  them  if  they  find  themselves  able  so  to  do,  and  pro- 
vided that  those  of  Paquonnock  that  do  belong  to  Fairfield 
township  shall  pay  their  just  proportion  of  rate  towards  the 
maintenance  of  the  ministry  in  Fairfield  till  they  can  obtain 
freedom  of  Fairfield  or  from  this  Court." 

The  next  October  they  were  released  from  paying  to  the 
support  of  the  ministry  at  Fairfield  while  they  supported  a 
minister  among  themselves. 

In  May,  1694,  permission  was  given  to  organize  a  church 
and  the  name  Pequonnock  was  changed  to  Fairfield  Village ; 
and  this  name  was  changed  by  the  Court  in  May,  1701,  to 
Stratfield. 

The  town  of  Stratford  treated  the  Stratfield  people  with 
a  good  degree  of  friendship  and  favor. 

"  December  29,  1692.  The  neighbors  at  Paquonnock  re- 
quested of  the  town  liberty  that  in  case  the  good  people  at 
Paquonnock  should  see  cause  to  build  a  meeting  house  there 
at  Paquonnock  the  liberty  to  set  the  said  house  part  upon 
Stratford  bounds,  and  said  town  by  vote  granted  the  same." 

Therefore  the  probability  is  that  the  first  meeting-house 
was  located  on  the  boundary  line,  half  on  Stratford,  and  halt 
on  Fairfield  territory. 

In  1696,^  and  1697,  and  perhaps  several  years  after,  the 
town  remitted  to  the  society  one-third  part  of  their  town 
taxes. 

"  In  1693,  the  foundation  of  a  house  of  worship  was  laid 
on  an  eminence  in  the  upper  part  of  Division  street  [Park 
avenue]  a  few  rods  south  of  the  King's  highway  [North  ave- 
nue].    This  height  affords  a  pleasant  view  of  the  surrounding 

*  "Jan.  13,  i6g6.  Lt.  John  Beardsley  with  ye  rest  of  our  loving  neighbors  at 
Paquonnock,  inhabitants  of  Stratford,  requesting  yt.  ye  town  would  be  pleased  to 
consider  them  in  the  present  town  rate  and  make  them  some  abatement  in  consid- 
eration yt  they  apprehend  themselves  not  equally  privileged  with  ye  rest  of  ye 
town  in  some  causes  of  expense,  and  the  town  did  by  vote  grant  the  request  and 
give  order  to  ye  town  treasurer  to  give  to  them  our  said  neighbors  credit  one-third 
of  their  town  rate  respectively." 

"Jan.  19,  1697.  It  was  voted  that  our  loving  neighbors  at  ye  Village  should 
be  allowed  one-third  part  of  their  town  rate  for  ye  year  past." 


Bridgeport.  475 

country  and  is  still  called  Meetinj^house  Hill.  The  building, 
though  small,  was  not  completed  until  1695,  and  in  the  mean 
time  it  is  probable  that  the  people  gathered  upon  the  Sabbath 
in  a  private  house,  having  already  provided  themselves  with 
a  pastor." 

The  Stratfield  Ecclesiastical  Society  was  the  hrst  one  in 
the  Colony,  not  being  a  town,  fully  organized  as  independent 
of  all  other  societies,  and  hence  it  was  necessary  for  the  Gen- 
eral Assembly  to  define  its  privileges  and  powers.  This  was 
done  as  follows  : 

"August  I,  1699.  Liberties  granted  to  Fairfield  Village 
by  the  Assembly  : 

"  I  Impr.  To  make  choice  annually  of  two  or  three  per- 
sons who  shall  have  power  to  order  meetings  of  the  society, 
their  ministers'  rates,  and  what  concerns  may  be  about  their 
meeting  house. 

"  2d.  To  choose  collectors  of  the  rates,  and  that  they 
shall  have  power  by  virtue  of  a  writ  from  lawful  authority  of 
non-payment  to  distrain. 

"  3d.  To  choose  a  constable  whose  power  shall  reach 
from  west  side  of  Pequonnock  River  unto  the  utmost  bounds 
of  the  village,  westward  according  to  the  limitations  granted 
Commission  officers:  the  village  consisting  partly  of  Fairfield 
and  of  Stratford. 

"4th.  That  they  shall  have  liberty  to  choose  annually  a 
society  recorder  to  be  sworn  to  that  work." 

In  1717,  the  privileges  and  powers  of  ecclesiastical  socie- 
ties were  further  defined  ;  and  in  1723,  still  further.' 

In  the  case  of  the  second  society  organized  by  law  in 
Stratford  village,  to  which  Mr.  Zachariah  Walker  ministered, 
it  was  in  part  under  the  officers  and  control  of  the  first 
societv,  or  the  town,  for  so  far  as  seen  it  had  no  officers 
elected  by  the  town  ;  but  the  Stratfield  society  was  granted 
several  offices  to  be  filled  by  its  own  election,  in  1699.  Pre- 
vious to  this,  a  part  of  the  time  at  least  if  not  all,  its  recorder 
was  that  of  the  town  of  Fairfield  ;  and  its  own  special  officers, 
if  it  had  any,  had  not  civil  authority. 


6  Historical  Notes,  by  Major  W.  B.  Hincks,  35. 
■"  See  foot  note  on  pages  302  and  303  of  this  book. 


4/6  History  of  Stratford. 

The  boundaries  of  the  Fairfield  Village  on  the  western 
side  were  not  particularly  specified  as  became  necessary,  and 
on  petition  the  General  Assembly  in  May,  1701,  established 
them  definitely,  and  changed  the  name  from  Fairfield  Village 
to  that  of  Stratfield,*  a  name  formed  from  the  first  part  ot 
the  words  Stratford  and  the  last  part  of  Fairfield. 

In  May,  1702,  this  society  received  its  part  of  the  State 
money  for  schools  according  to  the  following  act:' 

"Ordered  b}'  this  Assembly,  that  the  constable  or  con- 
stables of  Fairfield  and  Stratford,  or  those  to  whom  orders 
shall  be  sent  annually  for  the  payment  of  the  schools  there, 
shall  pay  to  the  schoolmaster  of  Stratfield,  so  much  as  ariseth 
upon  their  part  of  the  list  at  fort}'  shillings  upon  every  thou- 
sand pounds,  according  to  the  late  law  for  Schools." 

The  ecclesiastical  Society  being  fully  organized,  it  thereb}'^ 
became  the  territory  for  a  military  company,  and  hence  in 
October,  1703,  "  David  Sherman  was  appointed  Ensign  of 
the  train  band  in  Stratfield.'" 

The  next  spring  the  complement  of  officers  was  made 
more  complete  by  the  appointment  of  "  Lieut.  John  Beards- 
ley  to  be  Captain  of  the  train  band  of  Stratfield,  and  Lieut. 
James  Bennet  to  be  their  Lieutenant."     Capt.  John  Beardsley 

*  "  May  1701.  This  Assembly  having  heard  and  considered  the  petition  or 
request  of  the  inhabitants  of  Fairfield  Village  presented  to  them  by  Lieut.  James 
Bennett,  desiring  that  the  Court  would  state  and  settle  for  them  a  line  for  the 
west  boundary  to  their  plantation,  &c.,  do  order  and  enact  :  That  the  line  to  be 
the  west  boundary  of  the  said  plantation  shall  run  so  that  it  may  take  in  and  in- 
clude within  their  bounds,  one  Moses  Jackson,  miller,  his  housing  and  lands,  and 
run  on  the  west  side  of  old  Jackson's  lotts  (viz):  pasture,  building  lot,  and  long 
lot,  upwards  or  northwards  to  the  upward  or  northern  end  of  the  bounds  of  the 
town  of  Fairfield,  and  that  all  such  person  or  persons  as  have  built  or  shall  build 
and  inhabit  on  the  east  side  of  the  abovesaid  line,  and  on  the  west  side  of  Poquan- 
ack  River,  shall  pay  to  ail  public  charges  that  shall  arise  in  the  said  plantation  his 
ratable  part  thereof. 

"  Provided  always :  That  this  act  shall  in  no  wise  hinder  or  abridge  the  inhab- 
itants of  said  plantation,  of  using  and  holding  the  priviledge  of  feeding  sheep  to 
the  westward  of  the  abovesaid  line,  as  it  was  granted  to  them  formerly  by  the  in- 
habitants of  the  town  of  Fairfield. 

"  And  further  it  is  enacted  by  the  authority  aforesaid  :  That  the  said  planta- 
tion (formerly  called  Poquannuck  and  Fairfield  village)  shall  for  the  future  be 
called  by  the  name  of  Stratfield." — Col.  Rec,  iv.  356. 

9  Col.  Rec.  iv.  3S4.  '0  Col.  Rec,  iv.  445.  "  Col.  Rec,  iv.  476. 


Bridgeport. 


A77 


had  been  lieutenant  at  Stratford  many  years,  and  lames 
Bennett  the  same  at  Fairfield. 

The  following  is  a  copy  of  the  first  page  of  the  Stratfield 
earliest  church  record  book. 

"The  Church  of  Christ  in  Stratfield  (formerly  called 
Poquannuck)  was  gathered,  and  Charles  Chauncey  was  or- 
dained the  Pastor  thereof,  June  13,  1695, 

"The  Names  of  those  that  at  that  time  were  embodied 
into  Church  estate  were  as  foUoweth  : 


"  Charles  Chauncey,    Pasf 


"  Richard  Hubble,  sen"", 
Isaac  Wheeler,  sen', 
James  Bennit,  sen'', 
Samu"  Beardsley, 
Samuel  Gregory,  sen"', 


Maihew  Sherman, 
Rich'  Hubble,  jun', 
David  Sherman, 
Jn°  Odill,  jun'. 


"The  Names  of  those  that  were  afterwards  received  by 
vertue  of  Letters  Dissmissory  or  Recommendatory  from 
other  Churches  were  as  followeth  : 


Sroni 


'  Mar}'  Sherwood, 
Anne  Wheeler, 
Mary  Odill, 
Rebecca  Gregory, 
Ruth  Tredwell, 


From 
Stratford 
Church. 


{  Abigaill  Hubble, 

Mary  Bennit, 

Abigaill  Beardsley, 

Abigaill  Wakely, 

Temperance  Hubble. 

Mercy  Sherman, 

Their  letter  was  read  and 
(^  accepted,  July  10,  1695. 


Fairfield  \    Mercy  Wheeler, 
Church.        Abigaill  Wells, 

Elizabeth  Sherwood, 
Sarah  Odill. 

Their  letter  was  read  and 
I  accepted  Anno  1695. 


"Concord.  Joseph  Wheeler  and  his  wife.  Their  letter 
was  read  and  accepted. 

"  From  the  Church  of  Christ,  Norwalk  ;  Mary  Jackson, 
her  letter  was  read  December  20,  1697,  and  accepted. 

"  Stratford.  Hannah  Fairchild  ;  her  letter  was  read  and 
accepted  by  the  Church  September  10,  1699. 

"  Thomas  Hawley,  his  letter  was  read  and  accepted. 

"Fairfield  Church;  Mary  Beardsley,  Jno's  wife;  her 
letter  was  read  and  accepted,  July  26,  1702. 

"  Woodbury  ;  Abegaill  Tredwell's  letter  was  read  and 
accepted,  Nov.  24,  1704. 


478  History  of  Stratford. 

"  Concord ;  Sarah  Whitacus,  her  letter  was  read  and 
accepted  June  17,   1705. 

"  Charlestown  ;  Zachariah  Ferris,  sen"",  his  letter  was  read 
and  accepted,  Sept.  9,  1705." 

Besides  the  above  there  were  added  to  this  Church  by 
profession,  in  full  communion,  during  Mr.  Chauncey's  labors, 
to  the  end  of  the  year  1714,  the  time  of  his  death,  64  persons, 
making  97  in  all. 

During  the  same  time  there  were  133  who  united  under 
the  Halfway  Covenant. 

As  to  the  meaning  of  this  latter  relation,  Mr.  Chauncey 
says,  in  heading  the  list  with  a  prefatory  statement: 

"The  Names  of  those  who  have  renewed  their  Covenant, 
and  personally  subjected  themselves  to  the  government  ot 
Christ  in  his  Church,  and  particularly  in  this  Church,  to- 
gether with  the  time  of  their  doing  it." 

This  indicates  that  the  relationship  of  the  Halfway  Cove- 
nant church  members,  was  not  regarded  as  of  less  seriousness 
or  solemn  obligation  than  that  of  full  membership.  The  re- 
quirements in  the  Covenant  itself  were  nearly  the  same  as 
those  of  full  communion  ;  and  it  was  not  a  trifling  matter  as 
it  has  so  often  been  represented.  Many  persons  at  the  present 
day  are  received  to  full  membership  in  evangelical  Churches 
without  placing  themselves  under  anything  like  the  solemn 
promises  that  the  Halfway  Covenant  imposed,"  in  those  days 
of  strict  religious  principle. 

^^  The  following  is  a  copy  of  the  Halfway  Covenant  which  stands  upon  the 
records  of  the  Church  of  Ripton  at  the  date  of  1773,  the  use  of  which  was  discon- 
tinued in  1817 : 

"  You  do  now,  before  God  and  these  witnesses,  avouch  the  Lord  Jehovah  to 
be  your  covenant  God  and  Father,  viewing  yourself  under  solemn  bonds  and  obli- 
gations to  be  the  Lord's  by  your  baptismal  vows.  You  do,  so  far  as  3'ou  know 
your  own  heart,  make  choice  of  Jesus  Christ  to  be  your  only  Saviour  and 
Redeemer,  and.  the  Holy  Ghost  to  be  your  Sanctifier,  solemnly  engaging  to  serve 
the  Lord  and  him  only,  as  he  shall  by  his  grace  enable  you  ;  that  you  will  deny 
all  ungodliness  and  worldly  lusts  ;  that  you  will  be  careful  to  keep  a  conscience 
void  of  offence,  so  as  to  do  honor  to  God  and  the  religion  you  profess  ;  that  you 
will  endeavor  by  strength  from  God  to  walk  in  all  his  commandments  and  ordi- 
nances blameless,  desiring  to  put  yourself  under  the  watch  and  care  of  this 
Church,  to  be  trained  up  in  the  school  of  Christ  for  his  heavenly  kingdom  ;  prom- 
ising also  that  you  will  give  up  your  children  to  God   in   baptism,  and  to  bring 


Bridgeport.  479 

The  part  which  this  Church  had  in  the  establishment  of 
the  Saybrook  Platform  is  seen  in  the  resolution  and  action 
recorded  : 

"July  27,  1708.  Voted  on  the  Sabbath  that  Lcut.  Bennet 
or  Ensigne  Sherman  or  both,  be  the  mcsscnj^ers  of  this 
Church  at  the  meeting  of  the  elders  at  Fairfield  on  the  28"'  of 
the  same  month  by  the  appointment  of  the  General  Assembly 
at  Hartford  in  May  last,  the  end  of  which  meeting  of  elders 
and  messengers  to  Consider  the  matter  of  Church  discipline." 

When  the  result  of  the  Saybrook  convention  had  been 
confirmed  by  the  General  Assembly,  Mr.  Chauncey  made  the 
following  entry  in  the  Church  book  : 

"February  16,  1708-9.  I  published  the  Confession  of 
Faith,  the  Articles  of  union  between  the  united  Presbyte- 
rians and  Congregational  men  in  England,  also  read  the  regu- 
lations for  Church  discipline  agreed  upon  by  said  Colony, 
and  confirmed  by  authority  ;  None  among  the  brethren  ob- 
jecting.'"' 

The  Sev,  Charles  Chauncey'^  was  the  first  pastor  of 
the  Stratfield  Congregational  Church.  He  was  x  son  of  the 
Rev.  Israel  Chauncey,  of  Stratford,  and  grandson  of  President 
Chaunce}^  of  Harvard  College,  and  was  born  at  Stratford, 
September  3,  1668.  He  was  graduated  at  Harvard  in  16S6, 
and  married  at  Pequonnock,  June  29,  1692,  Sarah,  daughter 
of  Major  John  Burr,  and  great-granddaughter  of  Mr.  Jehu 
Burr,  one  of  the  original  settlers  of   Fairfield. 

Mr.  Chauncey  was  made  freem.an  in  Fairfield,  March  18, 
i6||-,  which  indicates  his  residence  there  either  as  a  school 

them  up  in  the  fear  of  the  Lord  ;  and  to  attend  upon  all  the  ordinances  of  Christ 
as  administered  in  this  place  ;  also  that  it  is  your  full  purpose  to  obey  God  in  the 
ordinance  of  the  Holy  Supper  as  God  shall  give  you  light,  and  show  you  his  will 
herein.  And  you  covenant,  and  you  promise,  relying  for  help,  strength  and  abil- 
ity on  the  blood  of  the  everlasting  covenant,  to  perform  all  and  every  duty  to  the 
praise  and  glory  of  God." — See  Ecclesiastical  Coittnlnitions,  411. 

'^  This  account  of  the  action  of  this  Church,  as  to  the  Saybrook  platform,  and 
the  record  of  the  meeting  of  the  first  Consociation  of  Fairfield  County,  primed  on 
pages  310  to  313  of  this  book,  in  foot  note,  are  taken  from  the  Stratfield  Church 
Record  book. 

'^  See  sermon  by  the  Rev.  Charles  Ray  Palmer,  pub.  1S76. 


480  History  of  Stratford. 

teacher — which  is  probable — or  serving  as  a  minister  under 
his  father  in  lectures  on  week  day  evenings.  It  is  evident 
that  he  served  as  a  preacher,  soon  after,  from  the  fact  that 
in  1692,  the  town  of  Fairfield  gave  him  land  to  descend  to 
his  heirs  "if  he  shall  die  in  the  work  of  his  ministry  at 
Poquonnock." 

The  privileges  of  a  society  were  granted  in  1691,  and  the 
Church  was  organized  and  Mr.  Chauncey  ordained,  as  seen 
above,  June  13,  1695. 

On  the  corner  of  Major  Burr's  farm,  in  what  has  since 
been  known  as  Cooke's  Lane,  a  house  was  built,  and  in  it,  in 
1693,  Mr.  Chauncey  and  his  wife  took  up  their  abode,  and  he 
commenced  his  regular  ministerial  labors. 

In  1697,  his  wife  Sarah  died,  and  he  married  2d,  Sarah, 
daughter  of  Henry  Wolcott,  of  Windsor,  March  16,  1698. 
She  died  Jan.  5,  1702,  and  he  married,  3d,  Elizabeth  Sherw^ood, 
March  14,  1710. 

Mr.  Chauncey  was  a  member  of  the  Council  at  Saybrook, 
and  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Fairfield  Consociation.  Under 
his  ministry  both  the  church  and  the  settlement  steadily  in- 
creased in  numbers.  His  salary  was  at  first  £60  per  annum, 
payable  in  produce  at  market  rates,  but  afterwards  it  was  in- 
creased to  ^80.  He  had,  independently  of  his  support,  prop- 
erty in  Stratford  and  in  England,  and  left  an  estate  valued  at 

Mr.  Chauncey  died  December  31,  1714,  leaving  a  widow 
and  several  children. 

The  first  Deacon  of  Mr.  Chauncey's  Church  was  David 
Sherman,  a  large  farmer,  and  one  of  the  first  settlers  in 
Pequonnock.  He  was  born  in  Stratford  in  1665  ;  was  a  man 
of  good  abilities,  gifted  in  prayer,  and  much  esteemed.  In 
the  absence  of  the  minister  he  took  the  lead  of  religious  ser- 
vices. 


The  Second  Meeting-house  in  Stmt  field. 

Mr.  Samuel  Cooke  commenced  preaching  for  this  people 
soon  after  July  11,  1715,  and  was  ordained  pastor  February 
14,  1715-16. 


Bridgeport.  48 1 

In  December,  171 5,  the  Society  proceeded  to  the  election 
of  officers  in  which  they  called  their  most  prominent  officers 
"  Selectmen,"  it  beino^  probable  that  they  intended  by  that 
term  simply  the  society's  committee.  They  also  voted,  "  that 
the  drum  shall  bee  beaten  round  the  meeting-  house  on  Sab- 
bath days;"  and  Richard  Hubbell,  Thomas  Hawley,  James 
Seeley,  were  chosen  a  committee  to  consult  some  carpenters 
about  the  enlargement  of  the  meeting-house. 

In  July,  1716,  further  action  was  taken:  "Voted,  that 
they  will  inlarge  and  repair  the  meeting-house  ;"  and  a  large 
committee  was  appointed  to  have  the  work  done  as  soon  as 
convenient,  at  the  charge  of  the  society." 

In  the  progress  of  events,  the  work  being  delayed,  another 
plan  seems  to  have  come  under  discussion,  and  probably  was 
brought  up  at  the  next  annual  meeting,  which  meeting  was 
adjourned  several  days,  and  when  they  came  together  in 
December,  1716,  the}^  voted,  "  that  the  place  for  the  setting 
of  the  new  meeting-house,  if  they  shall  afterward  agree  to 
build  one,  shall  be  near  the  corner  of  Joseph  Trowbridge's 
orchard,  late  deceased,  on  the  norwest  side  of  the  road  be- 
tween that  and  the  widow  Sharman's,  deceased.  Also  voted 
at  the  same  time,  that  they  will  build  a  new  meeting-house, 
of  these  following  dimensions:  twenty-four  feet  between 
joints  ;  forty-eight  feet  long;  thirty-eight  feet  wide  and  a  long 
roof.  Major  John  Burr,  Capt.  David  Sharman,  Left.  Richard 
Hubbell,  Jr.,  Samuel  Sherwood,  Mr.  Benjamin  Fairwether, 
were  chosen  a  committee  to  build  the  above  said  house,  on 
the  charge  of  the  abovesaid  inhabitants;  and  what  the  major 
part  of  the  committee  agree  to,  shall  be  binding,  not  exceed- 
ing four  hundred  and  fifty  pounds,  besides  the  charge  of  rais- 
ing said  house." 

At  another  meeting,  on  December  31,  1716,  they  "granted 
by  a  major  vote  a  Rate  of  one  hundred  pounds  money  to  be 
raised  on  them  according  to  their  lists  the  last  year,  to  be  laid 
out  towards  the  building  of  the  new  meeting-house." 

In  March,  I7f|-  the  following  request  was  received  by  the 
meeting  of  the  society  :  "  Your  petitioner  requests  your 
favour  so  far  as  to  grant  me  the  liberty  of  making  a  pew  for 
my  wife  and  children  at  my  own   charge  in  the  new  meeting- 


482 


History  of  Stratford. 


house,  on  the  women's  side  up  by  the  pulpit.  Pray  be  so 
kind  as  to  gratify  ine  in  this  instance,  both  with  respect  to 
the  thing  itself  and  the  situation  of  it.  I  remain  3-our  s.  in 
all  things  I  may.  Sam'-^   Cooke. 

Passed  in  the  affirmative  at  the  abovesaid  meeting." 
"May  23*^,    1717,  then  voted  and  agreed  that  the    com- 
mittee shall  hire   men  to   raise   the  meeting-house  and  give 
them  3*  per  day,  they  finding  themselves." 


STRATFIELD    SECOND    MEETING-HOUSE    ERECTED    IN    I717. 

On  December  30,  1717,  they  proceeded  to  make  the  rules 
for  seating  the  meeting-house :  "  Voted  that  the  meeting- 
house shall  be  seated  by  dignity,  age,  and  estate  by  the  pres- 
ent list ;  and  also  that  David  Sharman,  Richard  Hubbell,  John 
Odell,  Samuel  Sherwood  and  John  Burr  be  a  committee  to 
seat  the  meeting-house,  and  have  power  to  seat  from  time  to 
time  as  they  see  occasion. 

"  At  a  meeting  of  the  society,  March  7,  17-J-J,  then  voted 
that  Major  John  Burr  sit  with  his  family  in  the  pew  that  he 


Bridgeport.  483 

has  built  in  the  meetinghouse  durini^  the  pleasure  of  the 
society." 

In  1718,  an  appropriation  of  sixteen  pound  and  six  shill- 
ings was  made  by  the  society  for  building  a  gallery  in  the 
meeting-house,  and  Capt.  David  Sherman,  Thomas  Hawley, 
and  Samuel  Gregory,  were  appointed  the  committee  to 
build  it. 

This  meeting-house  was  considerably  altered  as  shown 
by  the  vote,  December  17,  1765  :  "  Liberty  was  granted  to 
the  following  persons,  each,  to  build  a  pew  at  the  east  end  of 
the  meetinghouse  where  the  short  seats  are,  the}'  building  at 
their  own  cost  and  pa)nng  the  several  sums  affixed  to  each  of 
their  names,  to  the  treasurer  of  this  society  in  three  months 
from  this  time  ;  for  them  and  to  be  for  their  benefit  during 
their  pleasure  to  sit  in  : 

Nehemiah  Smith  Odell,  13^  2^  |   Seth  Gregory,  13*  2^ 

Benjamin  Hubbell,  Jr.,  12*6'' 

Jabez  Hubbell,  12*  2^ 

Gideon  Hubbell,  12*  i** 

Thomas  Hawley,  12*  o^ 

Elnathan  Sherman,  11^  4*^ 

"December  20,  1769.  Voted  that  the  society  are  willing 
to  build  a  steeple  at  the  west  end  of  the  Presbyterian  meeting 
house." 

The  committee  to  do  the  work  consisted  of  "John  Burr, 
Esq.,  Lieut.  Benjamin  Fayerweather,  Lieut.  Abel  Seel3'e,  Mr. 
Stephen  Starling,  and  Mr.  Benjamin  Wheeler,"  and  they 
were  to  do  the  work  by  subscription. 

The  subscription,  however,  was  not  sufficient  to  complete 
the  work,  for  on  September  19,  1770,  the  society  voted  that 
they  were  "  willing  to  tax  themselves  to  finish  the  steeple  ;" 
but  changing  their  minds  somewhat,  they  voted  to  make  fur- 
ther efforts  with  the  subscription,  and  it  is  probable  that  it 
was  finished  without  a  tax. 

The  steeple  was  not  finished,  when  on  the  2Sth  of  July, 
I77i,it  was  struck  with  lightning  while  the  people  were  wor- 
shiping in  the  house,  but  was  not  greatly  injured,  although 
two  men,  John  Burr,  Esq.,  and  Mr.  David  Sherman,  being  in 


Hezekiah  Hubbell, 

12^ 

i'^ 

Edward  Rowland, 

13^ 

3'^ 

Wolcott  Hawley, 

13^ 

0^ 

Aaron  Hawley, 

12' 

S^ 

Isaac  Hunt, 

13^ 

1" 

484  History  of  Stratford. 

the  house  at  worship,  were  killed.  No  other  persons  were 
seriously  injured  by  the  shock. 

On  August  5th,  1 77 1,  they  voted  to  repair  and  finish  the 
steeple  ;  and  the  next  April  they  voted  "  that  there  may  be 
an  iron  rod  put  up  at  the  steple  by  subscription." 

Another  improvement  was  secured  by  the  following  so- 
ciety act:  "Mar.  8,  1774.  Voted  that  they  will  have  a  bell; 
also  that  the  society  will  get  a  bell  by  subscription,  and 
Joseph  Strong,  Gideon  Hubbell,  and  Edward  Boroughs  shall 
be  the  committee  to  get  the  bell." 

"September  12,  1774.  Voted  that  y^  Society  are  willing 
to  have  the  bell  ringed  at  y^  usual  time  on  Sabbath  days,  and 
other  days  at  1 2  of  y ^  clock  in  y'^  day  and  at  9  o'clock  at  night, 
and  also  on  lecture  day  ;  and  whereas  Mr.  Wolcott  Hawley 
offers  to  ring  y*  Bell  at  y*^  rate  of  £^  10'  by  y^  year  for  y^  first 
three  months,  it  was  agreed  to  by  y*  meeting." 

There  seems  to  have  been  some  failure  in  the  bell,  for  in 
November  the  society  voted  that  they  were  "  willing  to  run 
the  bell  over  again  and  pay  for  it  by  subscription."  This  was 
probably  done,  since  they  continued  afterwards  to  appoint  a 
person  to  ring  the  bell  from  year  to  year. 

Hev,  Samuel  Coolze,^"  son  of  Thomas  Cooke,  Jr.,  and 
Sarah  (Mason)  Cook,  of  Guilford,  Conn.,  was  born  in  Guil- 
ford, November  22,  1687.  His  father  died  suddenly  in  1701, 
before  the  son  entered  college,  and  the  General  Court  granted, 
in  May,  1703,  a  petition  from  the  boy  and  his  guardian  (John 
Parmelee)  for  the  sale  of  a  house  and  lot  to  gain  funds  to 
carry  out  "  the  great  desire  of  Thomas  Cooke,  deceased,  to 
bring  up  this  his  son  in  learning."  He  graduated  at  Yale 
College  in  1705. 

He  perhaps  studied  divinity  immediately  after  gradua- 
tion. In  January,  1707,  he  became  the  rector  of  the  Hopkins 
Grammar  School  in  New  Haven,  and  held  that  position  at  a 
salary  of  £,60  a  year,  also  occasionally  preaching,  until  the 
close  of  the  year  1715.  He  was  also  a  deputy  to  the  General 
Assembly  from  New  Haven,  for  the  six  sessions  from  October, 

'5  This  sketch   is    taken  from    "  Biographical  Sketches  of  the  Graduates  of 
Yale  College,"  by  F.  B.  Dexter,  M.A. 


Bridgeport.  485 

1712,  to  May,  171 5,  serving  as  Clerk  of  the  House  for  the  last 
five.  He  married,  November  30,  1708,  Anne,  only  daui^rhtcr 
of  John  Trowbridge,  of  New  Haven,  and  granddaughrcr  of 
Governor  Leete,  of  Guilford. 

In  1714,  the  Church  in  Stratfield  lost  by  death  its  first 
pastor,  the  Rev.  Charles  Chauncey  ;  and  on  June  16,  1715,  a 
call  was  extended  to  Mr.  Cooke  to  become  his  successor. 
The  church  in  New  Haven  was  also  pastorless,  owing  to  the 
death  of  the  Rev.  James  Pierpont;  and  on  July  i,  171 5,  this 
society  met  "  to  nominate  a  man  to  carry  on  the  work  of  the 
ministry  on  probation."  Mr.  Cooke  was  put  in  nomination, 
and  the  place  was  probably  more  attractive  to  him  than  was 
Stratfield  ;  but  the  vote  stood  86  for  Mr.  Joseph  Noves  to  45 
for  Mr.  Cooke. 

Accordingly,  the  call  to  Stratfield  was  accepted  July  11, 
and  Mr.  Cooke  appears  to  have  begun  his  ministry  there  at 
once,  though  fulfilling  his  engagement  with  the  New  Haven 
Grammar  School,  until  the  end  of  the  year  1715.  His  ordi- 
nation is  said  to  have  taken  place  February  14,  1715-16.  The 
salary  was  ;^ioo  a  year,  with  firewood.'" 

He  retained  this  pastorate  until  his  death,  December  2, 
1747,  at  the  age  of  60.  His  latter  years  were  troubled  by  an 
alleged  backwardness  on  the  part  of  his  people  to  make  good 
the  salary  promised  him  ;  and  after  his  death  his  executors 
brought  suit  for  the  sum  of  ;^3000  arrears  due  his  estate." 

In  1717,  at  the  very  beginning  of  his  ministry,  a  new 
meeting-house  was  erected,  which  was  used  until  the  present 
century.  In  the  events  which  followed  the  great  revival  of 
1740,  Mr.  Cooke  was  a  zealous  advocate  of  what  were  known 


'^  specimen  of  Mr.  Cooke's  Receipts. 

"Stratfield,  July  y**  14,  1716,  Received  of  henry  Wakely  and  Sam"  Wells, 
Jn',  Collectors  of  the  Minister's  Rate  or  accepted  as  Received  the  sum  of  one  hun- 
dred pounds  six  shillings  and  fore  pence  as  money  in  full  of  the  Rate  that  by 
agreement  was  to  have  been  paid  me  on  or  Before  the  first  day  of  March  last 
passed  and  acordingl}'  acquit  the  Society  of  Stratfield  of  one  full  years  Rate  and 
one  myself  endebted  to  the  s''  Society  y**  sum  of  six  shillings  and  fore  pence. 

Witness  my  hand,  Sam"-"-  Cooke. 

"  A  considerable  part  of  this  sum,   probably,  grew  out  of  claims,  in  conse- 
quence of  the  depreciation  of  the  currency. 
32 


486  History  of  Stratford. 

as  "  New  Light  "  measures ;  and  particularly,  in  May,  1742,  he 
took  an  active  part  in  the  organization  of  a  new  church  in 
New  Haven.  He  had  been  since  September,  1732,  one  of  the 
Trustees  of  Yale  College,  but  the  predominant  "  Old  Light  " 
convictions  of  the  other  trustees  led  finally  to  the  following 
vote,  found  in  the  original  records  of  the  Corporation  for 
September,  1745  :  "  Whereas,  this  board  have  at  this  and  for- 
mer meetings  signified  to  Mr.  Cook  their  dissatisfaction  with 
sundry  things  in  his  conduct,  and  he  could  not  conveniently 
tarry  to  make  any  distinct  answer  thereunto  at  this  time  by 
reason  of  sickness  in  his  family.  Voted,  that  the  President, 
with  the  rest  of  the  standing  Committee  of  this  Board  be 
desired  to  signifie  to  Mr.  Cooke  the  reasons  of  their  dissatis- 
faction in  writing  and  desire  his  answer  thereto." 

It  is  but  fair  to  read  between  the  lines,  and  bearing  in 
mind  that  this  was  the  first  meeting  convened  after  the  new 
charter  of  1745  had  passed  the  legislature,  which  gave  power 
(not  in  the  former  charter)  to  six  of  the  Trustees  to  remove  a 
Trustee  from  his  place,  we  may  conclude  that  the  writing 
sent  to  Mr.  Cooke  forced  upon  him  the  resignation  of  his 
trusteeship,  which  was  announced  to  the  Corporation  at  their 
next  meeting,  in  April,  1746. 

The  New  Haven  County  Association  of  Ministers  had 
previously,  September  25,  1744,  sent  a  letter  to  Mr.  Cooke 
signifying  their  uneasiness  with,  and  offense  at  the  proceed- 
ings of  said  Mr.  Cooke,  etc.,  in  pretendedly  gathering  a 
Church  among  the  Separatists  at  New  Haven  in  opposition 
to  the  pastor  and  ist  church  there.  His  letter  in  reply  was 
voted  "  not  satisfactory,"  September  24,  1745. 

On  the  other  hand  the  Fairfield  Eastern  Association  of 
Ministers,  in  which  Mr.  Cooke  was  a  leading  member,  passed, 
April  15,  1746,  a  series  of  resolutions,  evidently  bearing  ref- 
erence to  his  citation  before  the  Trustees,  and  to  this  effect: 
in  view  of  the  Assembly's  having  granted  "a  new  College 
Charter  with  large  privileges  and  a  new  form  of  government, 
and  particularly  by  investing  the  newly  incorporated  body 
with  powers  of  taking  away  as  well  as  giving  College  honors, 
as  the  said  Corporation  see  just  cause;  Therefore, 

"  I.     Voted  and  Agreed,  That  no  person  or  future  mem- 


Bridgeport.  487 

ber  of  this  Association  shall  be  looked  upon  by  us  obliged  to 
answer  before  sd.  authority  for  any  such  fact  or  facts  as  were 
committed  by  such  member  before  sd.  Corporation's  Investi- 
ture with  such  new  authority. 

"  2.  Voted  and  Agreed  that  no  member  of  this  y\ssocia- 
tion  is  obliged  to  answer  to  sd.  Corporation  for  any  of  their 
Doctrines  or  Conduct  as  ministers  of  the  gospel " 

"  He  was,"  says  his  present  successor,  "  a  man  whose 
personal  dignity  was  long  remembered  in  the  parish,  and  was 
held  in  the  highest  respect — somewhat  in  fear.  He  was  par- 
ticularly careful  in  his  personal  appearance.  This  comprised 
a  heavy  curled  wig,  black  coat  and  small  clothes,  shoes  with 
silver  buckles,  and  over  all  a  black  gown  or  cloak." 

His  first  wife  was  born  July  22,  1688,  and  died  August  11, 
1721  ;  and  he  married.  May  3,  1722,  Esther,  daughter  of 
Nathaniel  Burr,  and  widow  of  John  Sloss,  both  of  Fairfield  ; 
she  died  in  less  than  a  year.  He  married,  thirdly,  Elizabeth, 
daughter  of  Joseph  Piatt,  of  Norwalk,  Conn.,  born  December 
2,  1701,  and  died  May  16,  1732,  "of  an  apoplexy;"  and 
fourthly,  Aug.  6,  1733,  Abigail,  daughter  of  the  Rev.  Samuel 
Russell,  of  Branford,  and  widow  of  the  Rev.  Joseph  Moss,  of 
Derby,  Conn.,  who  survived  him.  His  children  wfere,  three 
sons  and  four  daughters  by  his  first  wife,  and  three  sons  by 
his  third  wife.  Three  of  his  sons,  Samuel,  William,  and 
Joseph  Piatt,  graduated  at  Yale  College  in  1730,  1747,  and 
1750,  respectively.  One  of  his  daughters  married  the  Rev. 
Robert  Silliman. 

The  inventory  of  his  estate  amounted  to  ^2,787  ;  it  in- 
cluded 61  books  and  173  pamphlets. 

He  published  two  sermons  : 

1.  A  sermon  preached  at  the  funeral  of  Rev.  John  Daven- 
port, of  Stamford,  published  in  1731. 

2.  A  sermon  preached  before  the  Eastern  Association  of 
Fairfield  County,  on  a  publick  lecture  in  Danbury,  July  29, 
1741. 

This  sermon  was  introduced  into  a  spirited  controversy 
between  Jonathan  Dickinson  and  Samuel  Johnson.  Johnson 
published,  in  1744,  "A  Letter  from  Aristocles  Authades,  con- 
cerning the  Sovereignty  and  Promises  of  God,"  and  Dickin- 


488  History  of  Stratford. 

son,  in  replying,  in  1746,  with  "A  Vindication  of  God's  Sov- 
ereign free  Grace,"  interpreted  Johnson's  imagined  antag- 
onist (Authades)  as  Mr.  Cooke,  whose  views  (as  printed  in  his 
sermon)  he  certainly  seemed  to  be  controverting;  Johnson, 
however,  in  "A  Letter  to  Mr.  Jonathan  Dickinson,"  disclaimed 
the  intention  of  a  precise  reference  to  Cooke's  sermon. 

Besides  these  sermons  should  be  mentioned  : 

3.  "  Invitations  to  the  Rev.  Mr.  Whitefield  from  the  East- 
ern Consociation  of  the  County  of  Fairfield.  With  a  Letter 
from  the  Rev.  Mr.  Samuel  Cooke,  of  Stratfield,  to  a  Minister 
in  Boston,  Concerning  the  former  success  of  Mr.  VVhitefield's 
Ministry  there." 

This  pamphlet  contains  a  letter  by  Mr.  Cooke  to  one  of 
the  Boston  ministers,  dated  May  15,  1745.  This  letter  is  an 
urgent  appeal  that  Mr.  Whitefield  ma}^  come  and  preach  in 
the  churches  of  Fairfield  County;  and  to  show  the  spirit  of 
some  of  these  churches  he  prefixes  a  vote  of  the  Consociation 
at  a  meeting  held  in  Stratfield,  October  7,  1740,  of  which  he 
was  Moderator  and  Scribe,  inviting  Whitefield. 

This  publication  was  quite  possibly  an  additional  motive 
for  the  action  taken  in  September,  1745,  by  the  College 
Trustees. 


History  of  the  Porter  Proper ty.^^ 

Much  interesting  history  is  connected  with  the  premises 
of  No.  532  Main  street  and  the  house  recently  demolished  to 
make  room  for  a  block  of  stores.  The  territory  of  nearly 
seven  acres,  on  the  east  side  of  Main  street  from  a  point  at  or 
near  Golden  Hill  street  to  Congress  street,  bounded  easterly 
by  the  harbor,  was  purchased  by  Samuel  Porter,  sen.,"  from 
Zachariah   Hawley,    Feb.  5,    1759.      A  plot  of  the  premises 

'•  Manuscript  of  Dea.  R.  B.  Lacey,  written  for  this  work. 
'^  A  portion  of  the  old  Samuel  Porter  deed. 

To  all  persons  .  .  .  Greeting.  Know  ye  that  I,  Zakry  Hawley,  of  Stratford 
and  County  of  Fairfield  and  Colony  of  Connecticut  in  New  England.  For  the 
Consideration  of  One  Hundred  and  two  pounds  York  money  by  me  in  hand  re- 
ceived to  my  full  satisfaction  of  Samuel  Porter  of  Stratford,  and  County  and  Col- 
ony aforesaid,    do  give  grant  bargain   sell  to   his  heirs  and  assigns  forever  my 


Bridgeport. 


489 


copied  from  the  original,  made  by  Wolcott  Hawley,  surveyor, 
found  among  the  Porter  papers,  is  given  with  this  record. 


THE   PORTER   PROPERTY. 


Dwelling  house  and  Land  whereon  it  stands  on  Golden  Hill,  called  y*  old  fort, 
and  is  Bounded  South  on  Deacon  Joseph  Booth's  Land  Easterly  and  Northerly 
on  ye  creek  and  West  on  highway — the  sd  house  and  Land  with  all  the  apper- 
tenances  thereunto  belonging  for  him  the  said  Samuel  Porter  forever.  To  have 
and  to  hold   .  .  .  forever. 

Witness  my  Hand  and  Seal  the  5"'  day  of  Feb.  in  the  32'  year  of  the  Reign  of 

•our  Sovereign  Lord  George  the  second  of  Great   Britain King,  Annoque 

Domini,  1759. 


Zachariaii   Hawlky." 


Signed  and  sealed  in  presence  of 
Theophilus  Nichols. 
Joseph  Nichols. 


490  History  of  Stratford. 

There  was  a  dwelling  house  on  the  plot  in  1759,  but  not 
the  one  which  has  just  been  taken  down.  The  latter  was 
probably  erected  by  Samuel  Porter,  sen.,  soon  after  the  close 
of  the  Revolutionary  war,  and,  with  the  "  Old  Red  House" 
which  stood  on  the  west  side  of  the  highway, — Main  street — 
the  site  of*  the  present  wooden  block  of  Mr.  Nathaniel 
Wheeler,  was  among  the  very  first  residences  of  a  good  class 
erected  upon  the  Newfield,  as  Bridgeport  was  then  called. 
James  and  Zachariah  Hawley  were  sons  of  Gideon,  and  third 
in  descent  from  the  original  Joseph  Hawley,  of  Stratford, 
through  first,  Ephraim  and  Sarah  Wells,  and  second,  Gideon 
and  Ann  Bennett.  They  were  pioneers  here.  The  Hawley 
family  were  large  land  owners.  James  seems  to  have  settled 
on  the  west  side  of  the  highway.  His  son.  Deacon  Elijah, 
was  a  house  carpenter,  and  probably  built  and  occupied  the 
old  red  house.  Isaac  Sherman  says  of  him  :  "  He  removed 
to  the  West  very  early,  and  died  in  Ohio  in  1825,  aged  84 
years.  He  had  a  son  by  the  name  of  Jesse,  who  was  born  in 
the  old  red  house.  This  Jesse  removed  to  the  state  ot  New 
York  in  early  life  and  died  there  in  1843,  at  the  age  of  70 
years.  It  is  said  that  he  was  the  projector  of  the  Erie  canal 
by  communicating  his  ideas  of  such  an  enterprise  to  Gov- 
ernor DeWitt  Clinton. 

Major  Aaron  Hawley,  a  brother  of  Deacon  Elijah,  ap- 
pears to  have  been  the  owner  of  the  old  red  house  in  1787,  at 
which  period  the  "upright  highway" — Main  street — was 
widened  and  the  site  of  the  famous  well  in  front,  which  stood 
its  width  in  the  street,  was  excepted  and  liberty  was  given  to 
fence  around  it.  The  same  well  exists  to-day  covered  by  the 
sidewalk  stone.  Zachariah  Hawley  married  Bethia  Austin 
of  Suffield,  Ct.,  and  probably  removed  to  Massachusetts,  for 
none  of  his  descendants  appear  in  this  part  of  Connecticut. 

Samuel  Porter,  sen,,  died  September  15,  1795.  The  Por- 
ter purchase  remained  intact  as  field  land  during  his  life,  ex- 
cept at  the  south  end,  where  he  gave  a  house  lot  r.s  an  advance- 
ment to  his  daughter  Mary,  who  married  Lewis  Sturges. 
The  old  house,  now  a  portion  of  the  Elisha  Hubbell  property 
at  the  northeast  corner  of  Main  and  Golden  Hill  streets,  was 
the  residence  of  Isaac  Sturges,  son  of  Lewis.     His  son  Joseph 


Bridgeport.  491 

P.  Sturges — commonly  called  Porter  Sturges — had  his  resi- 
dence a  little  way  south.  The  original  house  is  standing  but 
it  has  a  brick  front  and  has  been  raised  an  additional  story. 
The  main  building  is  occupied  by  Cohen  (millinery)  and 
Bain  (a  tea  and  coffee  store.)  It  was  a  double  house  with  hall- 
way and  kitchen  wings  both  on  the  north  and  south.  Porter 
Sturges  occupied  the  south  house,  and  Henry  Coty  and  the 
late  Thomas  Hutchins  successivel}''  occupied  the  north  part 
for  many  years. 

There  was  a  vacant  lot  between  the  two  Sturges  houses 
through  which  Golden  Hill  street  was  extended  in  1847,  from 
Main  street  easterly,  leaving  a  strip  of  land  on  the  south  side 
of  the  street,  which  was  leased  by  the  city  and  an  engine 
house,  for  the  original  No.  5  hand  engine,  was  erected 
thereon.  The  same  building  is  now  occupied  as  a  bakery  by 
Mr.  A.  Brennan. 

The  survey  from  which  the  accompanying  diagram  is 
taken  was  made  by  Wolcott  Hawley,  a  brother  of  Major 
Aaron  and  Deacon  Elijah  Hawley,  October  20,  1795,  to  aid 
the  distribution  of  the  estate  of  Samuel  Porter,  Sen.  The 
original  has  the  dotted  lines  showing  the  portions  set  out  to 
the  two  heirs,  Samuel  Porter,  Jr.,  who  had  a  double  portion 
and  his  sister,  Mary  Sturges. 

Lewis  and  Isaac  Sturges  with  their  families  went  West 
about  1820,  and  afterwards  settled  in  Wisconsin.  Rev.  Albert 
Sturges,  the  veteran  missionary  of  the  American  Board  in 
Micronesia,  is  of  this  family. 

They  sold  their  interest  in  the  remnant  of  this  property 
on  the  death  of  Samuel  Porter,  Jr.,  who  died  without  children, 
September  9,   1842. 

The  Rev.  Thomas  B.  Sturges,  of  Greenfield  Hill,  Conn., 
is  the  only  son  and  heir  of  Joseph  P.  Sturges.  He  inherited 
the  undivided  half  of  the  old  Porter  house,  lot  No.  532,  Main 
street,  and  came  into  possession  of  it  on  the  death  of  the 
widow  of  Samuel  Porter,  Jr.,  April  12,  1867. 

Recently,  there  has  been  a  division  by  which  he  has  ac- 
quired sole  ownership  of  the  entire  Main  street  front,  and  is 
putting  it  to  use  by  erecting  the  one-story  block  of  stores 
now  being  built. 


492  History  of  Stratford. 

This  plot  of  land  is  referred  to  in  the  deed,  as  being  lo- 
cated on  Golden  Hill,  showing  that  the  name  was  applied  to 
the  land  extending  to  the  Pequonnock  river.  It  was  also 
called  "  Y^  Old  Fort."  Referring  to  the  diagram  on  the 
right  hand  side,  bordering  on  the  creek  at  the  extreme  point, 
the  position  of  the  fort  may  be  seen.  These  are  the  only 
allusions  to  a  fort  here,  now  known,  and  its  previous  existence 
must  have  been  traditionary  in  1795.  It  could  hardly  have 
been  built  b}-  the  English  settlers,  or  there  would  have  been 
some  record  of  it,  or  in  connection  with  its  erection  and  use. 
Therefore  it  must  have  been  an  Indian  fortification. 

The  location  was  a  rocky  promontory  jutting  out  into 
the  creek  from  a  beautiful  plateau  which  extended  back  to 
the  highway.  Later,  for  three-quarters  of  a  century  it  was 
universally  known  as  Porter's  Rocks.  It  retained  nearly  its 
pristine  beauty  until  1838,  and  was  a  favorite  resort  for  sports 
and  bathing,  by  the  young  men  and  boys  of  the  period,  a  few 
of  whom  survive  to  this  day.  .  There  was  the  round  rock  and 
the  flat  rock;  both  extending  out  so  as  to  afford  at  their  base 
considerable  depth  of  water  at  high  tide  ;  the  latter  was  at 
the  extreme  point  and  was  a  favorite  place  for  fishing,  espe- 
cially for  frost  fish  in  their  season.  A  short  distance  from  the 
point  on  the  northern  bank  was  the  round  rock,  from  which 
the  bathers  took  their  leap  headforemost  into  the  briny 
waters.  The  bank  here  was  skirted  with  cedars,  which 
afforded  a  good  cover  for  this  sport. 

Just  before  the  present  century,  a  new  spirit  of  enterprise 
was  awakened  here.  Previous  to  the  Revolutionary  War 
the  parish  of  Stratfield  was  a  quiet  farming  community. 
Nothing  had  been  done,  specially,  to  develope  the  place. 
Long  Island  Sound  had  indeed  become  a  highway  of  com- 
merce. The  frequent  disturbances,  at  that  period  in  the 
political  atmosphere  of  the  Old  World,  were  soon  felt  here, 
and  the  infant  settlements,  unprotected  as  they  were,  and 
their  trading  vessels  especially,  were  a  tempting  and  easy 
prey  to  the  privateers,  which  swarmed  on  the  American 
coast. 

The  harbors  and  settlements  lying  close  upon  the  Sound 
were  most  exposed.     Pequonnock  river,  however,  was  excep- 


Bridgeport.  493 

tionally  safe.  There  was  fully  as  much  depth  of  water  above 
the  neck,  now  the  site  of  Berkshire  bridge,  as  on  the  bar  out- 
side, and  plenty  of  space  also.  The  wooded  blufTs  on  the 
shore,  some  of  them  jutting  out  into  bold  promontories,  shut 
out  this  portion  from  the  open  harbor  and  Sound,  afibrding  a 
safe  retreat,  almost  a  hiding  place.  Under  the  then  existing 
state  of  things  it  is  no  wonder  commerce  was  early  developed 
at  this  place.  Theophilus  Nichols  and  his  son  Philip  had 
their  store  and  wharf  at  the  extreme  head  of  naviofation  near 
what  is  now  known  as  the  Plumb  place.  Thev  built  and 
sailed  vessels  from  there,  as  did  also  Capt.  Stephen  Burroughs, 
Sen.  The  shore  opposite  the  old  red  brick  house  on  North 
avenue  was  long  known  and  designated  the  Ship3'ard.  The 
commercial  and  trading  interests  to  this  period  with  Boston 
and  New  York  were  not  large,  yet  were  sufficient  to  foster  a 
spirit  of  enterprise  and  educate  and  prepare  the  more  ambi- 
tious young  men  to  improve  their  opportunities. 

The  establishment  of  our  national  independence  not  only 
infused  new  life,  but  brought  greater  security  to  our  coast 
and  coasting  trade.  The  surrounding  countr}-  naturally  cen- 
tering here  was  rich  in  agricultural  resources.  Boston,  New 
York,  the  Southern  Atlantic  States  and  the  West  Indies,  were 
the  markets.  Water  street  had  been  laid  out  from  the 
present  Fairfield  avenue,  three  rods  wide  to  Welles'  Tongue. 
Wharves  and  stores  began  to  be  built  upon  it.  Men  with 
their  families,  who  had  lived  from  one  to  two  miles  in  the 
interior,  settled  on  the  shore  and  entered  vigorously  into  trade 
and  commerce.  Among  these  may  be  mentioned  the  families 
of  Nichols,  Hawley,  Hubbell,  Sherman,  Burroughs,  Sterlings 
and  Summers.  The  advantages  of  the  location  began  to  be 
appreciated  and  an  enterprising  element  came  into  the  place, 
from  the  surrounding  towns  and  from  a  greater  distance. 
Isaac  Sherman  mentioned  by  name,  in  1857,  not  less  than  forty 
men  who  came  from  abroad  and  settled  here  between  the 
years  1790  and  1806,  who  became  prominent  as  successful 
business  men. 

The  names  of  these  persons  with  the  date  when  they  came, 
and  their  business  occupations,  are  here  given  ;  the  stars  in- 
dicating those  whose  descendants  are  known,  still  remain  in 
the  city. 


494  History  of  Stratford. 

1786,  Daniel  Young,  merchant,  from  Norwich,  Conn. 

1790,  Salmon  Hubbell,  merchant,  from  Wilton,  Conn. 

1790,  Capt.  Abraham  Hubbell,  merchant,  from  Wilton, 
Conn. 

1792,  John  S.  Cannon,  merchant  and  banker,  from  Norwalk, 
Conn. 

1792,  Robert  and  Prosper  Wetmore,  merchants,  from  Strat- 
ford, Conn. 

1792,  David  and  John  DeForest,  merchants,  from  New 
Haven,  Conn. 

1792,  Thomas  Gouge,  hatter,  from  New  York  State. 

1793,  Reuben  Tweedy,*  hatter,  from  Danbury,  Conn. 

1793,  Nathaniel  Wade,*  watchmaker  and  merchant  from 
Norwich,  Conn. 

1794,  Capt.  Thaddeus  Hubbell,  seaman,  from  Wilton,  Conn. 
1794,  Isaac  Hinman,*  merchant,  from  Trumbull,  Conn. 
1794,  Thaddeus  Benedict,  attorney,   from  Reading,  Conn. 
1794,  Lambert  Lockvvood,  merchant,  from  Wilton,  Conn. 
1794,  Hull  and  Lyon,  merchants,  successors  to  David  and 

John  DeForest. 

1794,  Capt.  Jonathan  Baker,*  seaman,  from  an  eastern  town. 
1794,  Richard  Hyde,*  merchant,  from  Norwich,  Conn. 
1794,  Samuel  Burr,  merchant,  from  Fairfield,  Conn. 
1796-1803,  Ezra  Gregory,*  inn  keeper,  from  Wilton,  Conn. 

[The  following  came  between  the  years  1796  and  1803.] 

Ephraim  Middlebrook,*  joiner,  from  Trumbull,  Conn. 

Stephen  Hull,*  blacksmith,  from  Wilton,  Conn. 

Dea.     William    DeForest,*    merchant,     from     Weston    (now 

Easton),  Conn. 
Robert  Linus,*  pj^cker,  from  Stratford,  Conn. 
Capt.  John  Brooks,*  seaman,  from  Stratford,  Conn. 
Capt.  Joseph  Sterling  Edwards,  seaman,  from  Trumbull,  Conn. 
Sylvanus  Sterling,  merchant,  from  Trumbull,  Conn. 
Jesse  Sterling,*  tnerchant,  from  Trumbull,  Conn. 
Capt.  Ezekiel  Hubbell,  seaman,  from  Greenfield  Hill,  Conn. 
William  H.  Peabody,  cabinet  maker,  from  Norwich,  Conn. 
Ira  Peck,*  merchant,  from  Brookfield,  Conn. 
Lemuel  Hubbell,  cabinet  maker,  from  Stratford,  Conn. 


Bridgeport.  495 

Benjamin  Hall,  attorney,  from  Weston  (now  Easton),  Conn. 
Joseph  Backus,  attorney,  from  Glastonbury,  Conn. 
Maj.   Benjamin    M.   VVoolsev,   merchant,    from    Long   Island, 
N.  Y. 

1806,  Smith  Tweedy,  hatter,  from  Danbury,  Conn. 

1806,  Samuel  Penney,  merchant. 

1806,  Hezekiah  Ripley,  printer. 

1806,  Lazarus  Beach,  printer,  from  Redding,  Conn. 

1806,  Stiles  Nichols,*  printer,  from  Danbuiy,  Conn. 

1806,  James  E.  Beach,*  physician,  from  New  Haven,  Conn. 

1803,  Thomas  Woodward,  merchant. 

1805,  Josiah  Prindle,  merchant,  from  Derby,  Conn. 

1805,  Mordeca  Prindle,  merchant,  from  Derby,  Conn. 

1805,  Joseph  H.  Prindle,  merchant,  from  Derby,  Conn. 

In  1797-8,  the  first  drawbridge  across  the  harbor  was 
chartered  and  built. 

In  1800,  the  borough  of  Bridgeport — the  first  in  the  State 
and  a  pattern  for  others — was  chartered,  and  as  a  commercial 
and  manufacturing  community,  Bridgeport  commenced  her 
career  of  enterprise  and  progress. 

Several  new  streets  had  been  laid  out,  which  were  now 
recognized  and  named  ;  among  them  Gold  street  from  Main 
to  the  harbor,  two  rods  wide,  Mr.  Nathaniel  Wade,  a  watch- 
maker by  trade,  from  Norwich,  Conn.,  afterward  a  merchant, 
bought  land  of  Mr.  Porter,  and  erected  his  house,  the  same 
is  now  standing  on  the  southeast  corner  of  Main  and  Gold 
streets.  Philo  and  DeLuzern  DeForest  secured  the  northeast 
corner  and  erected  the  house  now  standing  there,  so  long 
owned  and  occupied  by  Isaac  Sherman,  Esq.,  and  now  by  his 
descendants.  Capt.  Joseph  Sterling  Edwards,  from  Trum- 
bull, bought  and  built  on  the  south  side  of  Gold  street,  from 
Middle  to  Water  street.  His  widow  left  this  with  other 
property,  to  her  brother,  Isaac  Burroughs,  Esq.,  which  has 
served  to  swell  the  Pettengill  estate,  from  which  such  munifi- 
cent public  benefactions  are  now  being  realized. 

Mr.  Jesse  Sterling,  also  from  Trumbull,  a  merchant,  pur- 
chased the  site  on  the  north  side  of  Gold  street  at  the  head 
of  Water  street,  and  erected  the  house  more  recently  owned 


496  Histo7'y  of  Stratford. 

and  occupied  by  Mr.  Abel  Drew.  The  same  was  removed 
in  1870  for  the  extension  of  Water  street.  Later,  on  Main 
street,  next  north  of  Isaac  Sherman,  Captain  Gershom  E. 
Hubbell  located.  Next  to  him  was  Mr.  George  Smith,  and 
last  on  the  plot  was  Captain  William  Goodsell,  who  had  his 
slaughter  house  on  the  bank  of  the  creek  in  the  rear  of  the 
dwellings. 

Isaac  Sherman  sold  a  part  of  his  Main  street  front  to 
Capt.  Joseph  H.  Hand  from  Long  Island — the  same  property 
being  now  owned  by  Jacob  Sutter,  and  occupied  by  Mr.  C. 
P.  Coe's  wholesale  and  retail  grocery. 

A  Weaver^s  Shop  is  seen  on  the  diagram,  standing 
northerly  of  the  dwelling  house  of  Samuel  Porter,  back  from 
the  highway.  It  was  occupied  by  both  Samuel  Porter  and 
his  son  of  the  same  name,  who  were  weavers  by  trade,  and 
supplied  the  settlement  with  the  elegant  woolen  bed  cover- 
lets,— specimens  of  which  are  still  preserved  in  the  old 
families,  woolen  cloth  and  blankets,  damask  and  plain  linen. 

So  far  as  appears,  this  building  was  the  first  exclusivel}'^ 
devoted  to  the  manufacturing  of  goods  within  the  limits  of 
Bridgeport,  and  is  in  very  striking  contrast  with  the  splendid 
and  extensive  structures  of  the  present  day. 

The  Salt  Works,  For  some  reason,  probably  the  scarcity 
of  salt  during  and  after  the  close  of  the  second  war  with  Great 
Britain,  about  the  year  1818,  it  was  deemed  a  wise  measure 
to  secure  salt  of  home  manufacture,  and  so  prudent  and  saga- 
cious man  as  the  late  Isaac  Sherman  was  persuaded  that  it 
was  safe  to  invest  capital  and  labor  in  it.  The  beautiful  pla- 
teau north  of  Gold  street,  the  property  of  his  brother-in-law, 
Samuel  Porter,  Jr.,  was  selected  as  the  site  for  the  opera- 
tions. The  location  of  the  evaporating  vats  is  shown  on  the 
diagram.  The  salt  water  was  pumped  from  the  bay  or  creek 
into  the  vats,  by  means  of  a  windmill  stationed  at  or  near  the 
point.  No  statistics  are  extant  as  to  the  quantity  or  quality 
of  the  product,  but  merchantable  salt  was  made. 

One  mistake  as  to  location  became  apparent,  that  the 
water  of  the  creek  at  this  point  was  too  much  diluted  with 
the   fresh  water  of  its  tributaries,   which  with  the  increased 


Bridgeport.  497 

facilities  for  procuring  the  West  India  product,  conspired  to 
render  the  enterprise  unprofitable.  The  Salt  Works,  as  they 
were  called,  were  mentioned  in  the  will  of  Samuel  Porter,  jr., 
written  in  1828.  The  unused  vats  were  admirably  adapted 
to,  and  improved  by  the  young  people,  for  the  game  of  hide 
and  seek.  They  disappeared  soon  after  the  year  1830,  as  re- 
membered by  persons  still  living. 

The  Slaiufhter  House  is  also  represented  on  the  dia- 
gram. Capt.  William  Goodsell,  who  early  lived  in  the  old 
yellow  house  which  was  removed  from  Main  street  in  1871  in 
order  to  open  Congress  street,  is  believed  to  have  been  the 
first  to  fit  up  and  occupy  a  regular  slaughter  house  here.  It 
was  a  barn-like  structure  standing  on  the  edge  of  the  bluff 
and  extending  almost  its  whole  size  over  the  bank — which 
was  well  washed  by  each  flood  tide — the  building  being  sup- 
ported by  substantial  posts.  Its  site  was  included  in  the  pur- 
chase of  the  late  Benjamin  Ray,  who  had  much  difficulty  in 
getting  the  boundary  lines  established  satisfactorily.  In  his 
numerous  and  vigorous  talks  about  the  matter,  well  remem- 
bered by  many,  very  frequent  allusions  were  made  to  "  Capt. 
Goodsell's  slaughter  house  yard." 

It  is  interesting  to  note  how  the  progress  of  the  settle- 
ment moved  back  the  slaughter  houses.  The  next  location 
was  that  of  Gideon  and  Eli  Thompson  on  the  westerly  side 
of  North  Washington  avenue,  not  far  from  the  present  loca- 
tion of  Mulloy's  lane,  from  1833  to  1843. 

From  this  the  same  parties  removed  to  what  is  now  the 
Thompson  farm,  a  little  south  of  the  toll-gate  on  the  Hunting- 
ton turnpike,  while  Smith  and  Stratton,  and  their  successors, 
and  Captain  Terry,  located  theirs  on  the  Newtown  turnpike 
about  two  miles  out  of  town. 

The  heavy  beef  is  novv  mostly  dressed  for  this  market  in 
Chicago,  111.;  transported  in  refrigerator  cars  and  distributed 
from  refrigerator  depots — two  of  them  located  on  this  same 
territory — to  be  dispensed  in  steaks  and  roasts  from  the  re- 
frigerators of  the  local  markets. 

Saddle  Boxes  were  made  also  on  this  territory.  The 
shipment  to  markets  in  the  South,  of  large  quantities  of  sad- 


498  History  of  Stratford. 

dies  and  harness,  manufactured  here  from  1815  to  i860,  re- 
quired many  strong-  boxes  of  special  form  and  size.  Up  to 
1849,  these  were  almost  exclusively  made  without  machinery, 
by  Porter  Sturges,  whose  shop  and  lumber  yard  were  on 
Middle  street  at  the  present  corner  of  Golden  Hill  street, 
occupied  now  by  the  Naugatuck  Valley  Ice  Company.  His 
assistant  when  needed,  was  the  late  David  Wheeler,  who 
lived  on  Arch  street,  and  later  on  the  Newtown  turnpike 
near  Beach  street. 

This  work  afforded  reliable  and  steady  employment  for 
these  men,  and  with  the  frugality  for  which  they  were  both 
noted,  laid  the  foundation  of  handsome  estates  for  each  one. 

The  increased  quantity  needed  and  the  competition  of 
machinery,  diverted  the  source  of  supply  to  the  shops  of  L. 
C.  Shepard  &  Co.,  about  1850,  then  located  at  the  site  of  the 
north  end  of  the  Atlantic  Hotel,  the  Union  House  being  a 
part;  and  later  to  Lyon  &  Curtis,  on  Simon's  wharf. 

Cottib  JMahingf  as  a  business,  was  established  and  con- 
ducted here  for  a  while,  by  Moss  K.  Botsford.from  Newtown, 
who  purchased  of  Jesse  Sterling,  the  house  on  the  bank  on 
the  north  side  of  Gold  street,  at  the  head  of  Water  street. 
This  business  was  very  prosperous  from  about  1830  to  1835. 
Bethel  and  Newtown  were  largely  engaged  in  it.  Some 
manufacturers  were  successful  for  a  time,  but  the  fashions 
were  extremely  changeable,  and  the  business  fitful,  which  led 
to  many  failures;  and  hence  it  continued  here  but  a  short 
time.  Mr.  Abel  Drew,  from  Derby,  was  the  next  owner  of 
the  above-mentioned  house. 

Cooperaffe.  The  commerce  of  the  place,  especially  the 
West  India  trade,  and  for  a  number  of  years  the  whaling  busi- 
ness, required  a  great  many  casks,  and  made  a  lively  business 
for  the  coopers.  Mr.  Drew's  shop  was  on  the  south  shore  of 
the  point,  where  he  employed  a  number  of  men,  and  he,  see- 
ing, embraced  his  opportunity,  and  thus  laid  the  foundation 
for  his  handsome  estate. 

The  HoiisatOihic  Hailroad  was  chartered  in  1836,  for 
a  line  from  Bridgeport  to  the  northern  boundary  of  the  state 
in  the  town  of  Canaan,    Litchfield  County.      The  company 


Bridgeport.  49^) 

was  organized,  capital  subscribed,  and  right  of  way  secured 
to  New  Milford  in  1838.  Commencing  at  a  \>q\w\.  near  the 
west  approach  to  the  Bridgeport  bridge— Fairfield  avenue- 
it  extended  northerly  across  the  mud  flats  and  over  this 
Porter  property,  making  quite  a  deep  cut  across  it.  The 
company  not  only  purchased  the  usual  right  of  way  over  this 
property  for  main  tracks,  but  secured  the  entire  point  east  of 
its  main  line,  graded  it  down,  using  the  material  towards  fill- 
ing the  roadway  across  the  adjacent  mud  flats,  and  then 
located  their  engine  house,  turn-tables  and  car-shop  thereon. 
A  wharf  was  constructed  at  the  extreme  point,  and  the  Long 
Island  skipper  connected  with  Mr.  Roswell  Lewis'  coal  and 
wood  yard,  landed  thereon  the  pine  wood  which  was  then 
used  at  this  end  of  the  line  for  fuel  for  the  locomotives. 
Thus  the  beautiful  bluff  was  invaded,  and  its  glor}^  departed 
before  the  march  of  modern  utility  and  progress.  The  con- 
struction and  opening  of  the  railroad  developed  the  need  of 
a  foundry  and  machine  shops.  This  need  was  measurably 
supplied  by  the  late  David  Wheeler  of  Park  avenue,  who  was 
in  1843  joined  by  George  and  J.  R.  Young,  and  had  their 
works  in  a  woo.den  building  on  the  same  site  as  the  present 
Bridgeport  Iron  Works,  which  is  made  land  on  the  mud  flats 
fronting  this  Porter  property. 

The  First  Center  Bridge,  When,  in  1852,  Hon.  P.  T. 
Barnum  joined  Gen.  Wm.  H.  Noble  for  the  development  of 
East  Bridgeport,  they  at  once  realized  that  they  must  have 
more  direct  and  easier  communication  with  the  business  por- 
tion of  the  city  on  the  west  side  of  the  harbor.  Hence  they 
procured  a  charter  for  a  bridge;  the  eastern  terminus  about 
identical  with  the  present  Center  bridge,  while  the  western 
end,  spanning  the  Housatonic  railroad  track,  landed  upon  the 
high  bank  of  this  Porter  property,  for  which  they  made  an 
appropriate  purchase  of  Mrs.  Ellen  Porter,  the  widow  of 
Samuel  Porter,  Jr.,  November  19,  1852.  This  was  reached  by 
a  street  which  had  been  opened  as  a  highway  by  Mr.  Porter, 
and  named  by  him  Summer  street,  extending  northerly  from 
Gold  street  a  little  east  of  the  line  of  Middle  street  extended. 
After  the  location  of  the  bridge  it  was  called  Bridge  street. 
By  the  kindness  of  General  Noble  the  Historical  society  has 


500  History  of  Stratford. 

a  picture  of  this  bridge  on  its  walls,  painted  in  water  colors, 
showing  a  condition  of  the  surroundings  now  most  thor- 
oughly changed. 

When  the  present  Center  bridge  was  constructed  in  1869, 
the  western  terminus  was  changed  to  Congress  street,  crossing 
the  railroad  at  grade.  Middle  street  was  soon  after  ex- 
tended thereto  in  a  direct  line  and  Bridge  street  was  discon- 
tinued. In  November,  1864,  the  city  purchased  this  bridge 
and  appurtenances  with  the  other  bridges  across  the  harbor, 
and  in  the  adjustment  of  property  interests  affected  by  these 
changes,  and  the  extension  of  Middle  street,  the  city  obtained 
the  site  of  the  present  No.  5  engine  house. 

Previous  to  the  extension  of  Congress  street  for  the  west- 
ern terminus  of  the  Center  bridge,  in  1869,  the  mud  fiats  and 
low  ground  on  the  west  side  of  the  Housatonic  railroad  track 
from  the  Porter  property  to  Lumber  street,  was  flooded 
through  a  water  way  at  the  old  mill  located  near  the  line  of 
Lumber  street  and  the  face  of  the  wharf  at  that  point.  The 
water  was  changed  and  purified  each  flood  tide,  but  the  gate 
in  the  water  way  retained  enough  to  give  at  all  times  a  depth 
of  several  feet  in  the  southern  portion  near  this  property. 

Previous  to  the  introduction  of  the  present  water  supply 
of  the  city,  much  dependence  was  placed  upon  the  salt  water 
of  the  harbor  for  extinguishing  fires.  This  vicinity  was 
practically  shut  off  from  the  water  front,  especially  at  low 
tide,  and  to  remedy  this,  Mrs.  Ellen  Porter  deeded  to  the  city 
an  addition  to  the  Bridge  street  highway,  May  19,  1859,  ^'^d 
opened  a  way  to  the  water  above  described,  where  the  city 
constructed  a  platform  sufficient  to  accommodate  one  of  the 
hand  engines  of  that  period  and  its  company  in  actual  service. 

About  1846,  the  Housatonic  Railroad  Company  removed 
their  depot  both  for  passengers  and  freight  from  near  Fairfield 
avenue  southerly,  nearly  to  the  present  elevator.  A  few 
years  afterwards,  having  filled  and  made  solid  ground  of  the 
mud  flats  still  further  south  they  put  up  there  a  round  house, 
and  other  necessary  shops  and  buildings.  The  old  engine 
house  and  the  long  car  house  remained  in  their  places  on  the 
Porter  property  many  years;  also  a  blacksmith  business  by 
several  parties.     The  veteran  blacksmith,  Mr.  Joseph  C.  Bar- 


Bridgeport.  50, 

num,  had   his  shop   there  for  many  years  until    his  decease, 
February  25,  1883,  aged  80  years. 

The  Bvhlgepot't  Boiler  Works  commenced  operations 
in  1869,  on  this  (Porter's)  point,  utilizing  some  of  the  old  build- 
ings, and  erecting  others.  This  company  embraced  the  fol- 
lowing names:   Humphrey,  Watson,  Farrel,  and  Chatfield. 

In  1870,  Farrel  and  Chatfield  retired,  and  the  business 
was  continued  by  Humphrey  and  Watson,  until  1872.  when 
Mr.  William  Lowe  took  the  place  of  Mr.  Humphrey.  Messrs. 
Lowe  and  Watson  continued  the  making  of  steam  boilers  suc- 
cessfully for  ten  years,  until  they  were  burned  out,  April  24, 
1882.  As  they  were  unable  to  obtain  a  lease  of  the  premises 
for  a  term  of  years,  they  secured  a  location  of  Mr.  William 
H.  Perry,  adjoining  the  Housatonic  railroad  track,  farther 
north. 

The  late  Mr.  Hanford  Lyon  purchased  the  water  front  of  a 
portion  of  this  property,  and  improved  it,  in  connection  with 
that  which  he  previously  owned,  adjoining  it  on  the  south. 
This  has  been  occupied  as  a  coal  yard  by  C.  M.  Noble  and 
Company,  and  by  Courtland  Kelsey,  and  is  now  a  part  of  the 
extensive  yards  of  Messrs.  Miller  and  Strickland. 

Mr.  Julius  Hawley  purchased  of  the  Burroughs  family, 
the  Edwards  property,  on  the  south  side  of  Gold  street,  ex- 
tending to  the  channel  of  the  harbor,  which  he  has  improved, 
and  upon  which  is  located  the  extensive  lumber  yards  and 
steam  saw-mill  of  the  Bridgeport  Lumber  Company. 

Messrs.  Henry  N.  and  Alonzo  J.  Beardsley  purchased  the 
water  front  of  Mr.  Abel  Drew,  which  carried  one-half  of  the 
width  of  Gold  street  from  the  east  side  of  the  tracks  of  the 
Consolidated  railroads  to  the  channel,  which  they  are  leis- 
urely filling,  and  which  will  become  a  very  valuable  property. 

The  Housatonic  Railroad  Company  have  here  a  fine 
property,  partly  mud  flats,  which  they  will  no  doubt  fill  to 
the  harbor  line  at  no  distant  day.  This  done,  it  will  afford 
room  for  the  return  to  this  point  of  their  engine  houses,  thus 
relieving  the  crowded  condition  in  the  present  locality  of 
their  buildings,  and  facilitating  the  removal  of  the  tracks  of  the 
Consolidated  road  from  lower  Water  street,  an  object  most 
earnestly  to  be  desired. 
33 


502 


History  of  Stratford. 


The  whole  plot,  much  of  it  forty  years  ago  so  quiet  and 
so  pleasant  for  family  homes  of  the  best  sort,  is  now  almost 
wholly  given  over  to  business. 

The  following  list  of  names  of  householders,  found  on  a 
separate  sheet,  with  the  date  partly  torn  off,  in  the  handwrit- 
ing of  the  Rev.  Samuel  Cooke,  the  second  pastor  of  the  Strat- 
field  Church,  was  preserved  by  the  late  Isaac  Sherman,  Esqr., 
and  pasted  upon  a  leaf  of  the  manuscript  book  of  his  "  Rec- 
ollections." From  the  names  found  upon  it,  and  others  well 
known  which  are  omitted,  the  date  is  known  to  have  been 
1733  or  1734.  The  list  contains  the  names  of  heads  of  families 
then  residing  in  the  parish  of  Stratfield,  and  upon  an  estimate 
of  five  persons  to  each  family  there  were  about  seven  hundred 
persons  in  the  parish. 


'■'A  List  of  the  Householders  in  Stratfield  Anno  Domini,   17- 
Disposed  Alphabetically. 


James  Bennitt,  Sen'', 
Isaac  Bennitt, 
William  Bennitt, 
James  Bennitt,  Jun"", 
Stephen  Bennitt, 
William  Beardsle,  SenS 
Daniel  Beardsle, 
John  Beardsle,  Sen'', 
Nathan  Beardsle, 
William  Beardsle,  Jun'', 
Ebenezer  Beardsle, 
David  Beardsle, 
John  Beardsle,  Jun"', 
Obadiah  Beardsle, 
Joseph  Booth, 
John  Burr,  Sen^ 
John  Burr,  Jun'', 
Charles  Barrett, 
Stephen  Burrows, 
Samuel  Cable, 
Israel  Chauncej', 
Robert  Chauncey, 
Caleb  Cole, 
Daniel  Comestock, 
Samuel  Cooke, 
Elijah  Crane, 
Jonah  Curtiss, 


John  Edwards,  Sen'', 
Thomas  Edwards, 
John  Edwards,  Jun'', 
Sarah  Fayerweather, 
John  Fa3'erweather, 
Abigail  Fayerweather, 
Deb(jrah  Fairchild, 
James  Fairchild, 
Samuel  French's  widow, 
Samuel  French, 
Ebenezer  French, 
Samuel  Gregory, 
Benjamin  Gregory, 
Ebenezer  Gregory, 
Thaddeus  Gregory, 
Enock  Gregory, 
Francis  Hall,  Sen'', 
John  Hall, 
Samuel  Hall, 
Burgess  Hall, 
Francis  Hall,  Jun% 
Richard  Hall, 
Elnathan  Hall, 
Ebenezer  Hawley, 
James  Hawley, 
William  Hodgden, 
Matthew  Horn, 


Richard  Hubbell,  Sen'' 
James  Hubbell, 
John  Hubbell, 
Daniel   Hubbell, 


Stephen  Hubbell, 
David  Hubbell, 
Joseph  Hubbell, 
Ebenezer  Hubbell, 
Ze':hariah  Hubbell, 
Richard  Hubbell,  Jun', 
Andrew  Hubbell, 
Nathan   Hurd, 
Moses  Jackson, 
John  Jackson's  widow, 
Gabriel  Jackson, 
John  Jackson, 
David  Jackson,  Sen', 
David  Jackson,  Jun"", 
John  Jones, 
Edward  Lacy, 
John  Lacy, 
Ebenezer  Lacy, 
Zechariah  Lawrence, 
Matthew  McHard, 
John  Mallet,  Sen"', 
David  Mallet,  Jun', 


Bridgeport. 


503 


John  Man, 
Samuel  Martin, 
Nicholas  Masters, 
Zechariah  Mead, 
John  Middlebrook, 
Noah  Morehouse, 
John  Odell, 
Samuel  Odell's  widow, 
William  Odell, 
Hezekiah  Odell, 
Samuel  Odell, 
Samuel  Patchen, 
Benjamin  Phippeny, 
John  Porter, 
Valentine  Rowell, 
Henry  Rowland, 
Zechariah  Sanford, 
Ezekiel  Sanford, 
Thomas  Sanford, 
James  Seelye's  widow, 
Joseph  Seelye, 


David  Sherman,  Sen', 
David  Sherman,  Jun', 
Enos  Sherman, 
John  Sherwood, 
Nathaniel  Sherwood, 
Matthew  Sherwood, 
William  Smith,  Sen', 
William  Smith,  Jun', 
John  Smith's  widow, 
Jacob  Starling, 
Henry  Stevens, 
Peter  Stevens, 
Thomas  Stoddard, 
Samuel  Summer's  widow, 
Henry  Summers, 
John  Summers, 
David  Summers, 
Nathan  Summers, 
Edward  Tredwell, 
Deborah  Tredwell, 
Benjamin  Tredwell, 


Zechariah  Tredwell, 
Hezekiah  Tredwell, 
Samuel  Tredwell, 
Jacob  Tredwell, 
Samuel  Trowbridge,  Sen' 
Samuel  Trowbridge,  Jun' 
Jonah  Turny, 
Robert  Turny, 
Jonathan  Wakely,  Sen'. 
Henry  Wakely, 
Joseph  Wakely, 
Israel  Wakely, 
Nathaniel  Wakely, 
Jonathan  Wakely,  Jun', 
Samuel  Well's  widow, 
Samuel  Wells, 
John  Wheeler, 
Timothy  Wheeler, 
Isaac  Wheeler, 
Ebenezer  Wheeler, 
Richard  Whitny." 


CHAPTER   XVIII. 


STRATFIELD'S  EARLY  SETTLERS. 


OCATING  the  homes  of  the  early  settlers 
(|^  is  a  work  costinof  much  time  for  research  and 
study,  and  but  for  the  manuscript  book  of 
Dea.  Isaac  Sherman,  no  attempt  would  have 
been  made,  either  to  provide  the  accom- 
panying map,  or  to  prepare  the  following 
biographical  sketches.  But,  since  that  book 
was  in  existence,  largely  by  the  forethought 
and  perseverance  of  Dea.  Rowland  B.  Lacey 
in  fixing  Deacon  Sherman's  attention  to  it, 
before  he  died,  this  list  became  possible,  and 
has  been  completed  with  a  considerable  de- 
gree of  accuracy,  so  far  as  it  goes.  It  is 
not  claimed  that  the  list  includes  all  the 
early  settlers,  nor  all  that  could  be  said  of 
them,  because  Deacon  Sherman  gave  only 
his  recollections  of  what  he  had  heard  and  known  personally, 
and  there  could  not  be  taken  time  sufficient  to  search  the 
records  so  thoroughly  as  to  perfect  the  work,  although  much 
that  is  given  by  Deacon  Sherman  has  been  confirmed  by  the 


town  and  society  books.' 


'  Recollections  of  Isaac  Sherman. 

The  long  life  of  Isaac  Sherman  in  this  community  and  his  extensive  personal 
acquaintance,  his  familiarity  with  the  church  and  parish  records,  his  respect  for  his 
own  ancestry  and  his  genealogical  studies,  his  intercourse  with  and  fondness  for 
elderly  people,  his  extensive  business  associations,  his  investigations  for  the  estab- 
lishment of  pension  claims,  his  experience  in  connection  with  the  settlement  and 
distribution  of  estates,  all  contributed  to  furnish  his  observant  and  retentive  mind 
with  a  fund  of  information  in  regard  to  the  early  settlement  and  history  of  Stratfield 
and  Bridgeport.  He  could  give  the  exact  location  of  the  old  families  and  much 
about  their  descendants,  the  settlement  of  the  Newfields — now  the  city  of  Bridge- 
port— the  rise  and  progress  of  business,  and  business  firms,  how  composed,  where 


Bridgeport.  505 

JVo.  1,  Isaac  Wheeler ^  son  of  Ephraim,  one  of  the  first 
settlers  in  Fairfield,  in  1644,  was  a  farmer  and  a  large  lanrl- 
holder,  for  his  mother  in  1681,  paid  tax  on  706  acres  of  land, 
Isaac  having  received  his  proportion  before  his  father's  death 
in  1670. 

He  was  one  of  the  nine  male  members  of  the  first  Strat- 
field  Church  at  its  organization  under  Rev.  Charles  Chauncey, 
June  13,  1695;  which  Church  is  now  located  in  Bridgeport, 
called  the  First  Congregational  Church. 

JVo.  2,  Samuel  Welles  was  a  farmer  with  a  good  larm, 
Welles'  Tongue  being  a  small  part  of  it.  He  was  the  son 
of  John  Welles,  and  grandson  of  Governor  Thomas  Welles, 
and  this  land  or  farm  was  first  laid  out  to  John  Welles  and 
given  in  his  will  to  this  son  Samuel.  He  had  one  son,  named 
David  Wakeman  Welles. 

No.  3,  John,  Mallett  was  a  Frenchman  and  a  farmer. 
Lewis  Mallett  who  resided  on  the  old  place  was  a  descendant. 
All  the  Malletts  at  Tashua  are  descendants  of  said  John 
Mallett. 

JVb.  4.  Benjamin  IFubbell  was  a  farmer.  He  mar- 
ried a  half  sister  of  Doct.  Stephen  Middlebrook,  of  Trumbull. 
They  had  one  son,  John  Hubbell,  who  married  Betty,  daugh- 
ter of  Joseph  Brothwell,  and  had  five  daughters  :  Betsey,  who 
married  Timothy  Risley  ;  Polly,  who  married  Howell  Hough  ; 
Anna,  who  married  Zalmon  Hawley.  Zalmon  Hawley  had 
Maria,  who  married  Capt.  John  Brooks,  Jr.;  Marietta,  who 
married  Capt.  Burr  Knapp ;  and  one  son  John,  who  died 
young. 

located,  and  whether  successful  or  not.  No  one  had  attempted  to  cover  the  field, 
and  no  one  living  could  do  it  as  he  coulH,  and,  unless  by  himself  committed  to 
paper,  before  his  decease,  it  was  certain  that  very  much  would  be  inevitably  lost. 

This  consideration  was  frequently  urged  upon  him  for  years  without  success. 
After  his  retirement  from  public  business,  his  consent  to  enter  upon  the  work  was 
gained,  the  plan  as  laid  out  for  him  pursued,  with  success,  and  the  result  is  mani- 
fest in  these  sketches,  numbered  in  regular  order  for  reference  to  the  accompany- 
ing map. 

To  the  labors  of  Esquire  Sherman,  Dea,  Rowland  B.  Lacey  has  added  about 
forty  sketches,  upon  much  careful  enquiry  and  research,  and  the  whole  forms  a 
valuable  portion  of  the  history  of  Bridgeport. 


5o6  History  of  Stratford. 

l^o.  5.  Benjainin  Wheeler  was  a  farmer,  and  was  a 
grandson  of  Isaac  Wheeler.'  Said  Benjamin  was  the  father 
of  Timothy,  and  grandfather  of  Benjamin,  Ezra  and  Hannah. 

Wo,  6.  Samuel  Odell,  a  farmer,  was  justice  of  the 
peace,  and  an  active  member  of  the  church  and  society. 
One  of  his  daughters  is  now  [1856]  living,  and  is  over  90 
years  of  age.  She  is  the  widow  of  Samuel  Wheeler.  Her 
name  is  Julia  Wheeler,  and  she  draws  a  pension  for  the 
services  of  said  Samuel  in  the  Revolution.  Samuel  Odell 
had  one  son  by  the  name  of  Maline  Odell,  who  was  lost  at 
sea  about  the  year  1800,  in  a  clipper- built  schooner,  com- 
manded by  Capt.  Benjamin  Wheeler,  a  descendant  of  Isaac, 
who  with  all  his  crew  was  lost  in  said  schooner,  for  they  were 
never  heard  from  after  they  sailed  from  New  York.  Said 
Capt.  Benjamin  Wheeler  left  a  wife  and  the  following  child- 
ren :  ]ra  B.;  Daniel  Odell;  Sally,  who  married  Moses  Piatt; 
Betsey,  who  married  David  UfFord,  and  Marrietta,  who  mar- 
ried Gideon  Thompson. 

Wo,  7,  Capt,  Abel  Wakelee,  a  sailor,  was  lost  at  sea  in 
the  brig  Julius  Cassar  on  a  voyage  from  the  West  Indies 
bound  to  Bridgeport  with  a  load  of  salt.  The  crew  and  offi- 
cers were  all  saved  in  the  long  boat  when  the  brig  sunk,  ex- 
cept Abel  and  a  colored  man  named  Ned,  who  was  a  slave 
to  Capt.  Amos  Hubbell,  the  owner  of  the  brig. 

Capt.  Abel  Wakelee's  descendants  were  Charles  and 
Walker,  who  have  died  leaving  no  children.  His  widow's 
name  was  Grace. 

Wo.  8,     William  Hose,  a  Frenchman,   was  one  of  the 

little  colony  of  Frenchmen  in  Nova  Scotia,  at  the  time  Canada 
was  taken  from  the  French  by  the  English  when  the  colony 
was  broken  up  by  the  order  of  the  English  Government  be- 
fore the  Revolution,  and  distributed  among  the  different 
thirteen  states.  Mr.  Rose  was  landed  in  this  parish  and  Dr. 
Fogg,  also,  was  one  of  said  neutral  French  who  settled  in 
Fairfield.  Mr.  Rose  was  a  gardener,  and  he  married  Jennette 
Mann.     His  children  were :  Peter,  Mabel,  Charity  and  Polly. 


2  This  is  doubtful.     See  Wheeler  Genealogy. 


Bridgeport.  507 

Doctor  Fogg-  was  settled  in  Fairfield  and  was  an  accept- 
able physician.     He  died  since  the  Revolution. 

William  Rose  used  to  fish  at  a  fishwcir  in  Bridgeport 
harbor,  in  a  boat  alone,  accompanied  bv  histaithful  dog,  Lvon. 
On  one  of  the  fishing  days  he  had  the  misfortune  to  fall  over- 
board and  was  near  being  drowned  when  the  dog  swam  to 
him  and  he  clasped  the  dog's  tail  and  directed  him  to  swim 
for  the  shore.  When  the  dog  had  towed  his  master  almost  t(j 
the  shore  he  turned  about  to  swim  off,  when  Mr.  Rose  in  his 
broken  French,  called,  *' tudder  way,  Lyon,"  and,  obeying 
his  master,  drew  him  to  the  shore.  William  Rose  died  April 
21,  18 12,  aged  90  years. 

JVo.  9.  HezeMah  Wheeler,  a  tailor  by  trade,  was  em- 
ployed in  making  buckskin  breeches,  which  were  in  his  day 
the  common  wear  for  men  and  boys,  and  were  used  in  some 
families  as  late  as  the  year  1800.  He  had  one  son,  a  sailor, 
named  Wilson,  who  was  lost  at  sea.  Hezekiah  Wheeler,  and 
his  son  now  living  in  New  York,  are  descendants  of  said 
Isaac  Wheeler. 

3^0.  A.  Brldffepoyt  aiul  Stvatfiehl  lUii'ijiuij 
Ground,  From  the  earliest  settlement  up  to  1812,  the 
"Old  Stratfield  Burial  Ground"  was  made  the  resting  i)lace 
of  the  dead  in  Stratfield  Parish.  At  this  period,  even  with 
the  addition  of  1772,  the  old  ground  had  become  too  strait, 
and,  upon  petition  of  James  E.  Beach  and  others,  to  the 
October  session  of  the  General  Assembly  of  181 1,  showing 
that  they  had  purchased  a  piece  of  land  bounded  north  on 
Silas  Sherman;  east  on  highway  (Division  street),  south  and 
west  on  Abijah  Hawley's  land,  the  said  proprietors  and  their 
associates  were  duly  incorporated  to  be  known  by  the  name 
of  "The  Bricigeport  and  Stratfield  Burying  Ground  Associa- 
tion." Lambert  Lockwood  was  named  as  the  first  clerk,  and 
it  was  especially  provided  that  "said  burying  ground  shall 
forever  remain  and  be  used  as  and  for  a  burying  ground,  and 
for  that  purpose  only."  Provision  was  made  for  its  layout 
into  lots  and  the  proprietor  of  a  lot  became  a  legal  member 
of  the  Corporation,  and  he,  his  heirs,  successors,  or  assigns, 
entitled  to  one  vote  for  every  lot  he  or  they  possessed.  A 
son  of  Mr.  Ezra  Wheeler  was  the  first  child   and   Mr.  Elijah 


5o8  History  of  Stratford. 

Burr  was  the  first  adult  buried  in  tiiis  ground  in  1812.  Upon 
petition  to  the  General  Assembly  at  the  May  session,  1835,  an 
addition  was  made  at  the  west  end. 

Here  nearly  two  generations  were  laid  from  18 12  to  1850, 
about  4,000  interments. 

For  some  years  the  immediate  vicinity  had  become  so 
thickly  settled  that  it  had  become  an  unsuitable  place  for  a 
cemetery,  and  in  1849  Mountain  Grove  Cemetery  was  inau- 
gurated. About  i860,  special  efforts  began  to  be  made  to  get 
a  vote  in  this  association  for  removal  to  Mountain  Grove  or 
some  other  point,  but  met  with  most  decided  opposition,  as 
did  repeated  efforts. 

The  agitation  of  the  subject  for  a  general  removal  made 
many  proprietors  timid  in  respect  to  the  permanency  of  their 
tenure,  and  numerous  voluntary  removals  were  made  to 
Mountain  Grove  and  elsewhere.  The  vacated  and  unused 
lots  were  bought  up  by  parties  desiring  removal  until  they 
held  a  majority,  and  under  an  Act  or  Resolution  of  the  Gen- 
eral Assembly  of  May,  1873,  the  removal  was  consummated 
during  the  years  1873  and  1874,  under  commissioners  named 
in  said  Act.  Hon.  P.  T.  Barnum  became  the  purchaser  of 
the  entire  territory  through  David  VV.  Sherwood,  his  agent, 
and  the  removals  were  made  largely  under  supervision  of 
George  Poole  to  the  westerly  side  of  the  grounds  in  Moun- 
tain Grove  Cemetery,  numbering  in  all  over  three  thousand. 
The  site  on  the  westerly  side  of  Park  avenue  is  now,  in  1885, 
mostly  covered  by  streets  and  cottages,  and  no  vestige  of  its 
former  use  appears. 

No,  10.  William  Mubbell  was  by  occupation  a  house 
painter.  His  children  were  David,  and  Grizell,  and  other 
daughters. 

Justin  Smith,^  a  native  of  Springfield,  Mass.,  was  a 
stone-cutter,  specially  skilled  in  working  the  brown  stone  of 
the  Chatham,  now  Portland,  quarries  in  Connecticut.  In 
1789,  he  embarked  from  that  place  with  a  vessel  load  of  the 
Chatham  stone,  his  family  and  household  goods  destined  for 
Mill  river  at  Fairfield,  but  his  load  was  not  consigned. 

'  This  name  is  not  located  on  the  map. 


Bridgeport.  509 

In  a  stress  of  weather  he  ran  his  vessel  into  Brid^a-port 
harbor,  where,  while  weatherbound,  he  made  some  acijuaint- 
ance,  through  which  some  of  the  leading  men  learned  who  he 
was,  what  his  cargo,  and  his  skill  as  a  stone-cutter,  and  per- 
suaded him  to  unload  the  vessel  and  establish  himself  and 
business  here. 

The  many  fine  brown  stone  tablets  and  head-stones  in  the 
old  Stratfield  burying-ground  and  many  others  that  were  put 
up  in  the  Division  Street  (Stratfield  and  Bridgeport)  ceme- 
tery, and  removed  thence  to  Mountain  Grove  Cemetery, 
attest  his  skill  and  industry.  His  residence  was  on  the  site 
now  occupied  by  the  dwelling  of  Mr.  F.  VV.  Marsh,  No.  240 
Park  avenue,  and  he  was  a  most  excellent  Christian  man. 
He  died  March  17,  1835,  aged  81  years.  His  wife  was  Mary 
Fox,  of  Chatham.  She  survived  her  husband  fourteen  years 
and  died  May  21,  1849,  ^t  the  great  age  of  92  years. 

Their  children  were  Abner  and  Justin,  who  both  died 
young,  and  Sophia,  Mary  and  Mehitable.  Sophia  married 
Robert  Treadwell,  son  of  David,  and  removed  to  Southbury. 
Mary  married  Agur  Beach,  of  Trumbull,  and  Mehitable  mar- 
ried Eli  Oilman  and  lived  in  Hartford. 

Mary  (Smith)  Beach  still  survives  and  lacks  but  a  tew 
days  of  93  years  of  age — bright  and  well,  although  a  little 
lame, — and  is  anticipating  great  pleasure  in  celebrating  her 
93d  birth-day,  on  the  24th  of  September,  1885. 

Her  husband,  Agur,  was  the  son  of  Everett  Beach  and 
his  wife  Rebecca,  daughter  of  the  Rev.  James  Beebe,  of 
North  Stratford.  He  died  of  fever  in  New  York  city,  where 
he  was  in  business,  October  7,  1822,  aged  31  years,  leaving  a 
widow  and  two  young  daughters  with  slender  means. 

On  the  death  of  her  father  she  established  herself  at  the 
parental  homestead  and  took  the  entire  care  of  her  aged 
mother  while  she  lived. 

For  many  years,  each  season  has  brought  out  a  store  of 
her  handiwork  in  knitted  articles  of  personal  wear  and  of  bed 
quilts,  nicely  pieced  for  quilting,  for  the  Home  Missionary 
boxes.  With  the  completion  of  the  pair  of  hose  now  nearly 
done,  she  will  have  knitted  for  and  donated  one  hundred  pair 
of  stockings  to   the    Home  of  the   Friendless  in  New   York 


510  History  of  Stratford. 

City,   besides    her   numerous   gifts   in    her    more    immediate 
vicinity. 

She  is  probably  the  oldest  person  living  in  the  town  of 
Bridgeport,  at  least  the  oldest  native  born,  and  seems  likely 
to  become  a  centenarian. 

H^o.  11.  Cwpt.  Samuel  WakeleCf  a  shipmaster,  em- 
ployed before  the  Revolution  in  transporting  passengers  from 
Europe.  He  was  a  brother  of  Zebulon  Wakelee.  On  one  of 
his  voyages  his  provisions  failed  and  he  and  the  crew  were 
reduced  to  a  state  of  starvation  before  they  obtained  relief. 

JVo,  12.  Ca2)t.  WiUiani  Worden  was  a  farmer  and 
house  carpenter.  He  was  captain  of  a  militia  company,  called 
Householders,  in  the  Revolution.  The  company  was  raised 
in  the  parish,  and  they  were  not  liable  to  do  ordinary  military 
duty. 

He  was  a  tall,  spare  built,  leading  man  in  the  town 
and  society,  and  was  quite  aged  at  the  time  of  his  death.  He 
came  here  from  an  eastern  town,  and  was  a  strong  Whig,  as 
most  of  the  inhabitants  were  at  the  time  of  the  Revolution. 
He  had  sons  Samuel  and  William,  and  grandsons  Thomas 
Cook,  William,  Levi,  Abijah  and  Daniel.  Capt.  William 
Worden  married  a  daughter  of  Samuel  Odell,  Esqr. 

JVo.  13,  Justus  Burr  was  a  farmer,  and  son  of  Col. 
John  Burr.  His  children  were,  John,  Aaron,  Comfort,  and 
two  other  daughters. 

Justus  Burr  was  killed  in  his  own  barn,  when  he  was 
drawing  in  a  load  of  hay.  being  crushed  by  the  oxen  running 
through  a  small  door. 

iVb.  14.  E^ra  Kirtland  was  a  blacksmith  by  trade. 
He  came  to  this  place  before  the  Revolution,  from  Walling- 
ford.  He  owned  a  farm  on  the  old  Golden  Hill  road,  now 
called  Washington  avenue,  which  contained  a  part  of  the  land 
on  which  the  village  of  the  Pequonnock  Indians  was  located 
at  the  first  settlement  of  the  parish.  The  Kirtland  family 
appear  to  have  owned  all  the  land  south  of  Washington  ave. 
as  far  east  as  the  spring  lot  beyond  Courtland  street  and  south 
to  the  present  line  of   Fairfield  avenue.-     He  was  the  ancestor 


Bridgeport.  5  i  [ 

of  all  the  Kirtlands  of  this  parish.  He  married  a  dauj^jiter 
of  Zebulon  Wakelee  and  had  two  sons — Zebuhjii  and  Ezra. 
Zebulon,  Jr.,  married  Betty  Cook,  a  grand-dauj^hter  of  the 
Rev.  Samuel  Cook,  and  Ezra  married  Sarah,  daughter  of 
Benjamin  Wheeler. 

jVo.  15,  Ciipt,  Joseph  Knap}},  Sm.,  was  for  many 
years  master  of  a  coasting  vessel  employed  in  carrying  grain 
and  other  products  for  the  farmers,  from  this  place  to  Boston, 
which  coasting  trade  was  profitable  from  the  first  settlement 
of  the  parish  down  to  about  the  year  1835. 

Before  the  Revolution  there  were  four  or  five  vessels 
employed  in  this  trade,  but  after  the  war  there  was  an  average 
number  of  about  ten. 

The  first  merchants  in  Bridgeport  purchased  their  goods 
in  Boston  until  about  the  year  1790,  after  which  thev  i)ur- 
chased  in  New  York. 

He  was  a  thin,  spare  man  about  five  feet  nine  inches  ;  was 
prominent  in  the  town  and  society  and  lived  to  be  quite  aged. 
He  had  three  children  :  Joseph,  Jr.,  Patience  and  Ruth. 
Joseph,  Jr.,  was  recently  killed  by  the  fall  of  a  tree  when  he 
was  about  80  years  of  age.  He  was  a  shoemaker  by  trade 
and  occupied  the  same  house  his  father  did. 

i\ro.  10.  Thaddeus  Gregovif  was  a  merchant  and 
house  joiner.  On  being  chosen  to  some  military  office  he 
came  out  in  front  of  the  company  with  his  hat  off  to  make  his 
acknowledgments,  but  when  he  had  proceeded  so  far  in  a 
speech  as  to  sa}',  "fellow  soldiers,"  he  gave  up  in  despair, 
and  putting  his  hand  on  his  breast  exclaimed,  "  it  is  in  here 
but  I  cannot  get  it  out."  He  and  his  wife  were  both  mem- 
bers of  the  church  in  1731.     He  died  in  1777  aged  JJ  years. 

Wo,  17,  Zebulon  Wakelee,  a  farmer,  lived  on  the  east 
side  of  Division  street  on  old  Meeting-house  Hill,  nearly  oppo- 
site where  the  first  meeting-house  was  built. 

He  had  one  daughter,  named  Olive,  who  married  Ezra 
Kirtland,  Sen.     Zebulon  Wakelee  died  in  1767,  aged  55  years. 

Wo,  18,  The  old  first  Congregational  meeting-house  in 
the   wilderness  on   Meeting-house   Hill   was  built  about  the 


512  History  of  Stratford. 

year  1693.  The  church  was  gathered,  June  13,  1695,  and  the 
Rev.  Charles  Chauncey,  a  son  of  the  Rev.  Israel  Chauncey  of 
Stratford,  was  ordained  their  pastor. 

The  first  settlers  were  called  together  by  the  beat  of  the 
drum,  and  carried  arms  to  defend  the  congregation  from  an 
attack  by  Indians. 

This  first  meeting-house  was  probably  located  on  the 
town  line  between  Fairfield  and  Stratford,  half  in  one  town 
and  half  in  the  other,  or  directly  in  the  middle  of  the  high- 
way, on  the  hill,  for  the  town  of  Stratford  voted  the  liberty 
to  set  part  of  it  on  its  territory.*  It  was  a  small  house,  and 
was  in  use  only  twenty-four  years,  when  the  second  one  was 
built. 

No.  19.  Hev,  Charles  Chauncey  was  the  first  pastor 
of  the  "Church  of  Christ  in  Stratfield."  For  a  sketch  of  him 
see  page  479  of  this  book. 

JSfo.  20.  Andrew  Sherwood  was  a  farmer  and  black- 
smith.    His  sons  were  David  and  Zachariah  Sherwood. 

J^o.  21.  The  School  House  of  the  old  south  district 
was  located,  previous  to  about  1830,  on  the  westerly  side  of 
Division  street,  a  few  rods  south  of  the  present  North  avenue. 
The  traveled  roadway  diverged  to  the  east  at  that  point  to 
avoid  a  ledge  of  rocks,  under  the  lea  of  which,  at  the  southerly 
side,  there  was  a  level  space  of  sufficient  size  to  accommodate 
the  house. 

The  character  of  the  school  at  that  time  was  rather  supe- 
rior, since  some  of  the  older  scholars  at  the  Fresh  Pond  dis- 
trict attended  here  because  of  the  advantages  it  afforded. 

JS^o.  22.  The  Second  Meeting -house*^  was  located  on 
the  old  Fairfield  and  Stratford  country  road  ;  was  erected  in 
1717,  and  taken  down  about  the  year  1835.  It  was  occupied 
by  the  First  Congregational  Society  until  the  year  1807, 
when  this  society  built  by  subscription  a  new  frame  meeting- 
house in  the  village  of  Bridgeport  on  land  donated  by  Richard 
and  Amos  Hubbell,  on  the  corner  of  Bank,  Broad  and  John 

^  See  page  474  of  this  book.  ^'^  See  page  4S2. 


Bridgeport .  q  \  ? 

Streets,  which  frame  church  was  sold  to  Christ  Church  and 
removed  into  John  street,  where  a  few  vcars  later  it  was 
burned.  The  first  Congregational  Society  erected  their 
fourth  church,  built  in  1850,  on  the  same  site  where  the  third 
stood. 

Ifo,  23,  Rev.  Satnuel  Coohe  was  the  second  pastor  of 
the  Church  of  Christ  at  Stratfield.  For  a  sketch  of  him  see 
page  484  of  this  book. 

iVb.  24:.  Lewis  Angevine,  a  Frenchman,  and  by  occu- 
pation a  weaver,  left  no  descendants,  if  he  had  any,  Mrs.  \V. 
R.  Bunnell  owns  the  land  on  which  his  house  stood.  An 
anecdote  has  been  related  of  him,  which  gives  an  insight  into 
his  character. 

"  When  he  was  courting  his  wife  at  a  place  where  he  was 
not  known,  he  represented  to  her  that  he  was  well  off  as  to 
property,  and  that  if  she  would  marry  him  she  should  never 
wash  her  hands  in  cold  water.  Soon  after  marriage  she  re- 
minded him  of  this  promise,  upon  which  he  replied  that  she 
need  not  wash  in  cold  water  for  she  could  warm  it." 

^o.  2S.  Capt.  Thaddeus  Heimrft,  a  shoemaker  and 
farmer,  was  the  captain  of  the  trainband  at  the  commence- 
ment of  the  Revolutionary  War  and  went  to  New  York  with 
his  company  in  August,  1776,  to  defend  the  city  against  the 
British  troops.  His  company  suffered  considerable  loss  by 
death,  and  the  captain  died  soon  after  returning  home  from 
the  campaign  in  1777.  He  left  two  sons— Joseph  Wilson 
Bennett  and  Thaddeus  Bennett,  and  two  daughters,  Grizell 
and  Sarah  Bennett,  both  of  whom  were  pensioners  for  the 
service  of  their  husbands  in  the  Revolution.  Gri/ell  married 
Isaac  Odell,  who  was  a  sergeant  in  the  army,  and  Sarah  mar- 
ried Nathan  Fairchild, 

JVo.  26.  Ziieut,  David  Sherman  was  a  farmer,  and 
lieutenant  of  the  militia  company  of  Stratfield,  and  a  leading 
public  man  in  the  town  and  society.  He  was  the  son  of  Mat- 
thew Sherman,  and  died  aged  60  years,  and  was  buried  in  the 
old  parish  burying  ground.  He  erected  the  old  two-story, 
long-back-roof  dwelling   house  in   the  year  1717.     It  was  in 


514  History  of  Stratford. 

the  common  style  of  New  England  farm  houses,  and  stood 
near  the  spot  where  Mr.  John  H.  Beach's  house  now  stands. 
His  homestead  contained  about  one  hundred  acres,  besides 
woodland  at  Toilsome  and  a  large  farm  at  Tashua.  Lieut. 
David  Sherman  was  nephew  to  Deacon  David  Sherman,  who 
sa3's  in  his  will :  "  I  do  make  and  ordain  my  well-beloved 
kinsman,  David  Sherman,  my  sole  executor  of  this  my  last 
will  and  testament."  He  had  three  sons — Elnathan,  Jonathan 
and  David.  Jonathan  never  married.  Elnathan  married 
Eunice   Gregory. 

David  married  Mary  Sterling  and  occupied  his  father's 
house  and  homestead.  He  was  killed  by  lightning  in  the  old 
Pequonnock  meeting-house  July  28,  1771. 

The  said  David  that  was  killed  in  the  meeting-house  had 
three  children — Huldah,  who  married  Doct.  James  E.  Beach, 
David,  the  father  of  Esquire  Isaac  Sherman,  the  author  of 
these  sketches,  and  Isaac,  who  died  young. 

JVo.  2K »  Doctor  Jmnes  Eaton  Beach,  was  a  descend- 
ant on  his  mother's  side  of  Gov.  Theophilus  Eaton,  of  the 
New  Haven  Colony,  and  came  from  New  Haven  to  Stratfield 
about  the  year  1778,  where  he  settled  as  a  parish  physician. 

He  married,  about  1780,  Huldah,  daughter  of  David 
Sherman,  Jr.,  and  Mary  (Sterling)  Sherman,  and  erected  his 
dwelling  on  the  Sherman  property  a  few  rods  north  of  the 
homestead. 

He  had  a  wide  practice,  was  a  capable  and  public  spirited 
man.  He  was  especially  helpful  to  young  men  of  good  char- 
acter and  habits  in  starting  in  business,  aiding  them  by  his 
name,  counsel  and  capital. 

He  was  the  responsible  member  of  the  following  firms, 
and  perhaps  others: 

Beach  and  Sterling,  in  1794  (David  Sterling),  who  were 
merchants  in  dry  goods,  groceries  and  drugs. 

Beach  and  Sterling,  in  1804  (Jesse  Sterling),  merchants  in 
dry-goods,  groceries  and  drugs. 

Beach  and  Sterling,  in  181 5  (Sylvanus  Sterling),  mer- 
chants in  dry  goods,  groceries  and  drugs. 

Beach  and  Sherman  (Isaac  Sherman  and  Sterling  Sher- 
man) groceries,  grain  business,  and  New  York  packeting. 


Bridgeport. 


5'3 


The  Juniors  in  eacii  of  these  firms  were  the  active  part- 
ners and  conducted  the  business,  while  Doctor  Beach  fur- 
nished the  capital  and  for  which  he  received  interest  and  a 
share  of  the  profits,  which  appear  to  have  been  very  satisfac- 
tory. 

Doctor  Beach  was  active  and  inllucntial  in  the  Stratficld 
Congregational  Church,  and  for  many  years  served  it  as 
chorister.  He  was  deacon  from  1806  to  1830,  and  gave  a  sil- 
ver tankard  for  the  communion  service,  which  is  still  in  use, 
in  the  First  Congregational  Church  of  Bridgeport.  He  died 
in  1838,  aged  75  years. 

His  children  were,  a  son  Isaac  Eaton,  and  daughters 
Polly  and  Laura. 

Isaac  Eaton  Beach  lived  at  the  homestead,  enlarged  for 
his  accommodation,  and  his  descendants  occupy  the  ancestral 
lands. 

Polly  Beach  married  Sylvanus  Sterling  and  lived  at  what 
is  now  No.  84  Golden  Hill  street.  Mr.  Sterling  died  in  1848, 
and  Mrs.  Sterling  in  1866,  leaving  no  children,  but  a  consid- 
erable estate. 

By  the  will  of  Mrs.  Sterling  the  homestead  was  given  to 
the  First  Congregational  Society  of  Bridgeport  for  a  parson- 
age, and  after  providing  for  friends,  the  residue  was  given  to 
the  society  known  as  the  Bridgeport  Protestant  Widows' 
Relief  Society  for  the  establishment  of  a  Home  and  for  gen- 
eral aid,  and  the  society  has  become  one  of  the  leading  char- 
ities of  Bridgeport.* 

Laura  Beach  married  Ira  Sherman,  a  descendant  of  Lieut. 
David  (No.  26)  through  Elnathan  (No.  34),  and  always  resided 
at  what  is  now  No.  247  Main  street,  dying  at  an  advanced 
age.  Their  only  daughter,  Mary  B.  Sherman,  married  James 
C.  Loomis,  Esq. 

Both  Mrs.  Sterling  and  Mrs.  Sherman  were  remarkable 
for  their  large  charities  while  living,  giving  liberally  in  the 
line  of  the  religious  charities  of  the  Congregational  Church 
with    which  they   were    connected ;    and    also   to    numerous 

5  The  Sterling  Home  was  incorporated  at  the  January  session  of  the  General 
Assembly  in  1S85. 


5i6  History  of  Stratford. 

widows,    orphans  and  families    whose    needy    circumstances 
came  to  their  knowledge. 

3^0.  2H.  Jahez  Sherman  was  a  farmer  and  removed 
to  New  Haven  about  the  time  of  the  Revolutionary  War. 

No,  29.  Josiah  Treadwell  was  a  weaver  by  trade. 
His  house  was  in  the  common  style,  two  stories,  and  lighted 
with  diamond  window  glass  set  in  lead  sash.  His  children 
were:  Josiah,  Jr.,  Samuel,  Elijah,  and  three  daughters.  One 
married  Thomas  Cook,  one  married  John  Wheeler,  and  one 
married  Mr.  Turney,  of  Fairfield.  His  house  being  old  was 
taken  down  soon  after  he  died  in  1798. 

No.  30.  Satnuel  Treadwell  was  a  weaver,  and  son  of 
Josiah.  He  married  first  Rachel  Barnum,  and  had  sons  Sam- 
uel, Jr.,  and  Barnum.  He  married  second,  Mercy  Babcock, 
from  Rhode  Island.  She  was  high-spirited  and  used  to  say 
she  was  of  high  blood,  and  that  she  did  not  come  from  any 
mean  family. 

They  were  low  in  circumstances,  some  years,  during 
which  a  friend  coming  to  see  her,  she  remarked  :  "  My  hus- 
band is  generally  a  good  provider,  although  he  is  a  little  slack 
just  now." 

JVo.  31.  JEnocJi  Greffory  was  a  large  farmer  and  slave 
holder.  He  had  one  slave  named  Neptune,  born  in  Africa, 
who  had  a  son  called  after  the  master's  family,  Tony  Greg- 
ory, who  was  an  honest  Negro.  Enoch  Gregory's  children, 
Samuel,  Daniel  and  Plumb,  and  others,  settled  at  Tashua. 

No.  32.  Andrew  Heardsley  was  a  weaver.  John  W. 
Beardsley,  and  Henry  and  Rufus  Burr,  and  the  wife  of  Mr. 
Joseph  Mott,  all  residents  of  Bridgeport,  are  among  his  de- 
scendants. 

No.  33,  John  Hall  was  a  weaver.  His  descendants 
are  not  remembered,  except  a  daughter  Julia,  who  mar- 
ried Squire  Lacey  as  first  husband,  and  afterwards  the  Rev. 
Nathaniel  Ruggles,  who,  in  connection  with  the  Rev.  John 
N.  Maffit,  was  the  founder  of  the  first  M.  E.  Church  in  the 
city  of  Bridgeport  in  1822. 


Bridgeport.  5 , 7 

1^0,  34,  Elncithan  Sherman  was  a  son  of  Lieutenant 
David.  His  wife,  Eunice  (Gregory)  Sherman,  died  in  1793, 
in  a  fit,  while  kneading  bread.  They  had  sons  :  Abijah  and 
Ebenezer,  and  daughters,  Sarah,  who  married  Stephen  Ster- 
ling, Hannah,  and  Mary.  One  of  these  married  Thomas 
Edwards. 

Ko.  3o.  JosepJi  Hall,  a  farmer  and  a  buckskin  leather 
dresser,  died  at  Toilsome,  aged  94  years.  He  and  his 
children  were  among  the  first  Methodists  in  this  parish. 
He  had  one  son,  named  Hezekiah,  and  three  daughters: 
Alice,  married  Ebenezer  Brown ;  Molly  married  Stephen 
Wells,  and  Ruth  never  married.  The  whole  family  lived  to 
a  good  old  age  and  never  disgraced  their  religious  profession. 

JVo.  36.  Ca2)t.  Samuel  Slierivood  was  a  farmer  and  a 
slave  owner.  He  married  Ann,  daughter  of  Theophilus 
Nichols,  by  whom  he  came  into  possession  of  a  portion  of 
New  Pasture  Point,  which  was  afterwards  called  Sherwood's 
Point,  from  which  vessels  were  loaded  for  the  West  Indies. 
His  children  were:  Lucy,  who  married  Capt.  David  Barlow  ; 
Philemon,  who  married  Hepzibah  Burr,  a  daughter  of  Justus 
Burr  and  granddaughter  of  Col.  John  Burr,  and  David,  who 
never  married. 

JS^o,  37,  The  Toilsome  School-house^  in  Toilsome 
district,  was  occupied  many  years  b}'  a  school-master  who 
bore  the  honorable  title  of  Master  Wheeler.'  He  married 
Dolly,  daughter  of  Deacon  David  Sherman;  had  a  daughter 
named  Dolly,  and  one  named  Eunice.  Deacon  Sherman  died 
in  1753,  after  which  Master  Wheeler  occupied  his  house. 
Also,  he  had  another  daughter,  who  married  Abijah  Beard- 
sley.  She  drew  a  pension  for  her  husband's  service  in  the 
Revolution.  She  lived  to  a  good  old  age  at  Fresh  Pond,  near 
the  brick  house  now  occupied  by  Joseph  Seeley,  Esqr. 

^o,  38.  Samuel  JB}'insmade,  a  cabinet-maker,  mar- 
ried Peninah  Burritt,  and  had  no  children.     He  was  the  only 

•  His  name  was  John  Wheeler. 
34 


5i8  History  of  Stratford. 

very  proud  man  in  the  parish;  was  a  fine   looking  man.     He 
cultivated  peaches,  pears  and  apples  for  market. 

JVo.  39.  Dea.  Henry  Moivlandf  a  farmer,  married 
Dea.  David  Sherman's  daughter  Tamar  in  1718.  He  was  the 
grandson  of  Henry  Rowland,  who  came  to  Fairfield  from 
the  county  of  Essex  in  England.  He  was  chosen  Deacon  of 
the  Stratfield  Church  in  1756  and  died  1775  at  the  age  of  84 
years.  Rev.  David  Sherman  Rowland,  of  Windsor,  Conn., 
was  his  son.  Dea.  Rowland  B.  Lacey,  of  Bridgeport,  is  also 
a  descendant,  through  another  son  Edmund. 

JVo.  40.  Dea,  David  Sherman  was  a  large  farmer 
and  one  of  the  first  generation  of  settlers  in  said  parish.  His 
house  and  homestead  were  on  the  top  of  Toilsome  Hill — a 
large,  two-story  dwelling  with  a  long  back  roof,  built  in  the 
best  style  of  his  day,  with  a  high  porch  in  front  and  small 
diamond  windows,  set  in  lead  sash.  He  was  one  of  the  first 
nine  male  members  of  the  first  Congregational  Church.  He 
was  the  son  of  Mr.  Samuel  Sherman,  of  Stratford,  who  came 
from  the  town  of  Dedham,  county  of  Essex  in  England. 

Old  Mr.  Elijah  Burritt,  when  he  was  96  years  of  age,  told 
me  that  David  Sherman  was  the  first  deacon  of  said  Church, 
that  he  had  been  well  acquainted  with  him  ;  was  at  his  fune- 
ral, and  that  he  was  gifted  in  prayer  and  took  the  lead  in  the 
meetings  when  the  pastor  was  absent;'  and  was  very  much 
esteemed  in  the  parish.  His  gravestone,  standing  in  the 
western  part  of  the  old  burying-place,  bears  the  titled  inscrip- 
tion, "  Capt.  David  Sherman."  He  had  nine  daughters,  all 
of  whom  were  married  and  appear  to  have  been  well  settled 
in  life. 

JVo.  41.  Samuel  Mdivards  was  a  farmer.  His  son, 
Shelton  Edwards,  when  a  lad  about  fifteen  years  of  age,  was 
clerk  in  the  store  of  David  and  John  DeForest ;  the  store 
then  standing  on  the  corner  of  State  and  Water  streets  in 
Bridgeport  in  1796.  In  the  autumn  of  the  year  about  ten 
o'clock  in  the  evening,  young  Edwards  was  murdered  in  the 
store  by  his  skull  being  broken  in  three  places  by  a  shoe- 

''  Esquire  Isaac  Sherman  says  this. 


Bridgeport.  5,^ 

maker's  hammer,  and  his  throat  cut  from  car  to  car.  His 
body  was  then  wrapped  in  his  bed  ch)thes  and  put  under  the 
counter  and  the  store  set  on  fire.  David  and  John  DcForest 
were  young  men  unmarried,  and  affirmed  that  their  store  was 
robbed  of  over  one  thousand  dollars  in  hard  money  at  the 
time  of  said  murder.  There  was  no  bank-note  currency  at 
that  time.  No  clue  to  said  murder  has  ever  been  found.  The 
store  was  soon  discovered  to  be  on  fire,  and  the  fire  was  put 
out  before  much  damage  was  done.  A  piece  of  broadcloth 
was  found  under  a  lot  of  boards  near  the  store.  This  casualty 
caused  the  failure  of  the  DeForest  brothers.  David  went  to 
the  Brazils,  where  he  made  a  fortune  and  obtained  the  title 
Don  David  DeForest.  He  married  a  Miss  Wooster  and  re- 
turned to  New  Haven,  where  he  built  a  house. 

No,  42,  Bhenezer  Hall  was  a  farmer,  and  married 
for  his  second  wife  the  widow  of  Capt.  Thaddeus  Bennett. 
Seth  Hall  was  his  son,  and  was  a  poet  and  post-rider  for 
many  years.  He  and  his  father  were  both  old  men  when 
the}'^  died.  The  Halls  in  this  parish  appear  to  be  a  long-lived 
race. 

No.  43.  Nathaniel  Sherwood  was  an  early  settler 
and  a  farmer.  He  was  the  son  of  Samuel,  the  son  of  Matthew. 
He  lived  on  Toilsome  Hill,  and  married  one  of  the  nine 
daughters  of  Dea.  David  Sherman.  He  had  one  son,  Samuel, 
and  a  daughter,  Eunice,  who  married  Abijah  Sterling. 

No.  44,  Gurdon  Shevivood  was  a  farmer  and  married 
Hannah  Hawley.  He  died  3'oung,  leaving  no  children.  He 
died  with  the  small-pox  taken  the  natural  way.  His  widow 
married  a  Mr.  Penfield  of  Fairfield.  She  gave  in  her  will  one 
share  of  Connecticut  bank  stock  to  the  First  Congregational 
Society  in  Bridgeport,  the  interest  or  dividend  to  be  applied 
to  the  use  of  said  societ}'  forever.  She  was  a  member  of  this 
Church,  and  died  aged  about  83  years. 

No.  45,  Capt.  John  Edwards  was  a  native  of  Scot- 
land, and  came  to  this  country  about  the  year  1700.  lie  was 
an  officer  in  the  army  in  Scotland  when  he  was  taken  pris- 
oner, and  as  he  was  a  rebel  against  the  government  he  was 
sentenced  to  be  shot,  and  on  the  way  to  the  place  of  execu- 


5  20  History  of  Stratford. 

tion,  guarded  by  a  company  of  light  horse,  he  made  his  escape 
and  hid  himself  under  a  bridge.  They  searched  for  him 
under  the  bridge  where  he  was,  but  did  not  find  him.  From 
this  place  he  made  his  way  to  a  vessel,  on  board  of  which  he 
came  to  this  country.  It  is  supposed  that  he  landed  at  Black 
Rock  harbor,  and  that  he  built  his  house  on  Chestnut  Hill^ 
the  country  being  a  wilderness,  so  that  he  would  be  concealed 
from  any  ships  that  might  be  looking  after  him.  From  his 
dwelling  he  could  overlook  Black  Rock  harbor.  He  was 
known  by  the  title  of  Duke,  but  on  his  gravestone  he  bears 
the  title  of  Captain.  He  died  aged  88  years,  about  the  year 
1740,  and  is  buried  with  his  wife  Mary  in  the  old  Stratfield 
burying-place,  near  the  southwest  corner. 

He  gave  a  silver  cup  to  the  first  Congregational  Church 
in  Bridgeport  that  is  now  used  in  the  communion  service. 

He  is  the  ancestor  of  nearly  all  by  the  name  of  Edwards 
in  this  region  of  country.  "  He  was,"  says  Esquire  Sherman, 
"grandfather  to  my  grandmother,  Betty  Edwards,  who  mar- 
ried my  grandfather,  John  French.  So  that  I  am  part  Scotch 
blood  and  part  English." 

JVo.  4rS.  Dea.  Abel  Seeley  was  a  farmer,  but  left  no 
descendants.  He  left  his  estate  to  Capt.  Elijah  Peet,  his 
adopted  son. 

^o.  47.  Jackson*s  Mill,  The  first  settler  here  by  the 
name  of  Jackson  was  Henry,  who  came  from  Watertown, 
Mass.  The  family  was  prominent  and  somewhat  numerous 
in  the  early  period  of  Fairfield  and  Stratfield,  though  now 
scarcely  represented. 

Henry  Jackson,  who  sold  his  Fairfield  Mill  to  Thomas 
Morehouse,  probably  erected  a  mill  on  this  location  about 
1667.  Mary  Jackson  was  admitted  to  full  fellowship  in  the 
Stratfield  Church  from  the  Church  in  Norwalk,  Conn.,  Dec. 
20,  1697. 

In  the  Acts  of  the  General  Assembly,  May,  1701,  defining 
the  boundary  line  of  Stratfield  Parish :  It  is  ordered  and 
enacted,  "That  the  line  to  be  the  west  boundary  of  the  said 
plantation  shall  run  so  that  it  may  include  within  their  bounds 
one  Moses  Jackson,  Miller,  his  housing  and  lands,  and  run  on 
the  west  side  of  old  Jackson's  lotts,  viz.,  pasture,  building  lot 
and  long  lot." 


Bridgeport, 


521 


In  Fairfield  Town  Record.*  under  date  Au^.  14,  1731, 
Moses  Jackson  is  said  to  have  "had  (luiet  possession  of  his 
mill  for  fifteen  years  last  past."  In  the  list  of  Householders, 
made  by  Rev.  Samuel  Cooke,  in  1733  or  1734,  the  following 
names  occur:  Moses  Jackson,  John  Jackson,  widow  Gabriel 
Jackson,  John  Jackson,  David  Jackson,  Sen.,  David  Jackson. 
Jr,  The  lands  of  this  family  seem  to  have  been  located  on 
the  westerly  side  of  Truck  street. 

3^0.  4:8,  Silas  Hawley  was  a  farmer  and  has  no  de- 
scendants now  living  in  this  parish.  His  house  was  owned 
and  occupied  by  Amos  Burr,  Esqr. 

No,  49,  John  Nichols  was  a  farmer,  blacksmith  and 
inn-keeper.  General  Washington  stopped  at  his  house  as  he 
was  going  to  meet  General  Lafayette  at  Rhode  Island.  Oppo- 
site to  his  house  there  is  now  standing  one  of  the  mile  stones 


BENJAMIN    franklin's    MILE-STONE. 

erected  by  Benjamin    Franklin  before   the   Revolution,  when 
he  was  Colonial  Postmaster  General.     He  measured  the  old 


Book  B.,  page  520. 


522  History  of  Stratford. 

country  stage-road  from  Philadelphia  to  Boston,  by  an  ingen- 
ious device  affixed  to  his  carriage  as  he  passed  over  the  road, 
which  marked  the  miles,  and  at  the  end  of  each  mile  he 
caused  a  stone  to  be  erected  with  the  number  of  miles  from 
one  important  place  to  another,  cut  on  each  stone. 

The  Nichols  house  is  still  standing  on  the  corner  of  said 
road,  and  the  public  parade  ground  is  near  it  and  near  the 
old  burying-place. 

John  Nichols  owned  a  slave  named  Tom,  who  ran  away 
from  his  master  and  was  never  recovered. 

JVo.  50,  Williafn  JBuri%  Esq,,  was  a  merchant  and 
justice  of  the  peace,  and  a  descendant  of  Col.  John  Burr. 
The  site  of  his  house  is  now  occupied  by  the  new  house  of 
Sherwood  Sterling,  Esq. 

No,  51,  Joseph  Strong,  Esq.,  was  a  farmer,  and  jus- 
tice of  the  peace.  His  children  were  John  Strong,  the  only 
son;  and  daughters  Deborah,  Sarah,  Charity,  Ann,  and  Com- 
fort. Deborah  married  David  Sterling.  Charity  married  Ira 
Jones,  the  first  printer  of  a  paper  called  the  American  Tele- 
graph, in  Bridgeport,  in  company  with  Lazarus  Beach,  about 
the  year  1796. 

NOo  52,  Hev,  Robert  Moss  was  born  in  America,  in 
1726,  of  Irish  parents  ;  was  graduated  at  Princeton  College 
in  175 1,  receiving  his  diploma  from  President  Burr,  and  or- 
dained pastor  of  the  Stratfield  Church,  November  28,  1753, 
and  labored  as  such  for  more  than  forty-two  years.  He  was 
a  strong  Whig  in  the  Revolution,  and  when  the  first  military 
company  was  raised  in  1775  to  go  to  Canada  to  take  Fort  St. 
John's  it  was  mustered  in  his  door  yard,  where  they  all 
kneeled  down  while  he  offered  prayer,  and  I  believe  it  to  be 
a  fact  that  all  of  the  company  returned  in  safety,  says  Esquire 
Sherman. 

He  published  a  sermon,  from  these  words  :  "  And  there 
were  great  searchings  of  heart  for  the  divisions  of  Reuben." 
He  also  made  a  grammar  and  spelling  book  for  schools. 

He  was  about  six  feet  in  height,  well-proportioned,  and 
of  rather  imposing  presence.     He  wore  a  wig,  cocked   hat, 


Bridgeport.  523 

ruffled  bosomed  shirt,  black  coat,  vest  and  breeches,  with 
white  topped  boots,  cramped  so  as  to  set  tight  on  the  instep. 
As  he  was  once  on  a  journey  he  got  them  wet,  and,  having 
pulled  them  off  to  dry  could  not  get  them  on  again;  there- 
fore he  tied  them  with  his  mail  straps  to  his  saddle,  and  on 
his  way  he  met  parson  Bellamy,  when  they  commenced  the 
old  dispute  about  foreordination  and  free  will. 

Parson  Ross  was  of  the  Old  Light  party,  and  was  consid- 
ered orthodox,  and  parson  Bellamy  was  of  the  New  Light 
party.  "Now,"  said  parson  Ross,  "You  think  you  can 
reconcile  foreordination  with  free  will?"  "Yes."  "Well, 
you  can  even  tell  why  my  boots  are  tied  on  behind  me?" 
This  he  could  not  do,  and  in  it  parson  Ross  had  an  illustra- 
tion, for  he  believed  in  election,  foreordination  and  free  will, 
but  denied  the  power  of  man  to  reconcile  them. 

Parson  Ross,  on  a  certain  occasion  preached  a  sermcjn 
before  the  Association  ;  and  tradition  reports  that  at  the  close 
of  the  sermon  he  said:  "  My  brethren,  we  are  charged  in  the 
text  to  be  wise  as  the  serpent  and  harmless  as  the  dove,  but  I 
think  we  ought  to  be  cunninger  than  the  serpent,  which  is 
the  Devil;  we  ought  to  outwit  him." 

Parson  Ross  was  a  slave-holder  and  owned  one  African 
slave  by  the  name  of  Pedro.  He  held  no  slaves  after  the 
Revolution. 

He  resigned  his  pastorate  April  30,  1796,  and  died  August 
29,  1799,  of  a  fever,  and  within  twenty-four  hours  Mrs.  Ross 
died  of  the  same  disease,  and  they  were  both  buried  in  the 
same  grave.  Their  only  son  then  living,  Merrick  Ross,  died 
nine  days  after,  and  was  buried  also  in  the  same  grave.  He 
had  an  elder  son  who  was  drowned  in  his  father's  well.  He 
also  had  a  daughter  Sarah. 

JVb.  53,  Henjamin  Fayevweathev  was  a  farmer,  and 
was  the  owner  of  Fayerweather's  Island,  where  Black  Rock 
light  house  now  stands.  He  had  one  son,  Nathaniel,  who 
married  Charity  Summers,  and  they  had,  James,  Daniel,  and 
Polly,  who  married  William  Eaton.  Nathaniel  Fayerweather 
was  taken  prisoner  by  the  British  on  Long  Island  Sound  and 
confined  in  prison  in   what    was  afterward  Dr.  Spring's  old 


524  History  of  Stratford. 

Brick  Church,  which  was  then  in  possession  of  the  enemy 
and  was  used  as  a  prison.  He  died  of  small-pox  in  this  prison. 
His  widow  died  in  this  parish  aged  over  90  years.  She  was 
a  convert  of  the  Rev.  Samuel  Blatchford,  and  was  a  mother 
in  Israel. 

iVo.  54z,    First  Protestant  JEpiscopal  Church  in  the 

parish.  The  Episcopalians  in  the  parish  of  Stratfield,  erected 
in  1748,  a  small  frame  church  with  a  steeple  surmounted  with 
a  gilt  weather-cock ;  that  device  being  used  as  emblematical 
of  the  crowing  of  the  cock  when  the  Apostle  Peter  denied 
his  Lord. 

Said  Church  was  opened  for  service  in  1749,  and  called 
St.  John's  Church.  It  was  built  near  Church  lane,  about  a 
quarter  of  a  mile  west  of  the  Pequonnock  meeting-house. 
It  was  not  finished  until  1789,  when  it  was  consecrated  'by  the 
Right  Rev.  Bishop  Seabury. 

This  Church  was  taken  down  in  the  year  1801  and  rebuilt 
at  the  city  of  Bridgeport  on  the  corner  of  State  and  Broad 
streets,  retaining  the  same  name,  and  it  being  the  same  church 
that  is  now,  in  1856,  under  the  pastoral  care  of  the  Rev. 
Gurdon  S.  Coit.  The  Rev.  Philo  Shelton  was  its  first  pastor, 
who  commenced  his  labors  in  1779,  and  died  in  1825,  aged 
about  70  years. 

The  principal  proprietors  in  building  this  Stratfield 
Church  were  Col.  John  Burr,  John  Holburton,  Timothy 
Wheeler,  Joseph  Seeley,  John  Nichols,  Richard  Hall  and 
Samuel  Beardsley.  The  land  on  which  the  Church  stood  was 
opened  to  commons  on  the  east  side  of  Church  lane,  and  con- 
tained about  half  an  acre. 

No,  55,  John  Holburton,  from  England,  was  a  farmer. 
He  had  children,  Thomas,  William,  and  one  daughter,  who 
married  Capt.  Stephen  Summers,  of  Cow  Hill.  She  was  the 
mother  of  one  son,  Stephen,  who  married  Betsey  Young,  and 
of  four  daughters, — Charity,  who  married  Capt.  Wilson 
Hawley;  Polly,  who  married  Capt.  Abijah  Hawley  ;  Grizell, 
who  married  Capt.  Aaron  Hawley,  and  Ruth,  who  married 
Mr.  Nathaniel  Wade. 


Bridgeport.  525 

No,  56,  Samuel  Cable,  a  cooper  by  trade  anrl  inn- 
keeper, was  a  large,  strong  man  and  lived  to  a  good  old  age. 
He  had  sons  Samuel  and  William,  and  daughters  Charity  ?nd 
Ann.  Samuel  Cable,  Sen.,  came  here  from  a  place  called 
Compo,  near  Saugatuck.  He  married,  first,  Mary  Porter,  of 
Stratford. 

No,  57,  Sevfft,  Jahez  Summers  was  a  farmer.  His 
children  were:  Jabez,  Jr.,  and  Mary,  who  married  Mr.  Seth 
Sherman;  and  Alice,  who  never  married.  He  was  a  slave- 
holder. 

No,  B.  The  Parsonage  Lot,  containing  three  acres 
of  land  at  Pequonnock,  was  given  to  the  Stratfield  Society  by 
the  wife  of  the  Rev.  Robert  Ross,  for  the  use  and  benefit  of 
the  pastor  for  the  time  being.  The  deeds  are  recorded  in  the 
Society's  book,  and  in  Fairfield  and  Stratford  town  records. 

No,  58,  Abel  Leivis  was  by  occupation  a  cabinet- 
maker, and  was  the  father  of  Ichabod  Lewis,  who  removed 
from  the  place  since  the  Revolutionary  War.  There  are 
none  of  his  descendants  now  living  in  this  parish. 

No.  59.  Jacob  Sterlhif/f  an  early  settler,  came  from 
England,  and  was  a  ship  carpenter.  He  came  to  Cape  Cod, 
thence  to  Haverhill,  from  which  place  he  fled  at  the  time  the 
Indians  massacred  most  of  the  inhabitants.  He  went  to 
Lyme,  Conn.,  and  came  thence  to  this  parish.  My  paternal 
grandmother  was  his  granddaughter  and  the  wife  of  David 
Sherman,  who  was  killed  by  lightning  in  the  old  Pequonnock 
meeting-house  in  1771. 

Jacob  Sterling  married  Mrs.  Hannah  (Odell)  Seeley,  of 
Fairfield.  His  descendants  are  quite  numerous.  He  resided 
first  at  Fresh  Pond. 

No,  60,  Abijah  Sterlinfj,  JEsqr.,  son  of  Stephen  and 
grandson  of  Jacob  Sterling,  No.  59,  was  a  farmer,  a  public 
spirited  man,  for  man}'  years  a  representative  to  the  Gen- 
eral Assembly,  and  was  a  fine  looking  man, — one  of  nature's 
noblemen.  He  had  only  a  common  school  education  ;  was 
justice  of  the  peace,  and  general  arbitrator  and  peace  maker 
in  the  parish.     He   owned  a  carriage,  called  a  chaise,  in  the 


526  History  of  Stratford. 

autumn  of  1776,  it  being  without  a  top.  He  heard  that  my 
father,  David  Sherman  and  Esquire  Sterling,  brother  of 
Stephen,  then  with  the  Stratfield  militia  company,  under 
command  of  Capt.  Thaddeus  Bennett  in  the  city  of  New 
York,  were,  with  many  of  the  company,  sick  and  dying  with 
dysentery,  and  he  went  after  them  with  his  carriage.  He 
found  the  two  sick  in  a  barn  at  Harlem,  Capt.  Bennett  hav- 
ing discharged  them  so  that  they  might  try  to  get  home. 
He,  like  the  good  Samaritan,  put  them  both  into  his  carriage, 
and  then  led  the  horse  until  they  arrived  at  home,  where  both 
recovered. 

Lieut.  Edward  Burroughs  of  the  same  company  and  of  this 
parish,  died  with  the  same  distemper  after  he  reached  home. 

1^0.  61,  tTaines  Sawlei/f  was  a  farmer,  and  a  descend- 
ant of  Joseph  Hawley,  one  of  the  first  settlers  in  the  old  town 
plot  of  Stratford.  Stephen  Hawley,  now  living  in  Bridge- 
port, is  descended  from   him. 

iVo.  62.  Dea.  Joseph  JBooth  was  a  farmer  and  a  lead- 
ing man  in  the  town  and  church.  He  was  chosen  Deacon  of 
the  Stratfield  Church  in  1733,  and  died  in  1763. 

No.  63.  Eliphalet  Jennings  was  a  farmer  at  Fresh 
Pond,  and  lived  on  the  place  now  occupied  by  James  Porter. 
He  married  Sarah,  the  only  daughter  of  Parson  Ross.  They 
have  descendants  now  (1856),  living,  namely:  Capt.  Robert 
R.  Jennings  and  James  Jennings  and  others,  children  of  said 
Captain  Jennings.  These  are  the  only  descendants  of  parson 
Ross. 

Wo.  64.  Deacon  Seth  Slievnian  was  descended  from 
Lieut.  David  Sherman,  through  Elnathan  and  Ebenezer  Sher- 
man, and  conducted  a  tanning  and  currying  business  on  these 
premises.  He  was  Deacon  of  the  Stratfield  Congregational 
Church  from  1799  to  his  death,  August  7,  1807.  He  married 
Mary,  daughter  of  Jabez  Summers.  His  children  were  Anson, 
who  married  Priscilla  Hoyt ;  Rowland,  who  died  young,  and 
Polly,  who  married Southard. 

The  tanning  and  currying  business  was  continued  here  a 
number  of  years  by  Samuel    Peet  and  James  French.     The 


Bridgeport.  527 

late  John  Plumb,  E.  Allen  Parrott,  and  Thomas  Ward,  jr., 
were  among  their  apprentices.  The  fine  residence  now  located 
upon  the  premises  was  built  by  Eli  Thompson  about  1857. 

iVb.  G5,  Hamuel  French  was  a  farmer  at  Fresh  Pond, 
and  lived  where  the  house  of  Eben  French  now  (1856)  stands. 
He  married  a  daughter  of  Samuel  Sherman,  of  Old  Mill,  and 
is  the  ancestor  of  all  who  bear  the  name  of  French  in  this 
region  of  country. 

JSo.  66,    Hope  Walk  of  A.  &  VV.  Hawley. 

^o.  67.  ^enoni  French^  the  son  of  Samuel  French, 
was  a  farmer  and  lived  in  the  house  (1856)  owned  by  Henry 
Olmstead.  He  had  no  sons  and  only  one  daughter,  who  mar- 
ried Freeman  Lewis,  the  father  of  the  late  Alanson  Lewis, 
and  Mrs.  Eliakim  Hough. 

Wo.  68,    District  School  House  at  Fresh  Pond. 

Wo.  69,  Ahijiih  Heardsley  was  a  farmer  and  black- 
smith. He  married  Drusilla,  daughter  of  Master  Wheeler, 
of  Toilsome  Hill.  She  was  about  90  years  of  age  when  she 
died.  She  received  a  pension  for  the  services  of  her  husband 
in  the  Revolution.  They  had  sons  Anson,  Wheeler  and 
Abijah.  Abijah.  Jr.,  when  about  twenty  years  of  age  went  as 
a  seaman  from  Bridgeport  in  1805,  in  a  brig  commanded  by 
Capt.  Samuel  Hawley,  to  Antigua,  on  which  voyage  he  was 
taken  by  an  English  press-gang  and  forced  on  board  an  Eng- 
lish man-of-war,  where  he  was  put  on  ship's  duty  for  a  cruise 
for  several  months,  until  the  man-of-war  returned  to  Antigua. 

Through  the  aid  of  Sylvanus  Sterling  and  Robert  South- 
worth,  who  were  then  doing  business  there,  he  was  liberated 
from  the  man-of-war  and  sent  home  in  a  brig  bound  for  Wash- 
ington, North  Carolina  in  the  month  of  January,  1806.  I  was 
then  employed  in  a  schooner  belonging  to  the  owner  of  said 
brig,  of  which  schooner  my  brother  David  Sherman  was 
master.  Both  vessels  being  at  anchor  at  Ocracock  Bar,  we 
went  on  board  the  brig  to  make  the  captain  a  visit.  Soon 
after  we  got  on  board  the  captain  said:  "I  have  a  country- 
man of  yours  on  board,  I  will  call   him   and  see  if  you  know 


528  History  of  Stratford. 

him."  Soon  a  poor  ragged  sailor  boy  came  into  the  cabin, 
and,  although  we  were  intimate  with  him  at  home,  we  could 
not  recognize  him  because  his  sufferings  had  been  so  great  on 
the  brig,  they  having  been  on  allowance  of  a  potato  a  day  for 
a  number  of  days.  His  joy  at  seeing  us  was  very  great,  but 
still  greater  when  we  told  him  we  would  furnish  him  suitable 
clothing  and  give  him  a  passage  to  New  York.  We  brought 
him  home,  to  the  great  joy  of  his  widowed  mother. 

Soon  after  he  shipped  on  board  of  a  schooner  belonging 
to  the  Prindles  of  Bridgeport,  and  sailed  for  the  West  Indies, 
which  schooner  was  lost  in  a  hurricane  in  1806,  and  all  on 
board  perished. 

No.  70*    Jacob  Sterling's  Shi2)vard. 

Wo,  71.     Charles  Burrittf  Jr.^  was  a  farmer. 

JSfo.  72.  Joel  Parish  was  a  shoemaker.  He  married 
a  sister  of  Maj.  Aaron  Hawley;  had  three  daughters.  One 
died  with  consumption,  and  the  others  removed  to  New 
Jersey. 

Wo,  73,  Stephen  Utirroughs,  JEsqr.f  was  a  farmer, 
ship-builder,  Boston  coaster,  ship-master,  mathematician,  as- 
tronomer, and  surveyor — a  self-made  man.  He  was  about 
five  feet  eight  inches  in  height,  strong  built,  was  never  sick 
during  his  long  life,  a  cold  water  man,  and  died  in  1817,  aged 
88  years.  He  was  an  active  Whig  in  the  Revolution,  when 
he  raised  a  militia  company  called  Householders,  of  which  he 
was  chosen  captain.  He  was  often  chosen  representative, 
and  was  justice  of  the  peace  for  many  years.  He  owned  the 
parish  grist  mill  called  the  Burroughs  mill,  that  stood  where 
the  Pequonnock  woolen  mills  now  stand. 

He  was  blind  for  several  years  before  his  decease.  It  is 
said  he  invented,  about  the  year  1798,  the  system  of  Federal 
Money  as  now  used  in  the  United  States. 

His  children  were,  Stephen,  Isaac,  David,  and  Abijah, 
sons,  one  of  which,  Abijah,  was  lost  at  sea,  and  David  died  of 
a  fever  caught  in  Boston,  and  was  buried  at  Martha's  Vine- 
yard, about  the  year  1796;  and  he  had  three  daughters — 
Eunice,  married  a  Pendleton,  of  Stratford  ;    Betsey,  married 


Bridgeport.  520 

Capt.  Joseph  Sterling-  Edwards,  and  Huldah  married  Joseph 
Backus,  Esqr.,  of  Bridgeport,  Conn. 

No,  74,  Shipyard  and  store  of  Stephen  Burroughs, 
well  known  for  many  years. 

JVo.  75,  Elijah  Binritt  was  a  blacksmith,  buckskin 
leather  dresser,  cooper  and  farmer,  and  died  at  the  advanced 
age  of  98  years.  He  was  six  feet  in  height,  well  made,  fine 
presence,  and  was  never  sick  until  the  last  year  of  his  life. 
He  had  one  son,  Daniel,  and  three  daughters.  His  first  wife 
was  the  daughter  of  John  Hall.     He  died,  Sept.  23,  1841. 

It  was  from  him  that  I  derived  much  of  the  information 
relative  to  the  early  settlers  of  this  parish. 

Mr.  Burritt  retained  his  faculties  until  the  year  1840, 
when  he  failed  slowly  until  his  death.  I  asked  liim  about  a 
year  before  his  death,  if  death  did  not  appear  to  be  very  near. 
He  replied,  "Not  any  nearer  than  forty  years  ago;"  that  he 
had  "  always  felt  that  he  might  die  any  day,  but  when  he 
came  to  reflect  that  he  was  97  3'ears  of  age,  his  reason  and 
judgment  satisfied  him  that  death  must  be  very  near. 

JS'o,  76.  The  SurroiigJis  GristmiU  of  Revolutionary 
times.  This  was  an  old  mill  site,  as  seen  on  page  280  of  this 
book,  granted  first  to  the  Sherwood  family. 

JS'o,  77.  Josiah  Smith  was  a  miller  at  the  Burroughs 
mill.     He  had  one  son,  Josiah,  and  one  daughter.  Comfort. 

No.  78.  JPhilixp  KicJiolSf  son  of  Theophilus,  was  born 
in  January,  1726.  Beginning  business  life  for  himself  about 
1747  he  had  twenty-five  years  cotemporary  with  his  father, 
and  they  seem  to  have  been  well  and  advantageously  im- 
proved, and  after  his  father's  decease  he  continued  probably 
an  active  business  life  twenty-five  years  longer,  dying  in  1807, 
in  his  82d  year. 

While  his  father  thought  that  Newpasture  Point  would 
develope  into  a  city  and  shipping  place,  Philip  inclined  to  the 
opinion  that  the  west  side  of  the  harbor  would  first  become  a 
city,  and  therefore  made  considerable  purchases  of  land  where 
now  much  of  the  business  portion  of  the   city  of  Bridgeport 


530  History  of  Stratford. 

stands,  which  investments  furnished  his  children  with   con 
siderable  valuable  property. 

His  dwelling  was  at  No.  78,  on  the  map  at  the  corner  of 
the  roads,  and  a  large  portion  of  his  business  life  was  con- 
nected with  the  brick  store  and  shipyard  near  the  house 
on  the  shore.  The  shipping  trade  of  Bridgeport  was  first 
developed  at  that  place  on  the  Pequonnock  river,  and  after- 
wards came  down  gradually  to  its  present  localities. 

Philip  Nichols  was  a  prominent  communicant  of  the 
Episcopal  Church  at  Stratford.  The  parish  book  shows  the 
following  record  : 

"  At  a  parish  meeting  of  Christ  Church,  Stratford,  held 
Easter  Monday,  April  20,  1772,  it  was  voted  that  the  pew 
next  to  the  pulpit  be  given  to  Captain  Philip  Nichols,  he 
building  the  Christening  Pew." 

His  descendants  were  prominent  in  the  community  and 
other  parts  of  the  counti-y,  many  years. 

No.  79,  John  Peet  appears  to  have  owned  this  place  in 
1694,  according  to  the  land  records,  with  perhaps  a  dwelling 
on  it,  but  considerable  portion  of  Mr.  Peet's  land  at  this  place 
was  purchased  by  Richard  or  Theophilus  Nichols,  and  in  the 
inventory  of  the  latter's  estate  it  is  called  "  Captain  Peat's 
lot;"  twenty-three  acres  being  valued  at  ^^126-10. 

No,  80.  Williafii  JPixlee,  son  of  William  of  Hadley, 
Massachusetts;  was  born  June  27,  1669;  came  to  Stratford 
when  twenty-one  years  of  age  and  purchased  his  first  land  of 
Abraham  Mitchell,  three  acres,  at  what  is  now  the  southwest- 
ern corner  of  Old  Mill  Green,  on  the  21st  day  of  April,  1690. 
He  continued  to  buy  land  in  that  vicinity,  almost  yearly,  so 
that  in  twelve  years  he  had  about  fifty  acres,  besides  pieces 
in  other  parts  of  the  town.  One  piece  that  he  purchased, 
in  1694,  adjoining  his  own  land,  was  bounded  "  on  the 
south  with  the  trench  that  dreans  the  pond,  and  on  the  east 
with  the  pond."  This  shows  that  an  effort  had  been  made  at 
that  early  day,  to  drain  that  pond. 

William  Pixlee  married  Grace,  daughter  of  David 
Mitchell,  in  November,  1701,  when  he  had  a  good  farm  and 
home   of  his  own.     He  had  two  sons,  Peter  and  David,  the 


Bridgeport.  5  ■51 

latter  died  in  1742,  aged  38  years.  Peter  occupjicd  the  home- 
stead with  his  mother  as  long  as  she  lived,  probably,  and  he, 
after  having  been  a  prominent  and  influential  citizen,  died  in 
1788,  aged  85  years. 

William  Pixlee,  the  father,  died  in  the  early  part  of  the 
year  1712,  the  inventory  of  his  property  being  taken  March 
17,  17 12,  to  which  his  widow  made  oath  April  2,  1712. 

Peter  Pixlee,  the  son,  had  a  son  William  who  lived  on  the 
old  homestead,  and  was  the  first  to  receive  liberty  from  the 
town  to  build  a  mill  at  what  is  now  known  as  the  Berkshire 
Mills."     He  was  a  prominent  business  man  of  the  town. 

No.  81,  Richard  Nichols,  son  of  Isaac,  Jr.,  grandson 
of  Isaac,  Sen,,  and  great-grandson  of  Francis  Nichols,  the 
first  of  the  name  at  Stratford,  was  born  at  Stratford,  Novem- 
ber 26,  1678,  and  was  twelve  years  of  age  when  his  father 
died,  after  which  his  mother  and  her  three  sons  removed  to, 
and  resided  at,  Newtown,  L.  I. 

Richard  seems  to  have  returned  to  Stratford  about  the 
year  1700,  and  on  June  2,  1702,  married  Comfort,  daughter  of 
Theophilus  Sherman.'" 

Richard  Nichols  purchased  land  at  Old  Mill  Green  as 
early  as  the  spring  of  17 10,  and  thereafter  for  several  years 
he  purchased  land  almost  yearly  in  the  same  vicinity. 

A  number  of  settlers  had  been  living  at  Old  Mill  from 
thirty  to  forty  years  when  Richard  Nichols  came  there, 
namely:  Samuel  Sherman,  Jr.,  Benjamin  Sherman,  John 
Hurd,  John  Peet,  and  Samuel  Blakeman's  family. 

His  home  was  established  on  what  is  now  the  corner  of  Old 
Mill  Green  and  East  Main  street,  where  he  resided  until  his 
death  in  1756,  in  his  78th  year.  Mr.  Nichols  was  a  prominent 
man  in  the  first  ecclesiastical  society  in  the  town.  In  the 
building  of  the  third  meeting-house,  in  1743,  he  was  one  with 
Captain  Robert  Walker  and  David  Porter  as  committee,  to 
secure  a  committee  from  the  General  Court  to  select  the  site 
for  that  house.  He  was  engaged  frequently  in  the  settle- 
ment of  the  estates  of  deceased  persons. 

^  See  page  405  of  this  book. 

'0  This  relation  is  proved  by  a  deed  in  which  the  fact  is  stated  (see  genealogy). 


532  History  of  Stratford. 

He  was  the  leading  man,  apparently,  in  securing  to  the 
public  generally  the  wide  street  called  Old  Mill  Green,  called 
at  that  day  Pembroke  street,  and  to  him  and  those  associated 
with  him  in  that  public  enterprise,  the  people,  and  especially 
those  of  the  City  of  Bridgeport,  will  ever  be  grateful.'' 

In  his  will,  dated  September  25,  1755,  and  proved  four- 
teen days  after,  he  gave  his  homestead  to  his  son  Joseph,  con- 
taining about  thirty-five  acres,  "  with  buildings,  and  the  re- 
mainder of  my  pasture  lot  nigh  to  John  Hurd's  homestead, 
and  all  my  lot  of  land  at  Daniel's  Farm,  southward  of  the 
Park,  about  twenty-five  acres,  also  the  whole  of  my  lot  of 
wood  land  at  Ireland's  Brook,  about  six  acres." 

He  says  further  :  "  I  give  to  my  son  Nathaniel  Nichols, 
one  piece  of  land  that  I  purchased  of  Jabez  Beardslee,  lying 
northward  of  Totocock  (so  called)  in  the  bounds  of  said  Strat- 
ford. 


"  Sequestered  Land  for  Pembroke  Street. 

"  Know  all  men  by  these  presents,  that  we,  Richard  Nichols,  Nathaniel 
Sherman,  Samuel  Judson,  Peter  Pixlee,  Ebenezer  Hurd,  Theophilus  Nichols, 
Samuel  Shearman,  Timothy  Shearman  and  Joseph  Nichols,  all  of  the  town  of 
Stratford  in  the  Count}^  of  Fairfield,  for  and  in  consideration  of  the  love  and  good 
will  we  have  for  the  town  of  Stratford  and  the  inhabitants  thereof,  and  in  order  to 
preserve  the  common  good  thereof,  said  town  being  the  land  of  our  nativity  and 
the  inhabitants  the  first  of  our  acquaintance  here  on  earth,  We  do  give,  grant, 
make  over  and  confirm  unto  Mr.  Benjamin  Sherman  of  the  said  town  of  Stratford 
and  to  their  successors,  inhabitants  of  said  town  forever,  a  certain  tract  of  land 
being  and  lying  in  said  Stratford  township  in  Pembroke  street  so  called,  contain- 
ing in  quantity  about  six  acres  of  land,  little  more  or  less,  and  it  is  butted  and 
bounded  on  all  points  with  common  land  as  may  appear  by  the  survey  bill  thereof 
on  Stratford  records,  for  him  the  said  Benjamin  Shearman  and  the  rest  of  the  said 
inhabitants  of  the  said  town  of  Stratford  : — To  have  and  to  hold  the  above  de- 
scribed tract  of  land  to  be  and  lye  a  perpetual  common  to  and  for  the  use  of  them 
their  successors  throughout  all  generations  to  the  end  of  time. 

Affirming  at  the  time  of  this  grant  we  are  well  seized  of  the  premises  and  have 
in  ourselves  full  power  to  grant  the  same  as  in  manner  above  expressed  and  that 
our  true  intent  is,  the  same  should  be  for  a  common  use  of  all  the  Inhabitants  of 
the  town  of  Stratford  and  their  successors  forever,  never  to  be  severed  in  any 
manner  whatsoever.  To  confirm  all  above  written  promises  We  have  hereunto 
set  our  hands  and  seals  this  25th  day  of  November,  A.  D.  1740  : 

"  Richard  Nichols,  Nathaniel  Shearman,  Samuel  Judson,  Peter  Pixlee,  Ebe- 
nezer  Hurd,  Theoph"  Nichols,  Samuel  Shearman,  Timothy  Shearman,  Joseph 
Nichols." 


Bridgeport.  t-i-i 

Xo.  82.  John  Judson  was  the  owner  of  this  place 
and  perhaps  residing  on  it  in  1702,  according  to  a  deed  re- 
ceived by  William  Pixlee  and  given  by  Nathaniel  Sherman, 
of  the  land  lying  between  it  and  the  road  on  the  west  side  of  it. 

Xo,  83.  Theo2>7illiis  Mr  hols,  IJsf/.^  son  of  Richard 
Nichols,  was  born,  March  31,  1703.  He  married,  January 
1723-4,  Sarah,  daughter  of  Lt.  Ebenezer  Curtiss,  and  settled 
on  the  north  side  of  the  street  nearly  opposite  his  father's 
residence,  where  he  resided  until  his  decease  in  1774.  This 
home  was  held  by  the  Nichols  family  until  1807,  then  by  the 
Judson  family  of  that  localit3\ 

His  father,  doubtless,  gave  him  the  land  for  his  home- 
stead when  he  was  married,  and  he  became  a  prosperous 
farmer.  He  also  engaged  in  ship  building  and  mercantile 
business  to  a  considerable  extent,  probably,  before  as  well  as 
after  his  father's  decease  in  1756,  but  in  his  father's  will  there 
is  no  mention  of  stores  or  shipyard.  In  that  will  the  father 
gave  to  Theophilus,  with  other  pieces  of  land,  "one  lot  in 
Newpasture  Field  called  Gaspin's  Point,  about  twenty-four 
acres."  In  the  inventory  of  the  estate  of  Theophilus,  dated 
May  23,  1774,  this  property  is  mentioned,  thus:  "twelve 
acres  of  land  on  the  north  end  of  the  point  lot  ^93-10," 
and  "  three  acres  of  land  in  do.  with  the  house,  store  and 
wharf,  ^190."  This  indicates  that  within  eighteen  years  he 
had  built  the  house,  store  and  wharf,  at  what  is  now  the 
south  end  of  Pembroke  street.  In  the  same  inventory  is 
mentioned,  "three  rods  of  land  and  the  brick  house,  and  ship- 
yard adjoining,"  and  "one  acre  of  land  adjoining  on  the 
south  side."     This  was  previously  the  Sterling  shipyard. 

This  shipyard  may  have  been  the  property  of  Theophilus 
before  his  father's  death.  The  inventory  mentions  also,  "the 
one-eighth  part  of  a  schooner,  the  President,  £2^,"  and  ;6"i50 
worth  of  merchandise. 

Besides  his  business  life  Theophilus  Nichols  was  a  public 
servant  and  honored  citizen.  He  was  a  deputy  to  the  Gen- 
eral Assembly  twenty-three  years;  was  a  captain  of  the  mili- 
tia a  number  of  years  and  a  justice  of  the  peace  a  number  n! 
years  near  the  close  of  his  life. 

35 


534  History  of  Stratford. 

In  1745,  at  the  time  of  the  Great  Reviv^al  in  the  Congre- 
gational Churches,  he  united  with  the  Episcopal  Church,  and 
thereafter  rendered  great  service  to  that  cause.  Also,  the 
Probate  records  of  Fairfield  show  that  he  was  often  selected 
by  private  individuals  and  appointed  by  the  Court  to  the  ser- 
vice of  executor  and  overseer  of  wills  and  estates. 

He  died  in  1774,  aged  71  years. 

JVo.  84z.  John  Ftilsortif  son  of  Samuel,  of  Stratford, 
was  a  blacksmith  and  carried  on  his  trade  a  number  of  years 
at  this  place.  He  died  about  1815,  and  the  house  becoming 
old  was  pulled  down. 

JVo.  85.  Samuel  SJiermau,  J>\,  was  the  first  settler 
at  this  place  on  Old  Mill  Green,  as  far  as  can  be  ascertained. 
In  1663,  Samuel  Sherman,  Sen.,  purchased  James  Blakeman's 
half  of  the  mill  property  at  this  place,  which  comprised 
twenty  acres  of  upland  and  several  acres  of  meadow,  while 
Samuel  Blakeman  owned  the  other  half,  of  an  equal  number 
of  acres.  In  1680,  Samuel  Sherman,  Jr.,  received  this  land  by 
gift  from  his  father,  but  probably  had  resided  on  it  a  number 
of  years  before  that  date,  perhaps  from  1663. 

The  highway,  now  called  Pembroke  street,  began  at  Mr. 
Sherman's  house,  with  a  gate  in  the  common  fence  on  the 
south  side  of  the  Green.  This  road  after  having  been  used 
seventy  years  or  more,  was  re-surveyed  in  1749,  by  Theoph- 
ilus  Nichols  and  others,  as  Proprietors'  committee,  down  to 
the  point,  and  made  "full  three  rods  wide." 

Stiles  Lewis  and  his  son  after  him,  owned  this  place  many 
years.  The  frame  of  the  old  house  still  stands,  but  the  cov- 
ering has  been  renewed,  perhaps,  more  than  once,  and  the 
exterior  much  changed.  The  father  kept  a  tavern  here,  and 
the  north  front  room  is  said  to  have  been  occupied  by  Wash- 
ington while  on  one  of  his  trips  through  the  country. 

The  son  sold  the  place  to  Benjamin  Stillman  and  removed 
to  New  York. 

HFo.  86,  Samuel  Blakeman^  probably  resided  here, 
he  having  purchased  of  his  brother  James  in  1662,  half  of  the 
mill  property,  including  twenty  acres  of  farming  land  be- 
sides meadow  ;  and  he  died  in   1668.      His  widow   married 


Bridgeport.  r-it 

Jacob  Walker.     The  other  half  of  the  mill  property  was  pur- 
chased  by  Samuel  Sherman,  Sen.,  in  1663,  as  represented   in 

No.  85. 


iVo.  ^7.    StcitJien  Burvltl :    his    descendants    are 


a  I 


gone. 


No.  S7,"  The  JItad  Phice.  This  land,  includincr  No. 
%7,  was  originally  laid  out  to  John  Hurd,  Sen.,  and  by  his  will 
bequeathed  to  his  son  Isaac,  who  seems  to  have  died,  leaving 
no  children,  and  the  property  descended  apparently  to  his 
brother  John  and  his  children,  according  to  his  father's  will, 
and  it  was  the  Hurd  homestead  for  several  generations. 

Ehenezer  Hurdf  son  of  John  2d,  as  above,  resided  on 
this  farm  probably  nearly  all  his  life,  being  born  April  7,  1703. 
He  became  a  widely  known  person  according  to  the  following  : 
"This  same  year  (1775),  Ebenezer  Hurd,'*  a  regular  post 
rider,  closed  a  service  of  forty-eight  years,  having  begun  it 
in  1727.  Once  in  a  fortnight,  during  that  entire  period,  he 
had  made  a  journey  from  New  York  to  Saybrook  and  back, 
274  miles.  In  other  words — for  such  is  the  computation — 
during  those  forty  eight  years  he  had  traveled  over  as  much 
space  as  twelve  and  a  half  times  around  the  world,  or  as  far 
as  to  the  moon  and  half-way  back.  Meantime,  what  of  the 
wife?  Bringing  up  the  children,  managing  the  farm  and  dur- 
ing one  year  at  least,  1767,  spinning  not  less  that  five  hundred 
3^ards  of  wool  and  flax,  all  raised  on  the  place,  making  and 
mending,  especially  for  that  indefatigable  rider,  who  was 
doubtless  "hard  on  his  clothes." 

This  Ebenezer  Hurd  married  in  January,  1732,  Abigail 
Hubbell,  and  they  had  fifteen  children.  Their  gravestone 
stands  in  Huntington  burying  place,  both  inscriptions  being 
on  one  stone.     They  are  : 

"  Mr.  Ebenezer  Hurd,  died  May  7,  1788,  aged  87  years. 
Mrs.  Rebecca,  His  Wife,  died  April   16,    1783,   Aged  — 
years." 

One  of  the  sons  was  Ebenezer,  Jr.,  who  was  also  a  post 
rider,  according  to  the  following:  "The  28lh  of  November, 

'*  Magazine  of  American  History,  by  Mrs.  Martha  J.  Lamb,  18S5,  page  118. 


536  History  of  Stratford. 

died  at  Stratford,  in  Connecticut,  of  a  short  illness,  Mrs. 
Elizabeth  Hurd,  wife  of  Ebenezer  Hurd,  Jun.,  Post  Rider  of 
that  Place,  aged  24  Years  and  three  Months ;  Her  Death  is 
greatly  lamented  by  all  her  Relations.  She  was  the  daughter 
of  the  Rev.  Christopher  Newton,  of  Stratford/' 

Andrew  Hurd,  eldest  son  of  the  first  Ebenezer,  and  born 
in  173 1,  was  also  a  post  rider,  and  resided  on  the  homestead  on 
Old  Mill  Green  until  his  death,  April  29,  1819,  aged  89  years. 
He  is  still  remembered,  and  tradition  says  he  used  to  call 
out  when  he  was  to  stop,  "  Open  the  gate  for  the  King's  Post." 

From  these  last  items  it  is  probable  that  the  sons  often 
rode  post  in  place  of  their  father. 

No.  88.  Site  of  the  Old  Hilly  built  in  1652  and  3, 
and  from  which  Old  Mill  Hill  and  Old  Mill  Green  take  their 
names. 

Wo.  89.  Serfft.  Charles  Surritt  was  a  descendant  of 
Stephen  Burritt  of  Stratford,  the  celebrated  Indian  fighter  in 
King  Philip's  War,  and  the  ancestor  of  the  Hon.  Elihu  Bur- 
ritt, the  Learned  Blacksmith. 

JVo.  90,  Dea.  TJionias  Hawley  was  a  farmer  and  a 
descendant  of  Joseph,  the  first  of  the  name  in  Stratford  ; 
through  Samuel  the  eldest  son.  Most  of  the  Hawleys  of  this 
parish  are  his  descendants.  He  was  chosen  deacon  of  the 
Stratfield  church  in  1712,  and  died  in  1722,  aged  44  years. 
His  son.  Captain  Ezra  Hawley,  seems  to  have  succeeded 
him  on  the  paternal  homestead,  and  also  his  grandson,  Ezra 
Hawley,  Jr.  Among  the  sons  of  the  last  was  Wilson,  a  well 
known  and  leading  farmer  and  merchant  of  this  place  ;  and 
Abram,  who  married  Alice  Burton  of  Trumbull,  settled  in. 
Waterbury,  and  had,  among  other  children,  George  B.,  a  dis- 
tinguished physician  and  public  spirited  citizen  of  Hartford, 
Connecticut. 

No.  91.  Gurdoii  Maivley  was  a  farmer,  a  descendant 
of  Dea.  Thomas  Hawley,  through  Captain  Ezra  and  Ezra,  Jr. 


'2  Magazine  of  American   History,   1885,   page  206;   taken  from  Rivington's 
N.  Y.  Gazetteer,  Dec.  15,  1774. 


Bridgeport.  536^ 


George  Bettjainiii  Jlawlet/f  M.  J).,  the  son  of  Abra- 
ham and  Alice  (Burton)  Hawley,  was  born  in  Bridtrcport, 
February  13,  18 12. 

While  he  was  yet  an  infant  his  parents  removed  to  Water- 
town,  Conn.,  where  he  spent  his  boyhood  on  his  father's  farm. 
He  fitted  for  college  at  Goshen  Academy,  entered  Yale 
College  in  1829,  and  was  graduated  in  1833.  He  also  studied 
medicine  at  Yale  and  received  his  diploma  as  an  M.  D.  in 
1836.  After  some  preliminary  work  and  practice  he  in  1840 
settled  down  to  the  regular  practice  of  his  profession  in  Hart- 
ford, which  he  continued  successfully  over  forty  years. 

He  was  a  man  of  prodigious  nervous  energy  and  phys- 
ical endurance,  which  were  brought  into  full  play  in  the  prac- 
tice of  his  chosen  profession,  and  in  many  other  interests  and 
objects  of  a  business  and  philanthropic  nature. 

The  Hartford  Hospital  and  the  more  recent  Old  People's 
Home  of  Hartford  owe  their  inception  and  success  more  to 
Dr.  Hawley  than  to  any  other  man.  He  was  interested  in 
the  local  corporations  and  enterprises  of  Hartford — to  the 
success  of  which  he  contributed  in  large  degree.  The  woven 
wire  mattress  he  viewed  in  a  sanitary  light,  and  overcoming 
some  of  the  earlier  defects,  brought  it  to  a  high  state  of  per- 
fection and  great  pecuniary  success.  He  became  interested 
in  the  mechanical  setting  and  distributing  of  type,  and  for 
twenty  years  devoted  much  time  and  money  to  its  develop- 
ment. He  was  President  of  the  Farnham  Type-Setting  Ma- 
chine Company,  which  finally  adopted  the  Page  machine,  and 
which,  under  his  fostering  interest  and  efforts,  has  been 
brought  to  a  surprising  state  of  practical  efficiency.  He  did 
not  live  (as  he  hoped)  to  see  it  manufactured  and  in  use  in  the 
large  printing  establishments  in  the  country. 

Dr.  Hawley  died  April  18,  1883.  He  was  twice  married 
and  left  a  widow  and  one  son  (by  his  first  wife).  Dr.  George 
Fuller  Hawley,  now  of  Chicago. 


±i 


iv>.  .r 


Bridgeport.  537 

Ourdon  married  Ann,  daui^htcr  of  Thomas,  his  lather's 
brother.  They  had  one  son,  Anson,  who  married  Fanny, 
daughter  of  Dea.  David  Sherwood,  a  daughter  Eliza,  who 
married  Isaac  E.  Beach. 

No,  92,  Captahk  Steptten  SuminerH  was  a  farmer 
and  Boston  coaster.  He  had  an  only  son,  Steijhen,  and 
daughters.  Charity,  Grizzeli,  Polly  and  Ruth.  Stephen,  Jr., 
was  master  of  the  brig  William,  bound  irom  Bridgeport  to 
New  Providence.  She  sailed  in  November,  18 10,  and  was 
lost  at  sea  and  all  on  board  perished. 

Wo,  93,    Daniel  Sunmiers  was  a   farmer. 

No.  94.  James  Grer/ori/  was  a  farmer;  married  Phi- 
lena  Burritt,  and  removed,  about  1808,  to  Kentucky. 

Wo.  95.  Dea.  Lemuel  Shei'woodf  son  of  Matthew, 
and  born  about  1687,  was  a  farmer.  He  was  chosen  deacon 
of  the  Stratfield  church  in  1722,  and  served  until  his  death  in 
1732.  His  father,  Matthew,  is  represented  in  the  Communion 
set  of  the  first  Congregational  Church  by  a  cup,  the  oldest 
piece  in  the  set,  inscribed  as  given  in  1713. 

Dea.  David  Shevwood^  a  descendant  of  Matthew, 
through  Samuel,  John  and  Stephen,  purchased  this  farm 
owned  by  Dea.  Lemuel  one  hundred  years  before,  consisting 
of  one  hundred  acres,  in  1830.  He  was  chosen  deaC(Mi  of  the 
First  Church,  in  1831,  and  served  about  twenty-five  years. 
He  died  January  24,  1873,  at  the  age  of  94  years. 

He  cultivated  and  kept  his  farm  nearly  intact  until  his 
decease.  The  population  and  improvements  had  so  sur- 
rounded him,  that  his  land  had  become  very  valuable.  He 
died  with  the  impression  that  he  was  very  rich.  The  land 
has  been  mostly  sold,  streets  have  been  laid  over  it,  and  these 
acres  are  covered  with  manulactures,  stores  and  fine  resi- 
dences; and  a  teeming,  busy,  population,  with  a  school  house 
and  chapels. 

No,  90,  Colonel  John  Burr  was  a  farmer,  an  early 
settler  and  a  leading  man  in  building  the  first  Episcopal 
Church.       His  farm   is   the   same  that   i^)lly    Burr,  a  grand- 


538  History  of  Stratford. 

daughter,  now  owns.  His  ancestor,  Colonel  John  Burr,  of  the 
same  name,  held  a  meeting  with  the  Indians  under  a  large  oak 
tree  near  to  where  he  built  his  house,  which  tree  is  now  stand- 
ing (1856),  but  has  marks  of  old  age  in  its  branches.  It  was 
evidently  a  large  tree  when  the  parish  was  first  settled. 
Thirty  years  ago  (1826)  it  was  green  and  flourishing. 

He  had  sons,  William,  Ozias,  who  died  at  the  age  of  98 
years,  and  Captain  John  Burr,  who  was  killed  by  lightning  in 
1771. 

No,  97.  Watroiis  Hiihhell  was  a  farmer,  and  resided 
at  the  place  now  occupied  by  the  descendants  of  the  Rev\ 
Philo  Shelton.  Some  of  his  descendants  are  now  living  in 
Bridgeport.  Gershom  E.  Hubbell  is  a  grandson,  and  the 
children  of  David  Hubbell,  3d,  Elbert  E.  and  George  Hub- 
bell,  are  great-grandchildren  of  the  said  Watrous  Hubbell. 

No.  98.  Captain  Amos  Hubbell  was  a  farmer,  Bos- 
ton coaster,  a  West  India  trader  and  an  active  Whig  in  the 
Revolution,  as  were  also  all  his  brothers  and  nephews.  He 
was  a  merchant  at  Newfield.  now  Bridgeport.  Soon  after  the 
Revolution  he  built  the  wharf  near  the  foot  of  Bank  street, 
and  was  the  first  Warden  of  the  Borough  of  Bridgeport — a 
man  much  respected. 

He  had  one  ship  and  two  brigs  built  for  himself,  but  his 
commercial  business  was  not  generally  successful. 

About  the  year  1798,  while  France  and  the  United  States 
were  at  war.  Captain  Wilson  Hubbell,  a  son  of  Captain  Amos, 
while  on  a  voyage  homeward  bound  from  the  West  Indies, 
was  taken  by  a  French  privateer,  who  took  out  William  Cable, 
his  mate,  and  one  seaman,  leaving  Captain  Wilson  Hubbell 
with  Samuel  Cable,  seaman,  and  Josiah  Burr,  the  cook,  on 
board.  The  privateer  then  put  on  board  of  Captain  Hub- 
bell's  sloop  a  prize  master  and  two  French  seamen. 

After  the  privateer  had  left,  the  weather  being  moderate, 
Samuel  Cable  was  put  at  the  helm  and  the  sloop  was  left  by 
the  French  Prize  Master  to  the  care  of  the  two  French  sea- 
men. When  the  Prize  Master  went  into  the  cabin  and  lay 
down,  having  laid  his  sword  and  pistols  by  him,  as  soon  as  he 


Bridgeport.  539 

was  asleep  Captain  Hubbell  secured  his  arms  and  locked 
him  in  the  cabin.  He  then  secured  the  two  French  sailors 
and  confined  them.  He  now  secured  his  money,  which  was 
in  gold,  in  his  silk  handkerchief  tied  around  his  body  unknown 
to  the  Prize  Master, 

He  then  unwisely  held  a  parley  with  the  cunninj;  French- 
man, who  made  him  such  fair  promises  of  his  good  behavior 
that  Captain  Hubbell  allowed  him  to  come  on  deck  and  to 
have  his  liberty.  The  Frenchman  having  won  his  confidence, 
he  sat  down  with  him  on  the  quarter-rail  to  smoke.  When 
the  Frenchman  dropped  his  cigar  between  Captain  Hubbcll's 
feet  and  reached  down  and  took  it  up  ;  he  continued  his 
French  palaver,  but  soon  dropped  it  again,  and,  stooping  down 
again  to  pick  it  up,  he  caught  Captain  Hubbell  by  his  feet  and 
threw  him  overboard  head  foremost.  The  sea  was  calm,  and 
when  he  came  up  he  swam  after  the  sloop,  begging  for  his 
life,  but  the  cruel  Frenchman  was  deaf  to  his  cry  and  let  him 
drown  with  his  gold  about  him. 

Captain  Amos  Hubbell  had  four  sons,  Captain  Wilson 
and  Amos,  Jr.,  who  both  died  young ;  Anson,  and  also 
Charles  B.  Hubbell,  who  is  now  President  of  the  Pequonnock 
Bank.  He  had  one  daughter,  Catharine,  who  married  Cap- 
tain Ezekiel  Hubbell,  formerly  President  of  the  Connecticut 
Bank. 

jYo.  99,  Hichard  Mubbellf  Sen.f  an  early  settler  at 
Pequonnock,  was  a  cooper  and  farmer.  He  was  supposed  to 
have  emigrated  to  this  country  from  the  county  of  Essex  in 
England  about  the  year  1670.  He  had  one  son,  Richard, 
and  they  were  two  of  the  nine  male  members  of  the  first  Con- 
gregational Church  at  its  organization. 

Richard,  a  grandson,  occupied  the  homestead,  and  died 
at  the  advanced  age  of  93  years.  He  was  a  deacon  in  this 
church  when  it  was  under  the  pastoral  care  of  the  Rev.  Sam- 
uel Cooke  and  the  Rev.  Robert  Ross,  for  thirty  years.  He 
lived  with  his  wife,  who  survived  him,  about  63  years.  He 
gave  the  church  a  silver  tankard  for  communion  service, 
which  is  still  in  use  in  this  church.  He  had  sons.  Richard, 
Amos,  Hezekiah,  Watrous  and  Benjamin,  and  one  daughter, 
who  married  Edward  Burroughs.     He  died  in  1788. 


540  History  of  Stratford. 

No,  100.  JRicharcl  Huhhellf  Sd,  was  a  farmer  and  a 
merchant  at  Newfield,  and  died  in  the  city  of  New  York 
about  the  year  1830,  aged  about  94  years.  He  formerly  resid- 
ed in  the  parish  of  Stratfield,  where  Joseph  Banks,  Esq.,  now 
resides.  He  married  a  sister  of  Elijah  Burritt.  Their  chiU 
drenwere:  Richard,  Philo  and  Eli,  and  Pamelia,  who  mar- 
ried Captain  Whitmore;  Polly,  who  married  Asa  Hurd,  of 
Old  Mill,  and  Penelope,  who  never  married,  and  is  now  living 
in  the  city  of  New  York  at  the  advanced  age  of  about  90 
years. 

No.  101,  Caj^tain  John  Surr  was  a  farmer,  and  the 
son  of  Colonel  John  Burr,  who  is  described  under  No.  74. 

Captain  Burr  was  killed  by  lightning  in  the  meeting 
house  in  1771,  at  the  same  time  my  grandfather,  David  Sher- 
man was  killed,  as  described  under  No.  27. 

His  children  were:  Jesse,  Eunice,  who  married  William 
Holburton,  and  Kat}',  who  married  John  Duncombe.  Eunice 
was  a  small,  black-eyed  woman,  and  died  at  the  age  of  88 
years.  She  drew  a  pension  for  the  services  of  her  husband 
in   the  Revolutionary  war. 

No.  102.  Training  Ground.  In  1703,  the  Stratfield 
Train-band  was  organized,  and  David  Sherman  appointed  its 
Ensign.  The  next  year  John  Beardsley,  of  Stratford,  was 
confirmed  its  Captain,  and  James  Bennett,  of  Fairfield,  its 
Lieutenant. 

It  has  been  current  tradition  that  this  plot  at  the  corner 
of  the  King's  highway  (North  avenue)  and  the  highway  lead- 
ing to  Truck  street,  was  donated  for  this  purpose  by  the  first 
Richard  Hubbell  or  one  of  his  immediate  descendants.  It 
seems  to  have  been  in  use  for  training  down  to,  and  perhaps 
after,  the  Revolution. 

On  a  certain  training  day,  among  the  spectators  present 
was  a  party  ot  Indians,  who  had  been  behaving  insolentl}^ 
and  one  of  them,  a  burly,  athletic  fellow,  finally  challenged 
the  whites  to  choose  their  best  man,  and  he  would  defeat  him 
in  a  wrestling  match.  No  one  appeared  ready  to  meet  the 
challenge  of  the  Indian,  whose  muscular  frame  plainly  showed 
him  to  be  a  formidable  antagonist,  although  all  felt  it  import- 


Bridgeport.  541 

ant,  for  the  moral  effect,  that  some  one  should  do  it.  After 
some  deliberation  it  was  decided  that  Captain  John  Sher- 
wood was  the  only  man  able  to  vanquish  him,  but  doubts 
were  expressed  whether  he  would  be  willing  to  engage  in  a 
wrestling  match  now  that  he  had  become  so  active  in  relig- 
ious matters.  A  deputation  came  to  him  as  he  was  drilling 
his  men  upon  the  parade  ground,  and  after  hearing  their  story 
he  briefly  answered  that  his  present  duty  was  to  drill  his  com- 
pany, but  that  afterward  he  would  attend  to  the  matter. 

When  the  parade  was  over  and  he  had  laid  aside  his  reg- 
imentals, he  approached  the  Indian  champion,  who  was  naked 
to  his  waist  and  shining  with  grease.  This  was  decidedly  to 
the  advantage  of  the  native,  since  it  gave  his  antagonist  a 
small  chance  to  grasp  the  well  oiled  skin,  while  his  oj:)ponent, 
dressed  in  ordinary  clothing,  presented  a  fair  opportunity  for 
the  grasp  of  the  savage. 

Captain  Sherwood  advanced  without  any  skirmishing, 
and  laying  his  hand  on  the  naked  shoulder  of  the  liirliaii,  found 
himself  able  to  get  a  good  grip  on  the  skin  and  flesh,  tiien 
exerting  his  great  strength,  at  once  laid  his  antagonist  flat 
upon  his  back,  not  caring  to  soften  the  violence  of  the  fall,  to 
the  utter  astonishment  of  the  Indian  allies.  The  victory  was 
complete,  confessed,  and  the  natives  withdrew  quietly  and 
never  repeated  the  challenge. 

No.  103.  The  Old  Stratfield  Burial  Ground  seems 
to  have  been  laid  out  on  the  Black  Rock  road.  The  first 
burials  were  made  upon  the  high  ground,  now  the  central 
part  of  the  plot,  which  appears  to  have  been  quite  fully  occu- 
pied. There  are  numerous  field  stones  which  mark  the  places 
of  interments,  many  of  them  being  marked  only  with  initial 
letters,  date  and  age,  and  others  with  initials  roughly  cut. 
These  dates  run  from  1688  to  171 2. 

About  the  oldest  slate  stones  of  the  stereotyped  pattern, 
fully  inscribed,  are  those  of  Rev.  Charles  Chauncey.  1714,  and. 
Captain  Matthew  Sherwood,  171 5.  The  ground  was  undoubt- 
edly regarded  as  the  property  of  the  parish,  for  on  December 
29,  1772,  an  addition  of  one-half  of  an  acre  was  made  on  the 
southeastern  side,  extending  to  the  Training  ground,  secur- 
ing  a  new  entrance.     This   addition  was    purchased  by  tlie 


542  History  of  Stratford. 

Stratfield  society,  of  Daniel  Morris,  for  nine  pounds  ten  shil- 
lings, lawful  money,  and  the  deed  was  recorded  in  the  soci- 
ety's book  and  also  on  the  land  records  of  Fairfield.  This 
portion  is  very  fully  occupied. 

These  grounds  have  been  very  little  used  since  the  year 
1812,  and  were  for  many  years  very  much  neglected.  For 
more  than  sixty  years  the  society  has  not  exercised  any  special 
supervision  over  it. 

About  1848,  a  picket  fence  was  constructed  around  it 
under  the  auspices  of  the  late  Isaac  Sherman.  A  small  fund 
remained  in  the  hands  of  Mr.  Wilson  of  Fairfield,  at  the  time 
of  the  annexation  of  contiguous  Fairfield  territory  to  Bridge- 
port in  1 871,  and  at  a  subsequent  town  meeting  of  Bridge- 
port, Sherwood  Sterling,  Joseph  Banks  and  Albert  Wilson 
were  appointed  a  committee  for  the  care  of  the  ground.  No 
money  was  appropriated  and  little  care  bestowed.  Mr.  Ster- 
ling and  Mr.  Banks  died  and  Mr.  Wilson  became  very  infirm. 
The  present  committee  having  it  in  charge  are  Rowland  B. 
Lacey,  Henry  R.  Parrott  and  Daniel  G.  Fowler,  who  were 
appointed  by  the  town  meeting. 

The  present  improved  condition  of  this  ground,  which  is 
very  decided,  is  due  to  the  persevering  labors  and  oversight 
of  Dea.  R.  B.  Lacey,  during  a  number  of  years  past,  and  if 
his  attention  and  efforts  are  aided  by  others,  a  few  years  more 
it  will  be  a  comely  place  for  burial  as  well  as  visitation. 

1^0.  104,  Jatnes  Morris  was  an  early  settler,  a  farmer 
and  an  innkeeper.  None  of  his  descendants  are  known  to  be 
living. 

Wo,  105.  Nathan  Seeley,  a  son  of  Dea.  Seth  Seeley, 
a  merchant  and  farmer  removed  to  Bethel,  where  he  died  at 
a  good  old  age.  His  descendants  are  living  in  Bethel  and 
Danbury. 

Nathan  Seeley,  when  a  young  man,  was  a  constable  in 
Stratfield  parish  and  had  a  writ  to  serve  for  a  debt ;  and  the 
law  was  at  that  time,  such  that  the  person  on  whom  a  writ 
was  served  must  be  touched  with  the  paper  to  make  the  arrest 
legal.  He  rode  a  large,  powerful  horse,  and  found  his  man 
loading  his  cart  with    manure  with  a  pitchfork.     He  told  the 


Bridgeport.  543 

constable  to  keep  away  and  kept  the  fork  raised  for  his  de- 
fence. Upon  this  said  Nathan  put  spurs  to  his  horse  and 
made  him  jump  on  the  man  so  that  he  touched  him  with  the 
writ.  After  having  done  that  he  had  the  power  to  call  out 
the  militia  to  make  the  arrest  com{)letc. 

Nathan  Seeley  married  Hannah,  daughter  ol  Major  Aaron 
Hawley  of  Bridgeport. 

No,  106.  Dea,  SetJi  Seeley  was  a  farmer  and  lor  many 
years  a  deacon  of  the  parish  church.  His  children  were: 
Nathan,  Seth,  Jr.,  and  Samuel  O.  The  last  now  occupies  the 
homestead.  Dea.  Seeley  married  a  daughter  of  Samuel  Odell, 
Esq.;  was  an  active  Whig  in  the  Revolution,  and  an  old  man 
at  the  time  of  his  death. 

No.  107.  Capt.  Josiah  Lacey,  a  house  joiner  by  trade. 
He  was  commissioned  in  1777  by  Governor  John  Hancock  to 
raise  a  company  for  the  Continental  Army.  This  he  did  in 
the  parish  and  was  its  captain  for  three  years.  The  company 
was  attached  to  Col.  Philip  Bradle3''s  Regiment  in  Gen.  Hunt- 
ington's Brigade.  His  residence  before  the  Revolution  was 
on  Truck  street,  whence  he  removed  to  the  city  of  Bridge- 
port, where  he  built  a  house — now  No.  237 — on  the  south 
side  of  State  street.  He  was  a  justice  of  the  peace  for  many 
years,  and  died  in  the  year  1812,  in  the  67th  year  of  his  age. 

He  had  sons  VVinthrop  who  was  lost  at  sea,  and  Josiah, 
who  died  young.  His  daughters  were  Chloe,  who  married 
Capt.  Nathaniel  Silliman,  and  Polly,  who  married  Mattiiew 
Curtis,  Esqr. 

No.  108.  John  Lacey^  son  of  John  and  grandson  of 
Edward  and  Sarah  Lacey,  was  baptized  by  Rev.  Charles 
Chauncey,  Oct.  22,  17 10.  He  married  Mary,  daughter  of 
Daniel  Hubbell,  and  lived  upon  what  is  understood  to  have 
been  the  original  homestead  of  the  family,  on  the  corner  of 
Truck  street  and  one  of  the  cross  roads  leading  to  Toilsome 
Hill.  The  first  settler  is  said  to  have  come  from  Nottingham, 
England. 

The  family  first  appears  upon  the  records  of  the  Church 
of  Christ  in  Fairfield.  January  13,  1694,  when  Sarah,  wife  of 
Edward  Lacey,  was  admitted  as  a  member.      June  20,   1694, 


544  History  of  Stratford. 

their  six  children  were  baptized — viz:  Edward,  John,  Henry, 
Sarah,  Mary,  Elizabeth.  This  John  of  the  second  generation 
died  in  1754.  His  will  was  dated  May  30,  1754,  and  mentions 
the  following  children :  John,  Edward,  David,  Ephraim,  Eu- 
nice, Sarah. 

John,  of  the  3d  generation,  whose  name  heads  this  arti- 
cle, appears  on  the  Stratfield  Parish  records  in  1759  and  1760, 
as  one  of  the  Society's  Committee  and  is  there  called  John 
Lacey,  Jr.  He  died  Feb.  10,  1793,  in  his  84th  year.  His  wife 
Mary  survived  him  seventeen  years,  and  died  April  i,  1810, 
aged  91  years.  She  was  an  excellent  woman  and  is  spoken  of 
as  "  a  mother  in  Israel." 

No,  109,  Capt,  Daniel  Lacey,  son  of  John,  No.  108, 
was  captain  over  all  the  companies  of  Guards,  stationed  dur- 
ing the  Revolution,  from  Division  street  to  Saugatuck  river. 
He  succeeded  Capt.  Nash,  who  first  commanded  the  same. 

His  children  were  John,  Daniel,  who  settled  out  West, 
Michael,  Squire,  and  Sarah,  who  married  Seeley  Sherwood. 
His  mother  was  the  widow  Mary  Lacey,  who  resided  in  the 
old  hrst  homestead  of  the  first  settler  in  the  parish  by  the 
name  of  Lacey. 

John  and  Michael  settled  at  what  was  known  as  Lacey's 
mill,  but  more  recently  at  Plattville  on  the  Easton  Turnpike, 
and  their  remains,  with  those  of  their  brother  Squire  Lacey, 
rest  in  the  old  Stratfield  burial-ground. 

Daniel  went  West.  The  daughter  Sarah,  who  married 
Seeley  Sherwood,  lived  on  the  old  road  a  little  north  of  the 
Stratfield  Baptist  meeting-house. 

Wo,  110.  Joseph  Urotliwell  was  a  shoemaker  from 
Scotland.  He  came  to  Stratfield  about  1750  and  had  his  resi- 
dence at  Truck  street  on  the  west  side  of  the  highway  oppo- 
site No.  105  on  the  map,  and  there  reared  his  family  of  lour 
sons  and  three  daughters.  He  was  a  strong  Presbyterian  and 
Revolutionary  Whig.  He  married  Hannah  Fayerweather,  a 
sister  of  Benjamin.  Their  sons  were  Benjainin,  Joseph  Fayer- 
weather, William  and  Thomas,  who  all  lived  to  old  age;  and 
daughters,  Betty  who  married  John  Hubbell,  whose  residence 
was  on  Division  street,  Grizel  and  Abigail. 


Bridgeport.  ;.J5 

Joseph  F.  Brothwell  married  a  daughter  c^l  iknjamin 
Lacey,  and  removed  to  Woodbury,  Conn.,  about  the  year 
1798. 

Joseph  Brothwell  was  an  active  member  ot  the  parish 
when  Mr.  Ross  was  first  settled,  and  to  show  the  character  o 
the  man  I  will  relate  the  following  anecdote 

He  was  chosen  Lieutenant  of  a  company  (j1  uiilitia  called 
the  Householders,  and  was  a  terror  to  the  Tories.  On  a  cer- 
tain occasion  when  the  heroes  oi  tiie  Revolution  were  gath- 
ered at  Nichols'  tavern,  he  pulled  out  his  sword  from  its 
sheath  and  threw  it  down  on  the  tabic — "There,  there,"  said 
he,  "  I  have  unsheathed  my  sword  and  it  shall  not  be  sheathed 
again  until  this  contest  is  ended." 

He  became  blind  several  years  before  his  death. 

lfo»  111.^*  Edward  JLacey,  a  farmer,  son  of  John  and 
grandson  of  Edward,  the  first  settler  of  the  name  Lacey,  in 
Fairfield  (Stratfield),  appears  upon  the  Stratfield  Parish  rec- 
ords, Dec.  30,  1755,  when  Stephen  Fairchild,  Richard  Hall, 
and  Edward  Lacey,  Jr.,  were  chosen  School  Committee.  In 
1757,  he,  with  Dea.  William  Bennett  and  others,  joined  the 
"  North  Company  "  in  the  settlement  of  North  Fairfield,  now 
the  town  of  Easton,  which  company  appears  to  have  been 
under  the  jurisdiction  of  the  Stratfield  Parish  for  some  years. 

He  purchased   lands  of  Jackson,  on  the  west  side  of 

the  highway  (now  Easton  turnpike)  at  a  point  about  eight 
miles  from  Bridgeport,  it  being  the  same  that  the  late  Anson 
Bennett  owned  for  many  years.  In  1761  Edward  Lacey  was 
chosen  by  Stratfield  Parish,  collector  of  ministerial,  society 
and  school  rates  within  the  limits  of  the  North  Company,  and 
receipts  for  money  paid  by  him  to  Rev.  Robert  Ross,  and 
also  from  Rev.  Joseph  Lamson,  of  the  Church  of  England, 
appears  on  the  Parish  records.  It  is  said  that  the  early  relig- 
ious meetings  of  the  place  were  held  at  his  house. 

He  was  first  married  to  Hannah  Summers,  by  whom  he 
had  nine  children.  Eleven  months  after  the  birth  of  the  two 
youngest  (twins),  October,  1755,  she  died  and  was  buried  at 
Stratfield.     Subsequently  he  married  Deborah  Odell  and  had 


'•*  This  may  not  be  the  exact  location,  but  is  near  it. 


546  History  of  Stratford. 

five  children.  Rowland  B.  Lacey  is  a  descendant  through 
Zachariah  (one  of  the  twins  above  mentioned),  and  his  wife 
Betty  Rowland,  and  his  son  Jesse  and  Edna  (Munson)  Lacey. 
Edward  Lacey  died  in  North  Fairfield  (Easton),  June  18,  1772, 
in  his  6ist  year,  and  a  fine  old  slate  stone  marks  his  grave  in 
the  cemetery  near  the  Baptist  Church,  where  also  lie  the  re- 
mains of  Zachariah  and  Jesse  Lacey,  above  named. 

His  descendants  are  numerous  and  widely  scattered 
through  the  country,  but  very  few  of  the  name  remain  in 
Connecticut. 

JVo.  112,  Henjaniin  Zicicey,  a  tanner  and  currier,  and 
shoemaker,  having  his  shop  and  vats  westerly  from  the  house, 
convenient  to  the  stream  of  water.  Among  his  apprentices 
were  Joseph  Fayerweather  Broth  well,  Zachariah  Lacey,  and 
his  own  son  David  Lacey.  Zachariah  Lacey  and  J.  F.  Broth- 
well  were  of  the  same  age  and  their  terms  of  apprenticeship 
expired  at  the  commencement  of  the  Revolution.  They  to- 
gether enlisted  in  a  company  commanded  by  Capt.  Josiah 
Lace}^  and  marched  to  New  York.  On  the  expiration  of  their 
time  they  re-enlisted  and  served  nearly  four  years,  when  they 
united  in  hiring  a  man  by  the  name  of  Jackson  to  serve  dur- 
ing the  war,  by  which  they  were  exempted. 

Benjamin  Lacey  married  Margaret  Hall.  In  1767,  and 
for  many  years  thereafter,  he  was  collector  of  ministerial 
rates,  in  Stratfield  Parish,  for  the  Church  of  England.  He 
died  in  1784,  aged  45  years. 

Joseph  F.  Brothwell  married  Molly  (or  Mary),  daughter 
of  Benjamin  Lacey  and  removed  to  Woodbury. 

David,  son  of  Benjamin  Lacey  succeeded  his  father  at 
the  homestead  and  was  known  as  David  Lacey,  the  shoe- 
maker. His  children  were  David,  Eleazer,  Benjamin,  Ruth, 
and  Ellen.  David  was  a  large  owner  in,  and  the  well  known 
manager  of  the  Washington  bridge  over  the  Housatonic 
river  for  many  years.  Eleazer  Lacy  was  early  engaged  in 
the  lumber  business  in  Bridgeport;  was  next  the  cashier  of 
the  Middlesex  County  Bank,  succeeding  Charles  Foote,  who 
was  called  to  the  Connecticut  Bank  in  1834.  At  a  later  pe- 
riod he  was  the  first  cashier  of  the  (Bridgeport)  City  Bank 
at  its  organization.     Benjamin  Lacey  resided  in  Southport. 


Brziigef^ort.  5^- 

3^0.  113.  lienjamin  litot/nrHI^  son  of  Joseph  (No 
no),  married  Anna  Hcach.  of  Rock  II(Jiise  district,  in  N(jrth 
Fairfield,  now  Easton.  He  resided  first  at  No.  110,  but  after 
the  death  of  his  father  he  built  a  new  house  on  this  site,  and 
reared  a  family  of  four  sons  and  four  daughters.  Roswell, 
the  third  son,  was  the  best  known  and  most  thorouj^hly  iden- 
tified with  this  community.  He  was  considerable  of  a  farmer 
as  well  as  his  father,  much  interested  in  aj^riculture,  and  was 
often  engaged  as  manager  at  the  county  and  local  fairs.  His 
residence  was  on  the  site  designated  as  No.  115.  He  died  in 
1883,  at  the  advanced  age  of  81  years.  His  wife  was  Julia 
Ann  Hall,  who  survives  him  at  the  age  of  83  years.  Their 
onl}'  son,  Benjamin  Beach  Broth  well,  succeeds  his  father  on 
the  same  premises. 

No.   114.    Error  on  the  map. 

Ko.  115.  Amos  Merrlm<ni  was  a  cooper  by  trade. 
He  came  from  Cheshire,  Conn.,  about  1795.  One  of  the 
early  Baptist  ministers  was  Elder  Royce,  who  came  here  from 
Cheshire,  and  it  is  understood  that  his  accjuaintance  with  and 
interest  in  Elder  Royce  induced  Mr.  iSIerriman  to  remove  to 
Stratfield.  He  built  his  house  and  cooper  shop  on  this  spot 
and  resided  here  until  about  1815,  when  he  removed  to  Ken- 
tucky and  left  no  representatives  here. 

Roswell  Broth  well  afterwards  became  the  owner  and 
made  his  residence  here.  He  built  the  house  and  made  the 
fine  improvements  which  at  present  appear,  some  years  be- 
fore his  death. 

No.  110.  Lemut'l  BamfS  was  by  trade  a  blacksmith. 
His  residence  was  in  Truck  street,  a  little  way  south  of  the 
first  Baptist  meeting-house.     His  children  were  born  there. 

Mr.  Bangs  was  a  poor  man,  but  a  zealous  Whig  in  the 
Revolution.  Two  of  his  sons,  the  Rev.  Nathan  Bangs.  D.D., 
of  New  York  City,  and  Elder  Heman  Bangs,  were  school- 
mates with  Capt.  Daniel  Sterling,  at  the  district  school.  The 
family  left  this  part  of  the  country  about  the  year  1790.  The 
two  sons  were  very  large  men  and  were  in  the  ministry  of  the 
M.  E.  Church  many  years. 


548  History  of  Stratford. 

Lemuel  Bangs  met  in  the  time  of  the  Revolution  with 
other  Whigs  at  Nichols'  tavern,  parson  Ross,  also  a  strong 
Whig,  being  of  the  number.  During  the  discussions  Lemuel 
Bangs  said,  he  would  be  willing  to  die  and  suffer  eternal  pun- 
ishment if  he  could  be  the  means  of  making  America  free. 
Mr.  Ross  replied,  "  it  is  a  good  thing  to  be  zealous  but  not  to 
be  too  zealous.     Where  is  my  hat,  I  must  be  going." 

JVo.  117.  The  Stratfleld  Ba2>tist  Church  was  first 
gathered  in  October,  1751.  It  was  a  result,  in  part,  of  the 
"  Great  Awakening,"  or  "  New  Light"  movement  in  1740  and 
41.  The  Rev.  Samuel  Cooke  of  the  Stratfield  parish  was  in 
favor  of  Whitefield  and  his  preaching,  but  there  was  a  consid- 
erable sentiment  opposed  to  Mr.  Cooke's  views,  and  some  of 
the  opposition  went  to  the  Episcopal  Church. 

Upon  the  death  of  Mr.  Cooke  in  1747,  a  successor  in  the 
pastorate — Rev.  Lyman  Hall — was  secured,  who  was  opposed 
to  New  Light  methods,  and  this  increased  the  feeling  of  dis- 
satisfaction towards  the  old  parish  and  church. 

The  Separatist  feeling,  finally^,  took  form  under  the 
leadership  of  Capt.  John  Sherwood  and  the  preaching  of  the 
Rev.  Joshua  Moss  (or  Morse)  in  175 1. 

Mr.  Moss  was  a  convert  under  the  preaching  of  White- 
field,  in  Rhode  Island,  and  had  united  with  the  Baptist 
Church,  entertaining  its  sentiments  in  regard  to  baptism, 
close  communion  and  preparation  for  the  ministry,  namely, 
that  a  liberal  education  was  unnecessary  ;  the  requisites 
being,  the  divine  call,  hallowed  fire  and  spiritual  enlighten- 
ment. 

Mr.  Moss  had  preached  in  the  place  repeatedly  and  on 
the  second  Lord's  day  in  October,  175 1,  being  assembled  at 
the  house  of  John  Sherwood,  he  preached  and  after  the  ser- 
mon the  following  persons,  Zechariah  Mead,  Nathaniel 
Seeley,  Elihu  Mash  (Marsh),  John  Sherwood,  Ebenezer 
Sanford  and  Samuel  Beardsley,  six  men  with  a  number  of 
women,  after  the  covenant  services,  were  baptized  by  Elder 
Moss,  and  the  Lord's  Supper  was  administered.  These 
services,  as  then  judged,  constituted  the  organization  of  the 
Church. 


Bridgeport.  5^^ 

From  this  organization  for  six  years  there  are  found  no 
records  of  this  church.  Some  difficulty  followed,  between 
the  members  of  this  Baptist  Church  and  the  Old  Stratfield 
Society  about  the  collection  of  ministerial  rates.  The  former 
thought  that,  under  the  law  they  should  be  exemi)t.  the  latter 
claimed  of  them  rates  the  same  as  of  others,  since  they  were 
not  an  organized  society,  as  the  law  required  in  order  to  be 
exempt,  and  tradition  says  that  Captain  Sherwood  sufTered 
his  rate  to  be  collected  under  distraint  on  his  personal  prop- 
erty, and  in  1755,  brought  a  suit  in  the  Superior  Court  to 
recover  sums  which  had  been  so  collected.  The  result  is 
not  known,  except  that  at  the  annual  meeting  of  the  Stratfield 
Society,  December  29,  1757,  shortly  after  the  ordination  of 
Capt.  Sherwood  as  the  first  resident  pastor  of  this  Church, 
the  ministerial  rates  of  John  Sherwood,  Nathaniel  Seeley, 
Zachariah  Mead  and  Ebenezer  Sanford  were  remitted  for  the 
year  1756  and  1757,  and  that  they  should  be  exempt  from 
the  rates  of  the  following  year. 

Captain  John  Sherwood  was  ordained  as  an  elder,  in  the 
Baptist  Church,  on  the  third  Tuesday  in  December,  1757,  ^3' 
the  Elders  and  Messengers  of  the  Churches  in  New  London 
and  Groton,  assembled  with  the  Baptist  Church  in  Stratfield, 
and  he  became  the  settled  pastor  of  this  church. 

At  the  end  of  the  first  ten  years,  sixteen  persons  had  been 
received  into  membership,  and  these  had  their  residences  in 
Ridgefield,  Redding,  Wilton  and  Newtown. 

Elder  Sherwood  died  in  1779,  aged  75  years.  He  was  a 
man  of  strong  convictions,  and  was  faithful  to  them  while  a 
member  of  the  old  Stratfield  Church,  as  well  as  after  he  be- 
came a  Baptist.  He  labored  devotedly  and  with  much 
energ}^  and  hence  successfully,  not  only  in  Stratfield  but 
extensively  in  Fairfield  county.  He  had  great  physical  pow- 
ers, as  appears  in  his  encounter  with  the  Indian,  as  related  in 
No.  102. 

It  is  no  disparagement  to  either  to  say  that  his  grit  re- 
appeared remarkably  in  his  well  known  grandson,  Dea. 
David  Sherwood,  who  died  in  1873  at  the  great  age  of  94 
years. 

36 


550  History  of  Stratford. 

Wo.  118,  The  Parsonage  of  the  Stratfield  Baptist 
Society  of  the  "  olden  time  "  was  located  here.  It  was  the 
residence  of  Elder  Seth  Higby,  Elder  Royce,  and  others. 

The  house  was  long  since  taken  down  and  the  property 
now  belongs  to  the  estate  of  the  late  Roswell  Brothwell. 

The  location  of  the  present  Parsonage  is  designated  on 
the  map  as  No.  ii6,  the  place  formerly  occupied  by  Lemuel 
Bangs.  It  was  the  toll  house  of  the  Easton  turnpike  for 
many  years  from  about  1835. 

No.  116,  Cax>t,  John  Sherwood,  a  prominent  farmer 
in  the  Stratfield  Society,  became  a  Baptist  Elder,  and  pastor 
of  the  Stratfield  Baptist  Church  in  1757,  which  he  served 
faithfully  about  ten  years.  He  died  in  1779,  at  the  age  of  75 
years.     See  No.  102  and  117. 

No.  120.  JPatrick  Keeler,  from  the  north  of  Ireland, 
came  to  this  parish  during  the  period  of  the  Revolution.  He 
married  first,  Anne,  daughter  of  Onessimus  Hubbell,  and  2d, 
Sarah  Holburton.  His  daughter,  Polly,  married  Nathan 
Seeley  Meeker,  son  of  David  Meeker,  who  lived  at  the  place 
designated  on  the  map  as  No.  105.  The  2d  daughter,  Anne, 
married  Joseph  Brothwell,  son  of  Benjamin,  and  after  the 
death  of  Patrick  Keeler  they  continued  to  reside  on  the  place. 
The  children  of  Joseph  and  Anne  (Keeler)  Brothwell  are 
Charles  H.  (of  Bridgeport)  and  John  (of  Greenfield,  Connec- 
ticut), and  Emily,  who  married  Charles  Plumb.  Charles  H. 
is  the  well  known  agent  of  Hon.  P.  T.  Barnum,  and  now  a 
prominent  member  of  the  Board  of  Public  Works  of  the  City 
of  Bridgeport.  Patrick  Keeler  was  strongly  attached  to  Par- 
son Shelton  and  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church.  He  was 
specially  helpful  to  Mr.  Shelton  in  many  ways,  but  particu- 
larly enjoyed  in  his  younger  years  the  Christmas  illumination 
of  the  old  church,  insisting  on  a  candle  at  every  pane  of  glass 
in  the  prominent  windows. 

120^.'"  John  IlopJeins  came  to  Stratfield  from  the 
north  of  Ireland  in  company  with  Patrick  Keeler,  who  was 
about  three  years  his  senior. 

"  Not  located  on  the  map. 


Bridgeport.  5  5 1 

Hopkins  was  a  stroiii^  Presbyterian,  and,  though  diflcr- 
ing  in  religious  sentiment  from  his  neighbor  Kcelcr,  thcv  ever 
remained  fast  friends.  Hopkins  located  on  the  X'allcy  road, 
so  called,  a  few  rods  from  where  it  leaves  the  upper  cross- 
road leading  from  Truck  Street  to  Toilsome  Hill  school 
house.  He  married  Mehitabel  Smith.  Their  children  were 
James,  John,  Mary  Ann,  and  Catharine.  James  married,  lirst, 
Sarah  Wilson;  and  second,  Mary  Sherwood.  He  lived  on 
the  old  homestead,  and  alter  his  second  marriage  built  a  new 
house.     He  left  no  children. 

John  was  a  shoemaker  and  dealer  in  Bridgeport.  He 
married  Abigail  Booth,  dau.  of  James  Booth  of  Stralf(jrd. 
His  children  are  Lewis  Miles,  and  Alfred,  both  well  known 
merchants  and  manufacturers  of  stoves,  household  goods  and 
plumbing.  Mary  Ann  married  Nathaniel  Thorp  of  Fairfield. 
She  lived  many  years  a  widow  at  what  is  now  No.  276 
Lafayette  street.     A  son  Levi  survives  her. 

JVo.  121,  OuessiiUiis  HnhheJl,  son  of  Daniel,  was  bap- 
tized November  16,  1755,  was  a  farmer,  and  died  September 
14,  1824. 

Wo,  122,  Tliaddens  IlahbeU,  a  brother  of  Onessimus, 
was  a  farmer.  They  descended  from  the  first  Richard, 
through  Samuel;  born  1657;  Daniel  born  1691  ;  Daniel  born 
1724.  Thaddeus  had  children  Mary,  who  married  Eli  B. 
Nichols,  Esther,  who  married  John  Parrott,  Joseph  and 
Rebecca. 

Xo.  122'*,'"  JededUih  Wells,  His  house  was  on  the 
south  side  of  the  highway  at  Fresh  Pond  near  the  district 
school  house — No.  68.  He  was  son  of  Capt.  Jedediah  Wells, 
who  was  lost  at  sea  about  1758,  and  grandson  of  Samuel 
Wells,  located  at  No.  2  on  the  map — a  large  land  owner  in 
the  south  part  of  the  settlement.  This  family  are  in  direct 
line  from  Governor  Thomas  Wells.  See  genealogy.  The 
only  descendants  of  Jedediah  are  from  his  daughter  Lucy, 
who  married  Abraham  Parrott.  Frederick  Wells  Parrott 
and  Henry  R.  Parrott  are  (in  1885)  owners  of  the  ancestral 
property  on  North  avenue  and  North  Washington  avenue. 


^*  Not  located  on  the  map. 


552  History  of  Stratford. 

iVo.  123,  Golden  Hill  Indians.  The  spot  of  ground 
containing  eighty  acres  where  the  Golden  Hill  tribe  of  Indians 
lived  at  the  time  the  parish  began  to  be  settled,  contained  at 
least  one  hundred  wigwams,  and  was  their  cornfield.  It  was 
situated  in  the  city  of  Bridgeport  on  the  old  Golden  Hill 
road,  now  called  Washington  avenue.  Golden  Hill  was  so 
called  by  the  English  from  the  rocks  that  contained  a  yellow 
isinglass  resembling  gold.     But  it  is  not  all  gold  that  shines. 

No,  123 '^.  An  Indian  Wiyivam,  occupied  about  1798 
by  an  Indian  called  Tom  Sherman.  This  Indian  house  stood 
on,  or  near,  the  site  of  the  dwelling  house  of  the  late  Capt. 
Daniel  Sterling,  near  a  living  spring  called  the  Indian  spring. 
It  appears  that  there  were  about  eight  acres  of  land  around 
it,  which  was  the  last  of  the  old  Indian  field,  on  which  the 
Golden  Hill  Indians  inhabited. 

No,  124,  Caj)t,  Daniel  Sterling ,  a  native  of  Strat- 
field,  built  his  house  on  the  east  side  of  Main  street,  on  the 
Indian  lot,  so  called,  in  the  year  1804,  where  he  resided  for 
many  years  until  his  death.  He  was  for  a  long  time  a  suc- 
cessful ship-master,  from  New  York  in  the  Liverpool  trade. 

Wo.  125.  Ebenezej'  Allen,  son  of  Nehemiah,  was  a 
shoemaker.  His  children  were  Samuel,  James,  Justus  and 
Ruth,  who  married  William  Parrott,  and  Edri,  who  married 
Nicholas  Burr. 

Wo,  126,  Dea,  Elijah  Haivley  was  a  house  carpen- 
ter. He  was  a  deacon  of  the  First  Congregational  Church 
until  1790,  and  died  in  the  State  of  Ohio  in  1825,  aged  84 
years.  He  had  one  son,  named  Jesse,  who  was  born  in  the 
old  red  house,  standing  on  Main  street  nearly  opposite  Gold 
street.  Jesse  Hawley  removed  to  the  State  of  New  York  in 
early  life,  where  he  died  aged  about  70  years.  It  is  said  that 
he  was  the  projector  of  the  Erie  Canal,  which  project  he  com- 
municated to  Governor  Clinton,  which  resulted  in  the  build- 
ing of  that  great  work.  Major  Aaron  Hawley,  a  brother  of 
Dea.  Elijah,  became  the  owner  of  the  place  before  1787,  and 
occupied  it  until  his  death  in  1803.  His  son,  Capt.  Samuel, 
succeeded  him.  He  and  his  descendants  held  and  occupied  it 
until  about  1840. 


Bridgeport.  553 

JSfo,  127.  Samuel  Porter  was  a  farmer  aiul  weaver. 
He  owned  the  farm  called  Porter's  Point  in  the  City  of 
Bridgeport,  Gold  street  crossing  the  same.  He  married 
Abiah  Hiibbell,  who  had  a  brother  named  Abel  Hubbell,  who 
lived  to  the  extreme  old  age  of  over  103  years.  1  saw  the  old 
man  a  short  time  before  he  died.  He  was  then  in  good 
health,  but  deaf  and  blind.  He  could  recite  hymns  and  por- 
tions of  the  Bible  which  he  had  learned  in  his  youth.  No 
other  man  in  this  parish  has  ever  attained  the  age  of  100 
years.  Mr.  Elijah  Burritt  and  Ozias  Burr  both  reached  98 
years ;  and  there  was  a  woman  buried  in  the  old  parish  ground 
by  the  name  of  Molly  Jackson,  who  died  at  the  age  of  loi 
years. 

Samuel  Porter  had  a  son,  Samuel,  Jr.,  who  married  my 
sister  Ellen  Sherman.  He  was  a  farmer  and  weaver;  had  no 
children.  Samuel,  Sen.,  had  a  daughter,  named  Mary,  who 
married  Lewis  Sturges.  They  had  two  sons,  Isaac  and 
Joseph  P.  Sturges.  The  Rev.  Thomas  B.  Sturges  of  Green- 
field is  an  only  child  of  Joseph  P.  Sturges. 

This  Porter  property  is  treated  at  considerable  length  on 
page  489  and  following,  the  reason  being  that  quite  a  number 
of  historical  events  cluster  around  and  upon  it. 

N^o,  128.  Caj^t.  James  Hayt  owned  this  property. 
He  came  here  from  Norwalk.  Samuel  Peet  purchased  the 
property  of  him  and  erected  on  it  a  frame  dwelling,  which 
has  given  place  to  the  present  brick  block  of  Mr.  L.  F. 
Curtis. 

No.  129.  Doct.  Daniel  Clifford  was  the  first  resi- 
dent physician  in  this  parish. 

No.  130.  Dea.  Bljiah  Hawley  erected  a'dwelling  at 
this  place  and  sold  it  about  1796  to  Silas  Sherman,  who  was  a 
merchant,  and  married  Abigail,  daughter  of  Thomas  Haw- 
ley. The  late  Ira  Sherman  was  their  son.  His  daughter, 
Caroline,  married  Nicholas  Northrop. 

No.   130**:'    CajJt.  David    Hairlet/,    son    of    James, 

owned  this,  the  first  brick  house  built  within  the  present  city 


'^  Not  located  on  the  map. 


554  History  of  Stratford. 

limits.  It  was  located  on  the  corner  of  Water  and  Gilbert 
streets. 

Capt.  Hawley  was  with  Arnold  in  the  battle  of  the  flotillas 
on  Lake  Champlain,  in  the  Revolution,  and  he  also  led  the 
expedition  that  captured  Judge  Thomas  Jones,  of  Hempstead, 
L.  I.,  who  was  afterwards  exchanged  for  Gen.  G.  S.  Silli- 
man,  an  American  officer.  Capt.  Hawley  died  in  1807,  and 
his  brick  house  was  afterwards  occupied  as  a  saddle  factory 
by  Seth  B.  Jones,  and  was  the  arena  of  great  theological  dis- 
cussions among  the  workmen,  specially  Joshua  Lord,  William 
Wright,  Edwin  B.  Gregory  and  Alexander  S.  Gordon. 

No,  131,  Thnothy  Shaylor  resided  at  this  place  with 
his  brother.  Isaac  Sherman  wrote  of  them,  "  I  believe  they 
were  seafaring  men." 

Wo.  13  f,     Capt.   Ahijah   Hawley ,    was   the    son    of 

Thomas,  No.  133.  He  was  a  prominent  merchant,  and  in 
early  life  sailed  in  different  vessels  in  the  Boston  coasting 
trade.  Among  his  descendants  in  1885  are  Munson  Hawley, 
President  of  the  Bridgeport  National  Bank;  Marcus  C.  Haw- 
ley, formerly  of  the  hardware  firm  of  Thomas  Hawley  and 
Company,  now  engaged  extensively  in  the  same  business  in 
California  ;  Dea.  Edward  Sterling,  and  others. 

No.  132.  NeJiemiah  Allen  was  a  shoemaker  and 
farmer.  He  came  from  Stratford  before  the  Revolution  and 
settled  near  Baker's  Pond.  His  sons  were  :  Nehemiah,  Capt. 
James,  who  built  the  Stanley  House,  and  Ebenezer.  He  had 
one  daughter,  Hannah,  who  married  Capt.  Charles  Wing. 

JVo.  133.  Thomas  Hatvleij^  son  of  Capt.  Ezra,  No. 
90,  was  a  farmer.  His  son  Zalmon  is  said  to  have  trans- 
planted the  large  elm  tree  on  the  premises  of  J.  De  Ver  War- 
ner, carrying  it  on  his  shoulder  from  the  adjacent  forest. 

JVo.  134.  Mather's  Point,  purchased  from  Mrs.  Lucy 
Barlow,  daughter  of  Capt.  Samuel  Sherwood  by  Capt.  Titus 
C.  Mather  from  Long  Island,  about  1829,  for  a  shipyard.  It 
was  previously  known  as  Sherwood's  Point  and  earlier  as 
New  Pasture  Point. 


Bridgeport.  ccc 

Ifo.  WJj.  Hon.  Picrfrjtont  ICfhrarfts,  who  died  in 
Bridgeport,  April  14,  1826,  aged  76  years.  Sec  list  of  Bridge- 
port lawyers. 

Wo,  136.  Ejyhraiiti  Wilmx  was  a  boat  buiklcr  and 
came  from  Stratford.  It  is  said  he  possessed,  for  his  day,  an 
unsually  extensive  library,  of  which  he  made  good  use.  He, 
Elijah  Burritt,  and  Philip  Nichols,  were  the  literary  trio  of 
their  period,  or  what  would  have  been  called  then,  "  well 
read  men."  Mr.  Wilcox  had  no  children.  Ira  Curtis,  from 
Stratford,  was  his  apprentice  and  successor,  and  inherited 
his  property  and  library,  most  of  it  being  now  in  the  jjos- 
session  of  his  son  Lewis  Curtis. 

No.  137.  The  Old  Yellow  31*11,  which  was  destroyed 
by  fire  in  1884.     See  page  407. 

No.  138.  An  old  dwelliuf/f  removed  on  the  opening 
or  extension  of  East  Main  street  in  1800. 

No.  139. HoUins;  occupation  unknown. 

No.  140.  Ccijtt.  NatJiau  SherniaUf  a  farmer,  resided 
at  this  place,  and  died  September  10,  1827.  He  was  the  an- 
cestor of  Messrs.  O.  W.  and  William  Sherman,  and  of  the 
Rev.  H.  B.  Sherman   of  Torrington,  Conn. 

No,  111.  Jdmes  Walker  was  the  owner  of  this  home- 
stead many  years,  from  about  1739,  but  it  is  now  in  the  pos- 
session of  Mr.  James  W.  Beardsley  by  inheritance  through 
his  mother,  the  daughter  of  James  Walker. 

The  land  of  this  homestead,  most  of  it,  was  first  laid  out 
to  Robert  Walker,  the  father  of  James,  described  in  part 
thus:  "February  25,  1714-15.  Then  laid  out  one  tract  of 
land  to  Robert  VValker  on  the  east  side  of  Fequonnock  River, 
below  the  falls,  230  rods  from  north  to  south,  36  rods  wide  at 
the  north  end  and  16  rods  at  the  south  end,  and  66  wide  in 
the  middle,  bounded  west  with  the  Pequonnock  river,  east  with 
the  highway,  it  being  61  acres,  and  15  acres  on  the  east  side 
of  the  highway." 

This  is  the  territory  now  denominated  the  Beardsley 
Park,  it  having  been  given  to  the  city  of  Bridgeport  lor  a 
park  by  Mr.  James  W.  Beardsley. 


55^  History  of  Stratford. 

James  Walker  built  the  house,  now  standing,  in  1739,  and 
resided  in  it  thereafter  until  his  decease.  The  house  is  well 
preserved  after  the  service  of  one  hundred  and  forty-six 
years. 

James  Walker  was  the  brother  of  the  Hon,  Robert 
Walker  of  Stratford,  one  of  the  most  distinguished  men  that 
Stratford  ever  raised.  James  was  Justice  of  the  Peace  in 
Stratford  many  years,  and  a  prominent  man  in  the  society  of 
North  Stratford.  Many  quaint,  curious  and  interesting 
papers  and  documents  are  still  preserved  which  were  col- 
lected by  him  in  his  long  services  as  Justice  of  the  Peace. 

JVo.  142,  Ebeu  Booth  was  a  farmer  at  this  place  quite 
a  number  of  years  since  1800.  His  family  consisted  of  a  wife 
and  eight  daughters.  His  daughter  Eliza  married  Eli  Bald- 
win and  removed  to  Auburn,  N.  Y.;  his  daughter  Nancy  mar- 
ried Col.  Lyman  Baldwin,  removed  to  Auburn  and  thence  to 
Detroit,  Michigan,  where  he  was  high  sheriff,  and  afterwards 
mayor  of  the  city  ;  and  his  daughter  Alice  married  Peter 
Hayden,  a  very  wealthy  hardware  merchant  of  Cincinnati, 
O.,  and  more  recently  a  resident  of  New  York  city.  The 
other  daughters  went  west  with  their  sisters. 


St  rat  field  Burying-plixce. 


SI? 


The  Strat field  {or  Peqnonnoek)  Ihirviug  Place 


In  memory  of 
Ehenezer  Allen,  who  died   May  6, 
1830,  in  his  77  year. 

Hannah.  Allen,  wife  of  Ebenezer 

Allen,    died   Jan.    iS,    1828,   aged   68 

years,  4  months. 

In  memory  of 
JEbenezer  Allen,  who  died  July  6. 

1797,  aged  II  years. 
Also 
Joseph,  Edri,  Joseph  B.,  Justus,  [oseph 

&   Mary;    Children    of    Ebenezer   & 

Hannah  Allen. 
tftisfus  Allen,  Died  Aug.  2,  1S63,  ^E. 

63. 
Adaline,  Died  July  12,  1857,  /£,.  18. 
3Iarj/  €.,  Died  Aug.  4,   1863,  JE.  18. 

Daughters  of  Justus  &  Julia  Allen. 

In  memory  of 

3Ir.  Neheiniah  Allen,  who  died 

March  7''',  1810,   in    the   81"'  year  of 

his  age. 

In  memory  of 
Mi'S.  Edra  Allen,  wife  of  Mr.  Ne- 

hemiah  Allen,  who   died    Feb>.  20"', 

i8og,  in  the  74  year  of  her  age. 
In  Memory  of 
Xehemiah  Allen,  who  died   Sept. 

25,  1820,  in  his  40  year. 

Here  another  Guest  we  bring. 
Seraphs  of  celestial  wing, 
To  our  fun'ral  altar  come 
Waft  a  Friend  &  Brother  home. 

In  memory  of 
Samuel  IB.  Allen,  who  died  July  18, 

1818,  in  the  36  year  of  his  age. 
In  memory  of 
Theodore  Allen,  who  died  April  5"', 

1810,  aged  2  months  &  15  days. 
Waldomir  SacJcus,  son  of  Joseph 

Backus,  Esqr.  and   Mrs.  Huldah,  his 

wife,  born  Jan.  7,  1803,  died   Dec.  14, 

1809. 

In  memory  of  an 
Infant  daughter  of  Joseph  &  Huldah 

Backus,  who  died  Feb.  17,  1799. 
Laura,    wife    of    Joseph    Banks,    & 

daughter     of     Philemon     Sherwood, 

died    Nov.    17,    1S26,   aged    28    years 

«&  7  months. 


In  memory  of 
Mary  Ann,  daughter  of  Elbcn  \' 
Polly  Banks,  who  died  Aug.  8,  1633, 
JE.  16  yrs.  &  3  mo. 

In  memory  of 
Jane,  who  died  Jan.  26,  1816,  yE.  10 
mo.  &  10  d. 

Also  of 
Stephen  JFenrj/,  who  died  June  30, 

I82S,  Ai.   7   ITIO. 

Son    and    daughter   of    John    iS:    Sarah 

Bartlet. 

Here  lies  the  body  of  an 
Infant  son  of  James  &  Huldah  Beach, 

who    died     Dec"^    19"',    1806,    twelve 

hours  old. 

In  memory  of 
EnS"^  Abijah  Beard  si  ee,  who  de- 
parted  this  Life  Nov"^  2'',  17S9,  in  the 
40""  Year  of  his  Age. 

In  memory  of 

Drusilla,  widow  of  .Abijah  Beardsley, 

who  died  April  i,  1839,  '"  ''cr  87  year. 

In  memory  of 

Sarah  Jieardslei/,  who  died  Aug. 

I,  1850,  in  her  64  year. 

Blessed  are  the  dead 
who  die  in  the  Lord. 

Our  Parents 
Anson  Beardslei/,   Died    Mav  19, 
1866,  ^.  83. 

JS'ancy  Treadwcll,  his  wife,  died 
June  12,  1S66,  ^-E.  77. 

Only  resting  till  the  morning. 

Thaddetfs  Jienedict,  Esqr.,  de- 
parted this  life  Oct"  6"',  1799,  in  the 
51*'  year  of  his  age. 

Thaddeus  Jienedict,  youngest  son 
of  Thaddeus  iS:  Deborah  Benedict, 
who  died  27"'  March,  iSoo.  /Et.  3 
years,  4  months  &  4  days. 

Gentle  Reader  what  is  this  life  ? 
Tis  nothing.  Tis  everything. 

Here  lies  the  Body  of 
Mrs.  Hannah,  the  wife  of  .Mr.  Wil- 
liam    Bermiit,   who  died    Nov'   y"    28, 
1743,  in  y"  3:"  year  of  her  age. 
In  memory  of 
Iltddah  liennett,  who  died  Oct.  2, 
1839,  aged  56  yrs. 


"  See  page  541  of  this  book. 


55S 


History  of  Stratford. 


Here  lyes  y''  Body  of 
Sarah  Sennit,  Wife  to  Mr.  James 

Bennit,  DeC^  Nov'  y"  aS"',  1726,  in  y'^ 

73**  year  of  her  age. 
Edwards  BlacJanan,  died  Oct.  15, 

1845,  aged  58. 
Julia,    wife    of    Edwards    Blackman, 

Died  Aug.  5,  1839,  JE.  45. 
Israel    JBlaheman,   died    June   5, 

1853,  ^-  72. 

In  memorj'  of 

Polly,  Wife  of  Israel   Blakeman,  who 

aied  Apr.  28,  1S48,  In  her  68"^  year. 

Calm  on  the  bosom  of  thy  God, 

Sweet  spirit  rest  thee  now  ! 
E'en  while  with  us  thy  foot  steps  trod 

His  seal  was  on  thy  brow. 

Here  lyeth  the  Body  of 
James  JBlakenian,  who  departed 
this  life  in    the  23  3'ear  of  His  Age, 
October  29,  1709. 

In  memory  of 
Susan,   Daughter  of   Israel    &    Polly 
Blakeman,  who   died  July   27,    1805, 
JE.  2  yrs.  &  9  mos. 

In  Memory  of 
Ebenezer  Booth,  who  died  Dec.  29, 
1820,  aged  47. 

In  memory  of 
(Joniphy ,  widow  of  Ebenezer  Booth, 
who  died  March  11,  1843,  aged  66  yrs. 

In  memory  of 
Elizabeth  Sooth,  who  died  Dec.  29, 
1820,  aged  47. 

Here  lyes  Buried  the  Body  of 
Seacon  Joseph  Sooth,  Who  de- 
parted this  Life  May  the  2"'^  1763,  in 
the  75*  year  of  his  age. 

Here  lyes  the  Body  of 
Mrs.  Sarah  Sooth,  who  died  April 

— ,  AD.   1784,  in  the  76  Year  of  her 

age. 
Anna,    Daughter   of    Mr.   Joseph   & 

Betsey  Booth,  died    March   26,    1793 

or  5,  Aged  7  days. 

In  memory  of 
MicJiard  Walker  Sooth,  son  of 

Mr.  Samuel  &:  Mrs.  Jerusha  Booth, 
who  died  Dec"'  10"',  1789,  Aged  3 
years,  9  months  &  14  Days. 
Marij  Ann,  Daughter  of  Francis  & 
Ruth  Botsford,  died  Apl.  20"',  180G, 
aged  9  weeks. 

Ann,  wife  of  Hezekiah  Bradley,  died 
.  Dec.  26,  1S22. 


Erected  to  the  memor)'  of 
3Ir.    Samuel   Srinsmade,    who 

was  born  March  19"',  1750,  and  died 
March  20*'^,  1808,  aged  58  years  and 
I  day. 

But  now  is  Christ  risen  from  the  dead  and  be- 
come the  first  fruits  of  them  that  slept. 

In  memory  of 
Sarah  31.,  Daughter  of   Henry  and 
Sarah    Bristol,    who    died    June     16, 
1832,  ^-E.  I  year  &  4  mo. 
Sleep,  sweet  babe,  and  take  thy  rest : 
God  called  thee  home,  he  thought  it  best. 

Emery  Srothtvell,  Died  Sept.  4, 
1S59,  aged  56  years. 

Bath  Polina,  wife  of  Emery  Broth- 
well,  Died  March  14,  1848,  in  the  49"^ 
3ear  of  her  age. 

SaraJi  Ann,  Daughter  of  Emery 
Brothwell,  Died  Mar.  22,  1867,  M.  36 
yrs. 

Lucy  31.,  Daughter  of  Emery  &  Po- 
lina Brothwell,  died  July  30,  1832,  JE. 
4  yrs.  &  4  mo. 
This  stone  is  erected   in  memory  of 

Betsey  Brothwell,  Daughter  of 
Thomas  &  Hannah  Brothwell,  who 
died  Sept.  13,  1810,  in  the  16""  year  of 
her  age. 

In  memory  of 

Hannah  Brothwell,  who  died  Nov. 

I,  1829,  aged  63  years  &  5  months. 
Joseph  Br oth'irell  died  ] an.  27, 181 1, 

in  the  84  year  of  his  age. 
Hannah,   his    Relict,    died    June    4, 
1815,  in  the  85  year  of  her  age. 
Why  do  we  mourn  departing  friends 

Or  shake  at  death's  alarms! 
'Tis  but  the  voice  that  Jesus  sends 
To  call  them  to  his  arms. 

In  memorj'  of 
3Iary  Srothuell,    wife    of    Aldan 
Brothwell,    who    died  May  28,   1834, 
aged  27  years  &  8  mo. 

In  Memory  of 
3Iary  Josephine,  daughter  of  Alden 

&  Mary  Brothwell,  who  died  Oct.  30, 

1835,  JE.  I  yr.  iS:  6  mo. 
Harriet   S.,  Daughter   of   Alden   & 

Mary  Brothwell.   Died    Dec.  7,   1853, 

Aged  21. 

In  memory  of 
Tltomas  Srothtvell ,  who  died  April 

14,  1842,  in  the  76""  year  of  his  age. 

In  memory  of 
William  Brothwell,  who  died  April 
13,  182S,  aged  72  years. 


St  rat  field  Ihirying-placc. 


5  59 


Wr,   Williatn  JlrothwcU,  son   of 

Thomas  iS:    Hannah   Brothwell,  Died 
March  7,  1818,  in  the  26  year  of  Ills 
ase. 
Praise  on  tombs  are  titles  vainly  spent, 
A  man's  good  name  is  his  best  monument. 

In  memory  of 
Ebenezei'  lirowii,   who  died   June 
14,  1S63.  yE.  82  yrs. 

In  memory  of 
Scivafl'i,  wife  of  Ebenezer  Hrown,  who 
died  Sept.  28,  1853,  ^E.  75. 

In  memory  of 
Mr.  Aaron  Burr,  who  died  Aug'* 
23.'\  1814.  in  the  57""  year  of  his  age. 
Here  lyes  y''  Body  of 
Amos  Surr,  son  of  Mr.  John  &  Mrs. 
Katharine  Burr,  Died  September  27"'. 
1743,  in  y*'  3"^  year  of  his  age. 
Here  lyes  the  Body  of 
Mrs.  Charity  Burr,  Wife  to  Wil- 
liam Burr,  Esqr.,   Who  Departed  this 
life,   October  y«  2^,  1769,  in  y°   48*'' 
year  of  Her  Age. 

In  memory  of 
3I'rs.  Hepzlhah  Burr,   Relict    of 
Mr.  Justus  Burr,  who  died  Oct"  24"^, 
iSio,  aged  78  years. 

Here  lyes  Buried  the  Body  of 
Colo.  John   Burr,  Who    Departed 
this    Life    June    13"',    Anno    Doinni, 
1750,  in  y*=  79"^  Year  of  His  Age. 
Here  lyes  Buried  y"*  Body  of 
Mrs.    Deborah    Burr,    Wife    of 
Major  John  Burr,  Who  dec"*  Decemb'' 
4"^,  1726,  in  y«  52''  year  of  Her  Age. 
Here  lyes  Buried  y"  Body  of 
Deborah  Burr,  Daughter  of  Major 
John    &    Mrs.    Deborah    Burr,    Who 
Dec'   November  y*^  28"',    1726,  in  y" 
22'^  Year  of  Her  Age. 

Here  Ives  Buiied  the  Body  of 
Capt.  John  Burr,  Who  Departed 
this    Life   Sep'^    13.   O.  S.      A.   D. 
1752,  in  v"  55"^  Year  of  His  Age. 
Here  lyes  Buried  the  Body  of 
Mrs.  Catharine  Burr,  Widow  of 
Capt.  John  Burr,  Who  Departed  this 
Life  Sept.  y*  25"',   A.  D.   1753,  in  y» 
53''  year  of  Her  Age. 

Here  lyes  Buried  the  Body  of 
John  Bxirr,   Esq.,   Who  departed 
this   Life   July   28'",  1771.    in  y«  44"" 
year  of  his  Age.* 

*  He  was  killed  by  lightning,  while  attending 
worship  in  the  meeting-house. 


Here  lyes  Buried  the  Body  of 
Mr.  Justus  liurr.  Who  died  sud- 
denly July   the    13''',   \-](>(j.   In  ye  32' 
Year  of  His  Age. 

In  memory  of 
Ozias  Burr,  who  died  Sept.  5,  1836, 
in  the  98  year  of  his  age. 

In  memory  of 
Sarah,  Wife  of  O/ias  Burr,  who  died 
Sept.  2,  1820,  in  her  82  year. 

In  memory  of 
Char  it  ji,  dau'"^  of  Ozins  iV  Sarah  Burr 
who  died   Aug.    19,   1794,    in  her    27 
jear. 

In  memory  of 
Bebecca,  dau"^  of  Ozias  iV  Sarah  Burr 
who  died    Aug.   23,    1794,   in   lu-r   29 
year. 

In  memory  of 
Philo,  Son  of    Ozias  &   Sarah    Hurr, 
who    died   Sept.    12,    1794,  in   his   13 
year. 

To  the  Memory  of 
3Irs,  Susftnna  Burr,  Wife  of  Capt. 
Gershom  Burr,  and  daughter  of  Mr. 
Daniel   and    Mrs.    Margaret    Young, 
who  departed  this  life  Feb.  12"',  1797, 
in  the  24"'  year  o(  her  age. 
Also  of 
Susaii na  Burr,  Jun^', only  Daugh- 
ter of  Capt.   Gershom   and   Mrs.  Su- 
sanna Burr,  who  died  Feb'  4''',  1797, 
aged  4  years. 
They  are  not  dead  but  gone  before. 
Why  do  we  mourn  departed  friends? 
Or  shake  at  death's  alarms, 
'Tis  but  the  voice  that  Jesus  sends 
To  call  them  to  his  arms. 

William  Burr,  Son  of  Mr.  William 
&  Mrs.  Marv    Hurr,    Died  June  20'*'. 
A.  D.  1739,  in  '''S  13'''  month. 
Here  lyes  Buried  y'  Body  of 

3Irs.  Man/  Burr,  Wife  of  William 
Burr,  M.A.,  Who  died  March  ig"". 
Anno  jDomni,  174J,  in  y"  33''  year  of 
Her  Age. 

Here  Ives  Buried  the  Body  of 

William  Jiurr,  Esq.,  Who  depart- 
ed this  Life  May  the  5"',  1769  •"  }" 
58  year  of  His  Age. 

In  memory  of 

3Ir.  Charles  Burritt.  Who  died 
NoV^  12"',  1801,  in  the  80"'  year  of  his 
age. 

In  memory  of 

Mrs.  Lucy  Burritt,  Wife  of  Mr. 
Charles  Burritt,  who  departed  this 
life,  June  26,  1789,  In  the  6r'  year  of 
his  age. 


56o 


History  of  Stratford. 


This  monument  is  erected  to  per- 
petuate the  memorj'  of 
Mrs.  Sarah  Burritf,  Wife  of  Mr. 
Elijah    Burritt,   who   died   Jan.   12'^, 
1805,  in  the  63'*  year  of  her  age. 

In  memory  of 
Isaac  Burritt,  son'  of  Mr.  Elihu  & 
Mrs.  Eunice  Burritt,  who  died  March 
16,  1766,  in  y"  4""  3-ear  of  his  age. 

Cornelia,  Daughter  of  Mr.  Isaac  and 
Mrs.  Rebecca  Burroughs,  died  Oct. 
8"^,  1S05,  aged  5  years  &  2S  days. 

In  memory  of 
Mr,  Edivard  Burroughs,  who  de- 
parted this  Life  Sept.   the  14"',   1776, 
in  the  42''  year  of  his  age. 
Glory  with  all  her  lamps  shall  burn. 
And  watch  the  Warrior's  sleeping  Clay 
Rest  his  dear  sword  beneath  his  head, 
Round  him  his  faithful  Arms  shall  stand 
The  Guards  and  Honors  of  our  Land. 

Mrs.  Grizzel  Burroughs,  Widow 
of  the  late    Mr.   Edward    Burroughs, 
died  Nov''  19"',  1812,  aged  78  years. 
Rejoicing  in  hope,  patient  in  tribulation,  con- 
tinuing instant  in  Prayer. 

Stephen  Burroughs,  Esq.   A  man 

distinguished  by  his  industry  &  his 
talents  &  acquirements,  self-taught, 
and  original,  he  explored  the  vast 
field  of  Mathematical  &  Astronomical 
Science  beyond  all  the  efforts  of  a 
Cassini  or  a  Newton,  &  made  discov- 
eries of  the  most  useful  &  a'^tonishing 
nature.  But  in  consequence  of  blind- 
ness his  discoveries  are  lost  to  the 
world.  Hedied  Aug.  2, 1817,  aged  8S. 
This  monument  is  erected  by  Pix- 
ley  Judson. 

In  memor}-  of 
Mrs.  Huldah  Burroughs,  Wife 
of  Stephen  Burroughs,  Esqr.,  and 
Daughter  of  Mr.  Peter  and  Mrs.  Mary 
Pixlee,  who  departed  this  life  July  g^i^, 
1803,  in  the  66""  year  of  her  age. 

Here  lies  Interred  the  Body  of 
Mrs.  Buth  Button,  y  wife  of  Mr. 
Solomon  Burton,  who   Dec''    Nov.  y'= 
9,  1748,  in  y*  30'''  year  of  her  age. 

Ahhg  Jane,  Daughter  of  George  & 
Sarah  Butler,  Died  Nov.  i*\  1873,  JE. 
21. 

Sarah,  Daughter  of  George  &  Sarah 
Butler,  Died  May  i^«,  18S2,  .'E.  21. 

Wni,  H.  Butler,  Died  Dec.  29, 1879, 
aged  36  years. 

Dear  father  we  miss  you. 
Gone  but  not  forgotten. 


In  Memory  of 
Daniel  Porter  Cable,  Son  of  Mr. 

Samuel  &  Mrs.  Mary  Cable,  Who 
died  April  20,  1765,  in  y"  4"^  year  of 
his  Age. 

In  memory  of 
Mrs.    Mary,    Wife  of    Mr.    Samuel 
Cable,  who  departed  this  life  Dec'  7"", 
1793.  Aged  54  years. 

In  Memory  of 
Mrs.  Behekah  Cable,  Relict  of  Mr. 
Andrew  Cable,   who  died   Feb>',  23'', 
1799,  aged  80  years  &  g  days. 
In  Memory  of 
Mr.  Wheeler  Cable,  who  departed 
this  life  June  3'',  17S2,  in  the  24*''  year 
of  his  age. 

I  pass  the  gloomy  vale  of  death. 
From  all  danger  free. 
And  trust  to  live  with  Christ 
To  all  eternity. 

Ye  Beverend  3Ir.  Charles 
Chaunceg,  Minister  of  y"  Gospel 
at  Stratfield,  aged  48  years.  Died 
December  —  1714. 

Here  lies  the  Body  of 

Abiah  Chaunceg,  Daughf  to  Mr. 
Robert  &  Mrs.  Hannah  Chauncey, 
who  dec''  Nov''  y"  10,  1748,  in  y^  19"' 
year  of  her  age. 

To  the  Memory  ot 

Frances  Maria  Clarke,  daughter 
of  Mr.  Ransom  Clark  and  Mrs.  Mary 
Anna  Clark,  his  wife,  deceased  Aug- 
ust 2^,  1792,  aged  2  )'ears  &  67  days. 
In  Memory  of  an 

Infant  son  of  Mr.  Ransom  Clark  & 
Mrs.  Mary  Anna,  his  Wife,  departed 
this  life,  i6"'  Feb"'  1792,  aged   3  days. 

Eusebia  Clark,  Daughter  of  Mr. 
Daniel  &  Mrs.  Caty  Clark,  died  Sept. 
14"',  1812.  aged   I  year  &  9  months. 

Patience  Maria,  Daughter  of  Ele- 
azer  &  Patience  Edgerton,  Feb>'  15"^, 
i8ir,  Aged  13  days. 

Marg  Elizabeth ,  Daughter  of  Ele- 
azer  &  Patience  Edgerton,   died  Dec' 
30"',  1821,   Aged   7  months  &  6  days. 
Sleep  on  sweet  babe  and  take  thy  rest, 
God  called  thee  home,  he  see  'twas  best. 

Here  lyes  Interr'd  ye  Body  of  y' 
Bevd.   3Ir.   Samuel   Cooke,  Late 
Faithful!  minister  of  Stratfield,  Who 
died  Dec'  2'',  1747,  Aged  63  Years. 
Here  lyes  Buried  y**  Body  of 
Mrs.  Anne  Cooke,  Wife  to  y*  Rev^ 
Mr.  Samuel  Cooke,  Who  Died  Aug- 
ust 11"',  1721,  in  y  34">  Year  of  Her 
Age. 


Strat field  Buryiiig.placc. 


;0i 


w^- 


■A..- 


9 


err 


HeT 

jjyes  Int 

^  Body  of ^e Rev? 

M^  Samuel  Cooke 

Late  Taitlifiill 
Miniftev  oiJhatfield 

wlio  diea  Dec'jV  2 'f 


In  memory  of 
3I((ry  Detfhirst,  who  died  June,  5, 
1843,  aged  47  Years. 

John  Edwards — See  next  page. 

Here  lyes  Buried  the  Body  of 
3Irs.  Mary  EtJivards,  Relict  of 
Mr.  John  Edwards,  who  Died  March 
6,  1749,  in  V*  82"'^  year  of  her  age. 
Eunice^  Daughter  of  Joseph  and  Pru- 
dence (VVakelee)  Edwards,  died  1731, 
aged  I  month. 

Within    the   Compass   of    this    narrow 

grave  lies  the  remains  of 
3Iercyy    Daughter    of     Nathaniel    & 
Hannah  Ells,  who  died  Nov.  6"',  179S. 
Aged  4  months. 

Peace  to  thy  ashes  thou  lovely  babe. 


In  memory  of 
Ijt.    Hevjamin    Fay^'i'ircafJier, 

who    departed    this    Life,   June   20''', 
1791,  In  the  74"'  year  of  his  age. 

Joseph,  Son  of  Mr.  James  &  Mrs. 
Marcy  Fa\  erweather,  was  born  Jan'y 
13"'  and  died  Aug''  13"',  179S. 

3Ifn'i(i,  Daughter  of  Mr.  James  & 
Mrs.  Marcy  Fayerweather,  died  Sept' 
7"',  1805,  Aged  16  months. 

B.  F.     [In  line  with  the  Burrs.] 

Here  lycs  the  Body  of 
Mr.  Benjamin   Fayrewcathei'. 

Dec'  6''',  1725, Year  of  Age. 


562 


History  of  Stratford. 


Here  l^es  Buried  the  Body  of 
Wrs.  Sarah  Noquier,  Widow  of 
Mr.  Benjamin  Fayreweather  &  Mr. 
Antony  Noquier,  who  departed  this 
life  May  the  25"',  A.  D.  1743,  in  y«  67 
year  of  Her  Age. 

In  Memory  of 
A-nn,  Wife  of  John  Fayerweather,  who 
was  Born  April   27,  1712,  at  5  in  the 
morning  &  Died  Sept.  24,  1773. 
Walter    Fatfre^veather,    Aged   6 

Years,  Died  Dec.  26,  1717. 
S,     W.,    Decemb'    18,    1707.     [In   the 

Fayerweather  line.] 
2).X).^i688.  [In  the  Fayerweather  line.] 

In  memory  of 

Gilbert  Fotcler,   who   died  Mar.  5, 

1848,  aged  52  years,  6  ms.  &  10  ds. 

In  Memory  of 

Anna,  wife   of  Gilbert    Fowler,   who 

died  April  12,   1844,  aged  44  years,  2 

ms.  &  10  ds. 

In  memory  of 
Benoni  French,  who  died  Dec.  20, 
1823,  aged  85  years. 

In  memory  of 
Mihitable,  wife   of    Benoni    French, 
who  died  August  12,  1814,  vE.  71. 


In  memory  of 
Drucilla,  wife   of    Capt.   Joseph    B. 

French,  who  died  June  ^^5,  1830,   in 

her  42  year. 
Drusilla  Wheeler  FrencJi/daugh- 

ter  of  Mr.  Joseph  B.  &  Mrs.  Drusilla 

French,  died  Aug'  29"^,  1810,  aged  10 

months. 

In  Memory  of 
Gamaliel  French,  Jan.,  who  died 

June  28,  1828,  aged  72  Years. 

In  Memory  of 
Susannah,  wife  of  Gamaliel  French, 
who  died  March    18,    1835,    aged   74 
years. 

Here  lyes  Buried  y"  Body  of 
Mrs.    Hannah  French,  Wife  to 
Gamaliel  French,  Who  Departed  this 
life  October  the   10"',   1745,  Aged  33 
years. 

Here  lyes  Buried  y"  Body  of 
Mrs.  Sarah  French,  Wife  to  Mr. 
Gamaliel  French,  Who  Departed  this 
life  May  y"  27"',  1758,  in  y"   32''  year 
of  Her  Age. 

In  Memory  of 
James  H.  French,  who  died  Jan. 
14,  1835,  in  the  83  year  of  his  age. 


St  rat  field  Bii  rying- place. 


;63 


In  Memory  of 
Anna,  wife  of  James  R.  Freiicli,  Died 

March  iS,  1841,  ^E.  70  years. 
Julia  Ana,  daughter  of  James  R.  & 
Ann  French,  died  April  20''',  1S25,  in 
her  17  year. 
In  bloom  of  life  death  laid  me  down 
Till  the  last  joyful  trump  shall  sound, 
Then  burst  the  chains  with  sweet  surprise 
And  in  my  Saviour's  image  rise. 
In  Memory  of 
Mt'8.  Mary  Fienrh,  Wife  of  Mr. 
James  French,   who  died    Feb''    10"', 
1803,  aged  45  years  &  ic  months. 
Here  lyes  y'^  Body  of 
Sei'f/t.   Samuel  French,  aged   65 
years.     Ueces''  Dec''  3"  20,  1732. 
In  memory  of 
Wabe,  Relict  of  Sainuel   French,  who 

died  May  2,  1S37,  Aged  76  years. 
Salmon  Patchen,  hur  first  husband, 
died  April  19,  1S07,  aged  40  yrs. 
In  memory  of 
Daniel  (Hover,  who  died   Nov.  8, 
1830,  Aged  87  yrs.  8  mo.  &  6  days. 
In  memorj'  of 
Sally  Glover,  who  departed  this  life 
Oct.  8,  A.  D.  1804,  aged   57  years  &  6 
months. 
George  liouyhton  douye.  Son  of 
Mr.    Thomas   &     Mrs.    Ruth    Gouge, 
dec'  Feb''>'  21^',  1801,  aged   5  years  & 
II  months. 

In  memory  of 
Esther  Gregory,  Wife  of  Mr.  Enoch 
Gregor}',  Who  departed  this  life  July 
16"',  1790,  in  the  83''  year  of  her  age. 
Lilly  3Iaria,  Daughter  of  Mr.  James 
&  Mrs.  Philena   Gregory,   died  JanJ' 
so"",  1792,  aged  i  year  &  14  days. 
Here  Iveth  y"  Body  of 
3£ary    Gregory,    an    infant   whose 
birth  enriched  her  parents  on  March 
y«'   8"',    1725,  &    she  died   in  y"^    14"' 
month  of  her  age  April  y"  17,  1726. 
In  memory  of 
Muth   Gregory,  late  amiable   Con- 
sort of  Ens.  Seth  Gregory,  who  died 
Ocf   II,  AD.  1772,  aged  36  years  & 
6  months  wanting  i  D. 

How  loved,  how  valued  once 

avails  thee  not. 
To  whom  related 

or  by  whom  forgot 
A  heap  of  dust  alone 
remains  of  thee. 
In  memory  of 
Samuel  Gregory,  son  of  Mr.  Seth 
&    Mrs.    Ruth    Gregory,    who    died 
Decem'"'   i'',   1766,   in  y"  6"'  year  of 
his  age. 


Here  lyts  Hiiricd  v"  Body  of 
Eh  .sign   Sannul   Gregory,   Who 

Departed  this  Life  Ucccmb.  y'  il"", 
A  into  Domini  1743,  in  y  66"'  Year 
of  His  Age. 

in  memory  of 
3Ir,  llHKhU'iis  f Gregory,  who  died 
I        Dec.   30"',    1777.  in    the   77"'   year  of 
j        His  Age. 

I  Here  lyes  y "  Body  of 

i  Mr.  Selah  Gregory,  son  of  Mr. 
Thaddeus  &  Mrs.  Rcbcckaii  Gregory, 
who  Departed  this  life  Sept.  y"  15"', 
1758,  in  y"  26"'  Year  of  His  Age. 
In  memory  of 
Miss  Jliildah  Gregory,  Daughter 
of  Mr.  Thaddeus  Gregory  Jun'  and 
Mrs.  Huldah  his  Wife,  Who  was  born 
4  months  after  the  Death  of  her  Fath- 
er, and  died  July  24"',  1798,  in  the 
21''  year  of  her  age. 

Here  lyes  y  Body  of 
liet}jawiu  Itall,  ?.on  of  Mr.  Francis 
&    Mrs.    Margaret     Hall,    who     Died 
Aug.  25"',  1738,  in  y"  21"  year  of  his 
age. 

Here  lyes  the  Body  of 
David  Hall,  aged   10  years  &  7  mo. 

Dec'  February  y"  15'",  1725/6. 
Ephraim  Hall,  son  of  Mr.  EInathan 
&  Mrs.  Hannah  Hall,  Died  April  22'', 

1739,  aged  I  year  «.^:  3  Days. 

I.  H.,  iii(). 

Ephraim  Hall,  son  of  Mr.  EInathan 
&  Mrs.  Hannah   Hall,  Died  July  2', 

1740,  Aged  14  Days. 

Here  lyes  Buried  y'"  Bodv  of 
Mr.  Francis  J  la  II,  Jim>'.,  Who 
Died     February     26"',    Anno    Domni 
1734/5,  '"  y"  30""  year  of  his  age. 

Here  lyes  Buried  y"  Body  of 
Mrs.  Hannah  Hall,  Wife  to  Mr. 
EInathan    Hall,    who    Departed    this 
life  April   9''',  Anno  Dom>>>    1741,  in 
y«  26"'  year  of  her  age. 

In  memory  of 
Mrs.  Huldah    Hall,  Dau.  of  Mr. 
Richard   A:    Mrs.    Hannah    Hail,   who 
Departed   this  life  Aug.  17"',  1773,  in 
the  20"'  year  of  her  age. 

In  memory  of 
James  Seley  Hall,  son  of  Mr.  James 
&  Mrs.  Abigail  Hal),  Who  died' April 
y"  29"",  1770,  in  y"  2d  year  of  His  Age. 

Here  lies  Interr'  the  Body  of 

Mr.  John  ifall,  who  dec'  .\pril  y* 

17,  1749,  in  the  71"  year  of  his  Age. 


564 


History  of  Stratford. 


Here  lyes  y  Body  of  j 

Garshain,  son  of  John  &  Abigail 
Hall,  Deci  NoV  y"^  16"^,  1746,  in  y« 
26  year  of  his  Age. 

Here  lyes  y''  Body  of 
Mrs.  Sarah  Hall,  Wife  to  Mr.  John 
Hall,  who  died  April  6,  A7tno  Dom"' 
1739,  Aged  26  years. 

Here  lyes  the  Body  of 

3Iartha  Hall,  Dec'   NoV^  y«   I3t^ 

1747,  in  y"  31'*  year  of  her  Age. 

In  memory  of 

Richard  Hall,  who  died  Sept.  23, 

1826,  aged  47  years. 

In  memory  of 
Sally,  wife  of  Richard  Hall,  who  died 

March  12,  1840,  aged  61  years. 
Orrin  31.,  son  of  Richard  &  Sally 
Hall,  died  Jan.  4,  1820,  aged  4  years 
&  10  months. 
Delia  F.  Hall,  daughter  of  Richard 
&  Sally  Hall,  died  Aug.  16,  1826, 
aged  18  years. 

This  lovely  youth  so  young  &  fair, 
Called  hence  by  early  doom, 
Just  come  to  show  how  bright  a  flower 
In  paradise  could  bloom. 

Here  lyes  y^  Body  of 
Daniel  Harmon,  soii  of  Deacon 
John  &  Mrs.  Mary  Harmon  of  Suf- 
field,  who  died  at  Stratford,  June  y« 
22°"*,  1763,  in  y"  21"'  year  of  his  age. 
Major  Aaron  Hawley  in  his  turn 
received  the  Shaft  of  Death,  July  21=', 
1803,  in  63''  year  of  his  age,  and  was 
here  deposited  in  hopes  of  a  glorious 
Resurrection. 

Man  needs  but  little,  nor  that  little  long, 
How  soon  must  he  resign  his  very  dust 
Which  frugal  nature  lent  him  for  an  hour. 

Here  lies  the  body  of 
Elizabeth  Haivley,  wife  of  Mr. 
Aaron  Hawley,  Daughter  of  Capt. 
Ezra  Hawley  &  Mrs.  Abigail  Haw- 
ley, who  departed  this  Life  July  the 
8*1^,  1776,  aged  35  years,  4  months  & 
6  days. 

In  memory  of 
3Irs,  Sarah  Hawley,  wife  of  Mr. 
Aaron  Hawley  and  Daughter  of  Mr. 
John  Comstock,  who  departed  this 
life  May  3'',  A.  D.  1786,  aged  39 
years,  6  months. 

In  memory  of 
William  Hatvley,  Son  of  Mr.  Aaron 
&  Mrs.  Sarah  Hawley,  who  deC^  Jan. 
8,  A.  D.  1787,  Aged  i  year,  9  Months 
&  10  Days. 


Here  lyes  Buried  the  Bod}'  of 
Ca2)t.  Ezra  Hawley,  who  departed 
this  life  April  the  27''',  1773,  in  y^  62'* 
Year  of  His  Age. 

In  memory  of 

Mrs.    Abigail   Haivley,  Wife  of 

Capt.    Ezra    Hawlej',   who    Departed 

this  Life  April  18"^,  1786,  in  the  71'' 

year  of  her  Age, 

Thrice  happy  she  who  walked  the  Christian 

road 
And  now  enjoys  her  Saviour  and  her  God. 

Thomas  Hatvley,  son  of  Mr.  Ezra 
«&  Mrs.   Abigail   Hawley,  died  Nov."' 
28*,  1736,  aged  10  months. 
In  memory  of 

3Ir.  Ezra  Hawley,  who  departed 
May  9"^,  1796,  in  the  50"'  year  of  his 
Age. 

Here  lyes  y*  Body  of 

Mrs.  Abigail  Hawley,  wife  of  Mr. 
Ezra  Hawley,  who  departed  this  life 
Sept.  y*'  2"'^  1772,  in  y'  24"'  year  of 
her  age. 

Until  Hawley,  Wife  of  Ezra  Hawley, 
died  Jan.  4,  1829,  aged  75  years. 

Eliza    Hawley,    Daughter  of    Mr. 
Abijah  &  Mrs.    Polly   Hawley,    died 
March  28"^,  1S02,  aged  14  months. 
In  Memory  of 

Ephraim  Hawley,  Junr.,  Son  of 
Mr.  Ephraim  &  Mrs.  Sarah  Hawley, 
who  died  April  11,  1777,  aged  30 
years  ;  Also 

William  Hawley.    This  son  Died 
Janr^'  —  1783,  aged  47  years. 
Here  lyes  Buried 

Mrs.  AnnaJi  Halley,  Wife  to  Mr. 
Gideon    Halley,    Dec'    NoV    y"    14^'', 
1727,  in  y<^  36"^  Year  of  her  age. 
Here  lyes  y'^  Body  of 

Mr.  Gideon  Halley,  Dec*  Febs  y« 

16"^,  17!^  in  y«  43''  year  of  His  Age. 

Here  lyes  y''  Body  of 

Mrs.  Annah  Hatvley,  wife  to^Mr. 
Gideon  Hawley,  Dec''  Nov.  y*^  14, 
1727,  in  y'^'  36"^  year  of  her  age. 

Isaac  Ebenezer,  Son  of  Mr.  Zaimon 
&  Mrs.  Anna  Hawley,  died  May  26"", 
1811,  aged  2  years  &  5  months. 
Here  lyes  Buried  the  Body  of 

Sergt.  James  Haivley,  Who  De- 
parted this  Life  Oct'"'  7"",  A.  D.,  1746, 
in  y'  34""  year  of  his  age. 

Mrs.  Eunice  Bennitt,  First  Widow 
of  James  Hawley  &  after,  of  Isaac 
Bennitt,  departed  Sept.  6"^,  1796,  in 
the  82*  year  of  her  age. 


Str  at  field  Buryin^-place. 


5^': 


Eunice  Hawley  Cliapm an.  Born 

in  Bridgeport,    Died  in  Brooklyn,  N. 
Y.,  May  12,  1863,  aged  85  yrs. 

She  was  a  light  in  the  age  in  which  she  lived. 
After  three  years  incessant  labour  she  obtain- 
ed from  the  Legislature  of  New  York,  in  the 

year   1818,   the  first   law  ever  enacted  in   any 

country  which  gives  to  married  women  rights 

over   their  children   and  property.      This   has 

since  been  amended  and  adopted  by  most  of  the 

States  of  the  Union. 

Woman  Call  her  Blessed. 

Anna  Ilawleif,  Dau"  of  Mr.  James 
&  Mrs.  Eunice  Hawlev,  Died  Sept. 
26,  1736,  Aged  10  months  &  10  Days. 

Lucy,  daughter  of  Mr.  Samuel  &  Mrs. 
Lucy  Hawley,  died  June  7, 1797,  Aged 
3  months. 

Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Mr.  Samuel  &: 
Mrs.  Lucy  Hawley,  Dece'  June  7"", 
1792,  Aged  7  months. 

In  Memory  of 

3Irs.  Molly  Haivley,  Dau«'^  of  Mr. 
Samuel  &  Mrs.  Sarah  Hawley,  who 
departed  this  life  April  4*'',  1765, 
Aged  17  years. 

In  memory  of 

3Irs,  Sarah  Hawley,  Wife  of  Capt. 
David  Hawley,  who  departed  this  life 
Feb'^'  the  8'^,  1781,  Aged  36  Years 
wanting  11  Days. 

Here  lyes  Buried  the  Body  of 

ISIr.   Samuel  Hawley,  Who   De- 
parted this  Life  September  n""  Anno 
Dom.  1749,  Aged  31  years. 
Here  lyes  y®  Body  of 

Deacon  Thomas  Haivley,  Aged 
44  years.  Who  dec'  May  y*  6"',  1722. 
Here  lyes  y'  Body  of 

Mt's.  Joanna  Haivley,  widow  of 
Deacon  Thomas  Hawley,  Who  de- 
parted this  life  Jan.  y"  28,  1761,  in  y" 
84"'  year  of  her  age. 

In  memory  of 

3Ir.    Tliotnas    Haivley,    who  de- 
parted   this  Life  Nov'   19"'',  1797,  In 
the  59"'  year  of  his  age. 
In  memory  of 

Mrs.  Anna  Haivley,  Relict  of  Mr. 
Thomas  Hawley.  who  died  Dec.  24"", 
1810.  aged  67  years. 

In  memory  of 

Mr.  Wolrott  Hawley,  who  depart- 
ed this  Life  Jan>'  9"',  1799,  In  the  62'* 
Year  of  His  Age. 

In  memory  of 

Mrs.  Ellen  Hawley,  Relict  of  Mr. 
Wolcott  Hawley,  \vho  died  Feb^  9"", 
1823,  aged  81  years. 


Interred  is  the  remains  of 
Cant,  flames  Hayt,  who  died  Nov 

7''',  1787,  aged  54  years. 
He  was  a  Seaman  in  every  sense  of  the  word, 
and  as  such  will  be  rcincinbcred. 

Interrcri  is  the  remains  of 
3Irs.  Sarah  Jfayt,  Relict  of  Capt. 

James  Hayt,  who  died  May  19"",  1807, 

aged  73  years. 

As  her  death  is  regretted  may  her  conduct  in 
life  be  remembered. 

In  Memory  of 
Jenny,  the  faithful    servant   of  Capt. 

James    and    Mrs.    Sarah    Hayt.     She 

died  in  June,  1807,  a  few  weeks  after 

her  old  mistress,  regretting  she  could 

not  go  with  her. 

Born  in  Africa  and  supposed  to  be 
near  60  years  old. 

Worth  does  not  depend  on  color. 

This  stone  is  erected  in  memory  of 
Mr.   James  Hayt,   who   departed 

this  life  May  5,  [804,  aged  48  years. 
Mercy  Nichols   Hayt,  Born  Jan. 

23'S  1759.  Died  Sept.  8,  1839. 
3Iary  Elizabeth  Hayt,  Born  Aug. 

II,  1781. 

James  Nichols  Hayt,  Born  Mar. 

16,  1784.     Died  at  sea. 
3Iitnson  Ifayt,  Born  Aug.  12,  1786. 
Ehilip   Hayt,   Born   Sept.  3,    1789, 

Died  Sept.  25,  1S40. 
James  Hayt,   Born    Sept.  3,   1789. 

Died  Oct.  6,'  17S9. 
Frances   Auyiista    Hayt,    Born 

Aug.  19,  1800,  Died  Oct.  24,  1819. 
Interred  are  the  remains  of 
Josiah     Stiiryis    Hayt,    son    of 

George  &    Deborah   Hayt,    Born    4"" 

of  April,  iSoo,  Died  4"''  Jan.  1802. 
In  Memory  of 
George    Ifolfterton,     son    of    Mr. 

Thomas  &  Mrs.  Ruth  Holberton,  who 

died  Oct.  y"  5"",  1777,  aged  20  months. 
Eunice  Holberton,  Died  Sept.  20, 

1843,  ^.  66  [or  68]  years. 

John  Hopkins,  Died  June  28,  1808, 

Aged  51. 

Mehetable,  wife  of    John    Hopkins, 

Died  Sept.  16,  1824,  In  her  51  year. 

In  memory  of 

Susan,  wife  of  James  Hopkins,  who 

died  Jan.  6,  1837,  .E.  36  yrs. 

Modesty  and  meekness  ailorned  her  life, 

Faith  and  hope  supported  her  in  death. 

In  memory  of 
Catharine    Ifopkins,    who     died 

Sept.  20,  1825,  in  her  22  year. 
The  last  enemy  that  shall  be  destroyed  is  death. 


37 


566 


History  of  Stratford. 


In  memory  of 
Aaron  Hifhbellf  who  died  Oct.   13, 

1848,  jE.  87  years. 

In  memory  of 
Sarah,  Wife  of  Aaron  Hubbell,  died 
March  15,  1851,  ^.  84  years. 

In  memory  of 
Ahel  Hubbell,  who  died  Jan.  6,  1832, 
aged  103  yrs.  6  mo.  &  26  ds. 

Abell  Hnbbell,  died    May  28,    1852, 

aged  62  years. 
MutJl,    wife   of    Abel    Hubbell,    died 
Feb.   10,   1864,  JE.  6g  yrs.   10  mo.  & 
4  ds. 

This  Stone  is  erected  in  memory  of 
Cfi2)t'   Atnos  Hubbell,    who    died 
July  2'^,  1801,  aged  55  years. 
Which  also  records  the  death  of  his 
two  sons, 
Amos  and  Wilson;    The  former  of 
whom  died  at  the   Havannah  on   the 
15*  day  of  October,  1798.  by  a  malig- 
nant fever,  aged  18  years. 
And  the  latter  was  deprived  of  life  whilst  in 
the  proper  discharge  of  the  duties  of  his  pro- 
fession by  an  unprincipled  officer  of  a  French 
Privateer,  who  deaf  to  the  claims  of  justice  and 
the  cries  of  humanity,  plunged  the  sufferer  into 
the  ocean  and  left  him  to  perish  in  the  waves, 
on  the  5th  day  of  April,  1799,  aged  26  years. 

"When  sweet  content  serenely  smiles  around, 
Like  a  fair  summer  evening,  Ah  !  how  soon 
The   charming   scene   is  lost,   the   deepening 

shades 
Prevail  and  night  approaches,  dark  and  sad. 
Till  the  last  beams,  faint  glimering  die  away. 

In  memory  of 
3Irs.  Catharine  Hubbell,  Wife  of 
Mr.  Amos    Hubbell,    who     departed 
this  life  January  4*"^,  1776,   eight  days 
after  the  birth   of  her  third  child,  in 
the  23'*  year  of  her  age. 
In  youthful  bloom  death  laid  me  down 
Here  to  await  the  Trumpet's  sound. 
When  God  commands  then  Will  I  rise 
And  meet  my  Saviour  in  the  skies. 

In  memory  of 

Amos  Hubbell,  son  of  Mr.  Amos  & 
Mrs.  Catharine  Hubbell,  Who  died 
Sept.  10"',  1777,  in  y"*  7*'>  year  of  his 
Age. 

In  memory  of 

Eleanor  Hubbell,  Daughter  of  Mr. 
Amos  &  Mrs.  Eleanor  Hubbell,  who 
departed  this  life  March  22'',  1786, 
Aged  I  year  g  months  and  10  days. 

In  Memory  of 
Jifr.  JBenjamin  Hubbell,  who  de- 
parted this  life  Febr>  24"^,  1793,  in  the 
76"^  year  of  his  age. 


In  memory  of 
3Irs.  3Iary  Hubbell,  Relict  of  Mr. 
Benjamin   Hubbell,   who  died  Aug** 
29"',  18 13,  aged  92  years  &  i  month. 

In  Memory  of 
3Ir.  John  Hubbell,  Son  of  Mr.  Ben- 
jamin and   Mrs.   Mary   Hubbell,  who 
died  Feb''>  7'^,  1808,  aged  63  years,  3 
months  &  7  days. 

In  memory  of 

Elizabeth,  wife  of  Mr.  John  Hubbell, 
Died  March  13,  1840,  In  the  90*''  year 
of  her  age. 

Here  lyes  the  Body  of 

Mrs.  Anne  Hubbell,  only  daughter 
of  Mr.  Benjamin  &  Mrs.  Mary  Hub- 
bell, who  departed  this  life  Mayy'g"', 
1770,  in  y'  23'^  year  of  her  age. 

Catharine  3Iaria,  Daughter  of 
Capt.  Ezra  &  Mrs.  Mary  Alice  Hub- 
bell, died  Aug'  8*^^,  1801,  aged  2  years 
wanting  8  days. 

Here  lyes  3"  Body  of 

Cajtt.  Daniel  Hubbell,  Died  De- 
cember y«  11"',  1735,  in  y'=  45"'  year 
of  his  Age. 

In  memory  of 

Eunice  Hubbell,  relict  of  Mr.  Abra- 
ham Hubbell,  who  departed  this  life 
Sept.  4,  1794,  in  the  38"^  year  of  her 
age. 

In  memory  of 

3Ii\  Daniel  Hubbell,  vvho  died 
March  4*'',  1801,  in  the  77""  year  of 
his  age. 

In  memory  of 

3Irs.  Sarah  Hubbell,  Relict  of  Mr. 
Daniel   Hubbell,  who  died  April   ii, 
1801,  in  the  73'^  year  of  her  age. 
In  memory  of 

3Iiss  Esther  Hubbell,  daughter  of 
Mr.  Daniel  &  Mrs.  Sarah  Hubbell, 
who  died  Nov""  7"',  1802,  in  the  36*'' 
year  of  her  age. 

In  memory  of 

3Iiss  Hebechah  Hubbell,  Daughter 
of  Mr.  Daniel  &  Mrs.  Sarah  Hubbell, 
who  died  May  8,  1796,  in  the  39"»year 
of  her  age. 

In  memorj'  of 

Daniel  Hubbell,  Junr.,  son  of  Mr. 
Daniel  &  Mrs.  Sarah  Hubbell,  who 
departed  this  life  Jan.  12*,  1778,  In 
the  28*'"  Year  of  his  age. 

You  mourners  all  that  see  me  die 

Must  quickly  follow  me. 
Come  and  see  me  where  I  lie 

A  mouldering  in  the  earth. 


Sir  at  field  Burying-p/acc 


567 


In  memory  of 
Sarah  Ifnhhell,  who  died  Oct.  9, 
1842,  aged  81  )rs. 

In  memory  of 
Hezehiah  llnhhell,  Esqr.,  Son  of 

Richard  &   Penelope    Hubbell,  Who 
Deiy   this  life  July  19"',  1784,  Aged 
56  years  4  months  &  12  days. 
Here  lies  interred  the  remains  of 
Capt.  Isaac  Iltihhell,  who  departed 
this  life  May  the  22'',  1787,  in  the  40 
year  of  His  Age. 
Here  lies  interred  the  remains  of 
Mrs.   Frauds    llnbhell,  wife    of 
Capt.  Isaac   Hubbell,  Who  departed 
this  Life  May  the   21",   1786,  in    the 
34*"^  year  of  her  Age. 

In  memory  of 
JTames  Ilabbell,  who  died  Sept.  15, 
1827,  aged  70  years. 

In  memory  of 
3Ir.  John  Hubbell,  who  departed 
this   life   April  8"',  1774,  In  the  Ss"" 
Year  of  his  Age. 

In  memory  of 
Josiah  Ilubbull,  son  of  Mr.  Walter 
&   Mrs.    Ruth    Hubbell,    Who   died 
Ocf  14,  1765,  Aged  15  months. 
In  memory  of 
David  Hubbell,  son  of  Mr.  Walter 
&  Mrs.  Ruth  Hubbell,  who  died  Oct' 
ye  jst^  i-jTj,  Aged  16  months  and  17 
DaAs. 

In  memory  of 
Onessiinus    Hubbell,    who     died 
Sept.    14"'.   1824,  in   the  69*''  year  of 
his  age. 

Here  lyes  Buried  the  Body  of 
Oneshnns   Hubbell,    son    of    Mr. 
Joseph  &  Mrs.  Keziah  Hubbell,  who 
departed  this  life  Decb''  3',  1754,  in  y* 
23*^  year  of  his  age. 

In  men.or}-  of 
Heacn  Jiichard  Hubbell,  who  de- 
parted   this  Life  June  27"',   1787,  In 
the  93'^  Year  of  liis  Age. 
Blessed  are  the  dead  which  die  in  the  Lord. 

In  memory  of 
3Irs.  Penelojje  Hubbell,  Relict  to 
Deac"  Richard  Hubbell,  who  departed 
this  Life  Aug*'  29"',  1791,  In  the  87"' 
year  of  her  Age. 
For  they  rest  from  their  labors  and  their  works 
do  follow  them. 

In  memory  of 
3Ir,   Benjamin    Ifubbell,   Eldest  | 
Son  of  Deac"   Richard   Hubbell,  who   , 
departed    this    Life    Sepf    17"',    AD    j 
1788,  in  the  62''  Year  of  his  age. 
Blessed  are  the  dead  who  die  in  the  Lord.        ' 


In  nicini)r\  of 
liirhiird   liubbrU,  who  (iic^i  .u  uic 
city  of  N.   v..  July  16.  1829.   in    his 
87  year. 

In  memory  of 
ItOJCana,   wife  of    Richard    Hubbell. 
who  died    Dec.  28,    1805,   in    her    60 
year. 

In  memory  of 
Charles  I ftibbttl,  son  of  Mr.  Rich- 
ard    c\:    Mrs.    Roxana    Hubbell.   who 
departed    this    Life    [une    15"',    1786, 
Aged  I  Year  &  7  Days. 
In  memory  of 
JPenelojie,    Daughter    of    Richard    & 
Roxana  Hubbell,  who  died  Feb.  21, 
1864,  vE.  92  years. 

Here  lies  V  Hodv  of 
Phylo  Hultbill,  Son  of' Mr.  Richard 
Hubbill.   Jun.   &    Mrs.    Roxane    his 
wife  who  departed  this  Life  Feb'  the 
13,  1774,  Aged  4  years. 
Happy  the  child  who  privileged  by  Kate 

to  Shorten  labour  &  Lighter  wait, 
Received  but  yesterday  the  gift  of  breath 
ordered  to  morrow  to  return  to  death. 

In  memory  of 
Sarah,  Wife  of  Jabe'z  Hubbell.  died 
Jan>  ye  I2'\  1754,  in  ye  22  vear  of  her 
age. 

In  memory  of 
Mr.  Stephen  Hubbell,  who  depart- 
ed  this   life   April   29"',  1792,  In  the 
98"'  year  of  his  age. 

In  memory  of 
Mrs.  Abigail,  Wife  of  Mr.  Stephen 
Hubbell,    Who   died  Aug"  i",  1777, 
In  the  S4  year  of  her  age. 

Here  lyes  Buried  y"  Body  of 
Rebeekali   Hubbell,    Daughter    of 
Mr.  Stephen  &  Mrs.  Rebeckah  Hub- 
bell, Who  departed   this  life.  Nov'  v* 
9i  1754.  y°  iq""  year  of  her  age. 
In  memory  of 
Thaddeus  Hubbell,  who  died  Nov. 
30,  1849,  JE.  85  yrs. 

In  memory  of 
Eunice  Hubbell,  wife  of  Thaddeus 
Hubbell,  who  died  May  i.  1838,  aged 
68  yrs. 

Bille  Jackson,  Son  of  Mr.  Isaac  A: 
Mrs.  Rachel  Jackson,  Died  Aug"  2**. 
1739,  Aged  5  days. 

Henri/  Jackson,  who  died  Septem- 
ber 15,  1717,  aged  3S  years. 

James,  Son  of  Mr.  Samuel  &  Mrs. 
Peninah  Jackson.  Departed  this  life 
March  3''  19"'.  1757,  In  y  G'*"  Year  of 
his  Age. 


568 


History  of  Stratford. 


Here  lies  the  Body  of 
Joseph  Jaclxson,    Died   the   29  of 

Septemb'',  1714. 
M.  J".,  Nov.    13,    1712.       [Probably    a 

Jackson.] 
It.    J.    My    14,     1712.        [Probably    a 

Jackson.] 

M,  J.  D.  S. 

E.  P.    1131. 

In  memory  of 
Elijihalct    flennhigSf     who     died 

Aug.  22,  1839,  aged  85  yrs. 
In  memory  of 
Sarah  Boss,  wife  of   Eliphalet  Jen- 
nings, who  died  June  6,  1839,  aged  83 

years. 
tTames   Jennings,    Died    Feb.    4, 

1869,  Aged  76. 
Mart/    E.,    daughter   of  Thomas    & 

Mary  E.  Jenkins,  died  Oct.  19,   1842, 

M.  4  ys. 
Ira  Jones,  died  May  25"',  1836,  Aged 

65  years. 
Charity,  Wife  of  Ira  Jones,  died  May 

14,  1845,  Aged  73  years. 
Ularjl   H.,    Daughter  of   Christopher 

&  Margaret  Keiser.  died  Mar.  6,  1862, 

M.  3  yrs.  10  mos.  &  10  ds. 
In  memory  of 
Mr.  Patrick  Keeler,  who  died  Oct" 

I5"»,  1829,  in  the  76"'  year  of  his  age. 
In  memory  of 
Mrs.  Anna  Keeler,  Wife  of  Mr. 

Patrick   Keeler,  who  died   Dec'  21^', 

1815,  in  ihe  63=^  year  of  her  age. 


Sarah,  Wife  of  Patrick   Keeler,  Died 

Aug.  20,  1S51,  JE.  So. 
J.  d-  W.  K. 

In  memory  of 
3Ir.  Ezra  Kirtland,  who  died  Aug. 
22'^  1800,  in  the  70  year  of  his  age. 
In  Memory  of 
3Irs,  Olive  Kirtland,  Relict  of  Mr. 
Ezra    Kirtland,  who   died    Sept.   23'', 
1803,  in  the  69"'  year  of  her  age. 
In  Memor)'  of 
Olive  Kirtland,  Daughter  of  Ezra 
Kirtland,   Jun.,    who    died    July    15, 
1775,  in  the  3"*  year  of  her  Age. 
In  mem  or)'  of 
Mr.  Ezra  Kirtland,  Jr.,  who  died 
Dec.  27"^,  1799,  in  the  47""  year  of  his 
age. 

In  memory  of 
Olive   Kirtland ,   Daughter   of  Mr. 
Ezra    &    Mrs.    Sarah    Kirtland,    who 
died  Aug.  14*,  1790,  Aged   14  years 
&  2  months. 

In  memory  of 
Mr.  Zebulon  Kirtland,  who  died 
Jan5   2'',  1803,  in  the  48"'  year  ol  his 
age. 

In  memory  of 
Elizaheth,  widow   of  Zebulon   Kirt- 
land, who  died  Jan.  5,  1842,  aged  go 
years. 

In  memorj'  of 
Mrs.  Freelove  Knapi),  Wife  of 
Mr.  Joseph  Knapp  &  Dau'''  of  Mr. 
Ebenezer  &  Mrs.  Patience  Plumb, 
who  died  Nov''  24"',  1771,  in  y"  31"' 
year  of  her  age. 


Strut  field  Ihtrymg-placc. 


569 


In  memory  of 
tfoseph  Knap/),  Jtm.,  Son  of  Mr. 

Joseph  &  Mrs.  Freelovf  Knapp.  died 
Aug*'  the  20"',  1767,  Aged  2  years. 
In  memory  of 

Mf.  JoJtn  K II ap2),  who  died  Aug- 
ust 3'',  1795,  in  the  82  year  of  his  age. 
In  memor}'  of 

Mrs.    Hannah  Knapp,  Wife   of 
Mr.  John  Knapj).  who  died  [any.  28"", 
1796,  in  tlie  76'''  year  of  her  age. 
In  memory  of 

Robert  Knajyp,  who  died  April  11. 
1S34,  aged  52  years  cS:  10  months. 
Mother 

Salff/,  wife  of  Robert  Knapp,  Died 
Aug.  15,  1861,  Aged  76  yrs.  i  mo.  & 
8  Ds. 

To  the  memory  of 

Mahal  a  Wiffson  Kiiapit,  Daugh- 
ter of  Mr.  Robert  >S:  .Mrs.  Sally  Knapp 
(a  very  promising  child)  born  July 
lo*'',  1804,  and  died  July  18"',  1807, 
aged  3  years  &  8  days. 
In  memory  of 

Mrs.  Anna  Knoivles,  first  the  wife 
of  Mr.  Joseph  Sturges,  late  of  Stam- 
ford, dec'',  and  last  the  wife  of  Mr. 
William  Knowles,  late  of  New  Mil- 
ford,  dec'^.  She  died  July  26"',  i8oi, 
in  the  80"'  year  of  Her  Age. 

Mrs.  Abigail  Lacen. 

Hannah  Suinniers,  Wife  of  Ed- 
ward Lacey,  died  Oct.  14,  1755,  aged 
about  43  3ears. 

In  memory  of 

Mr.   Senjaniin  Laceif,   who   de- 
parted this  life  Sept.  13''',  AD   1784, 
aged  45  years  on  the  same  day. 
In  memory  of 

Mrs.  Mart/aret  Lavij,  Wife  of  y 
late  Mr.  Benjamin  Lacey,  who  de- 
parted this  life,  Sept.  i,  A.  D.,  1792, 
in  the  52'^  jear  of  her  age. 

Daniel  Ziaceij,  died  Dec.  17,  182S, 
in  his  86  year. 

Tahitha  Lacey,  wife  of  Daniel  La- 
cey, died  Aug.  9,  1814,  in  the  64  year 
of  her  age. 

tfohn  Laceij,  died  June  25,  1856,  JE. 
79  yrs.  &  9  mo. 

In  memory  of 

EunicCf  wife  of  John  Lacey,  who  died 
Feb.  17,  1840,  aged   56  years. 
In  memory  of 

3Ir.  John  Laeej/,  who  departed 
this  Life  Feb>  io'\  1793,  In  the  84"> 
year  of  his  age. 


I  In  memory  of 

I  Mrs.  Marff  Laref/,  Rdici  of  Mr. 
John   Lacev,  who  died  April    I,  1810, 
in  the  gi*'  year  of  her  age. 
!   Josiah   Larff/,  Est/.,  departed  this 
I       life  Oct.  28"',  1812,  in  ihe  67"'  Year 
of  his  age. 
He  was  a  ('aptaiii  in  tlie  Revolutionary 
Army  and  a  leading  citizen. 

In  inemurv  of 
I   3frs.  t/uffith  Larcft,  Wife  of  Capt. 
Josiah   Lacey,  who  departed  this  life 
June   y"  3"*,  17S0,  aged   31   years  &   5 
months  wanting  3  days. 
In  memory  of 

Mrs.  Rath   Larey,  Wife  to  Capt. 
Josiah  Lacey,  who  departed  this  life 
April    iS"",   17S8.  .aged   27  years  &  8 
months  wanting  i  Day. 
In  memory  of 

Mrs.  Molly  Lacey,  Wife  of  Capt. 
Josiah  Lacey,  who  departed  this  Life 
Jan>  30''',  1793,  aged  32  years  8 
months  &  12  days. 

In  memory  of 

3Irs.  Anna  Larey,  Wife  of  Josiah 
Lacey,  Ksqr.,  Wlio  departed  this  life 
April  7,  A.  D.  1812,  aged  46  years  3 
months  and  2  days. 

Nathaniel  Hazard,  son  to  Capt. 
Josiah  &  Mrs.  Molly  Lacey,  Depart- 
ed this  life  May  9,  1792,  aged  14 
months,  wanting  5  Days. 

Levi  L.  Lacey,  Died  April  i,  1S45, 
Aged  33  yrs. 

In  memory  of 

Michael  Larey,  who  died  Nov.  12. 
1835,  ^E.  51  yrs. 

In  memory  of 

Retsey,  wife  of  Michael  Lacey,  who 
died  Dec.  14,  1S23,  aged  38  years. 

Robert  Lacey,  died  Nov.  23,  1832, 
aged  22  years. 

In  memory  of 

Sarah  Lacey,  who  died  May  3,  1838, 
aged  65  years. 

In  memory  of 

Squire  Lacey,  who  died  Dec.  27, 
1819,  in  his  31'"  year. 

Urban  Lacey,  died  March  20,  1S77, 
Aged  72  yrs. 
In  memory  of  her  that  was  once 

Miss  Rath  tn nf fin.  Horn  Dec.  2^ 
1731;  married  to  Mr.  Joseph  Brins- 
maid  Oct".  1748  ;  and  secondly  to  Dr. 
W'"  Little,  Nov^  2',  1762.  She  de- 
parted this  Lite  for  Immortality  Dec' 
2'^,  1784,  aged  53  Years. 
Her  remains  are  buried  beneath  this  Stone. 


570 


History  of  Stratford. 


In  memor}'  of 
Elenor,  wife  of  Eaden   Leavens,  who 
died  June  30,  1835,  JE.  55  years. 

In  memorj'  of 
Mrs.  Eunice,  Relict  of  Mr.  George 
Lyman,  who  died  Oct.  10,  1819,  aged 
67  years. 

Here  Ives  Buried  y"  Body  of 
Mr.    3Iathetv   Mackhard,    Who 
Died  Feb"'  y"  9"^,  Anno  Domni  1736/7, 
in  y*  28'^  Year  of  His  Age. 

Here  lyes  Buried  y"  Bod}'^  of 
3Ir.  3Iafherv  3Iackharcl.  son  of 

Mr.  Mathew&  Mrs.  Sarah  Mackhard, 
Who  was  drowned  July  y«  22'',  1757, 
in  y"  21^*  Year  of  His  Age. 

Mary  Mackhard,  Dau"  of  Mr. 
Maihew  &  Mrs.  Sarah  Mackhard, 
Died  Jan>'  30''',  1737,  Aged  2  years  & 
6  months. 

Here  lyes  Buried  y'^  Body  of 

3Ir.  John  Mallet,  who  Departed 
this  life  September  28"^,  Anno  Dotn"^ 
1745,  in  y^  72<*  year  of  his  age. 

Here  Ives  the  bodv  of 
Sarah  3Iaffit,  Wife  of  John  Mallit, 

Died   Dec''  y''  5"',  1742,  in  y  26  year 

of  her  age. 

Here  lyes  y"  Body  of 
3Irs.   Joanna    3Iallit,  widow   to 

Mr.   John   Mallit.  who  departed    this 

life  Sept  y"  16,  1764,  in  y"  loi"*  year 

of  her  age. 

Here  lyes  y«  Body  of 
Htlldah  3IaUett,  Dau"  of  Mr.  John 

Mallett,  Junr.,  who  died   Oct.  y®  29, 

1758,  in  y*'  2<'  year  of  her  age. 
Laura,  Daughter  of  Mr.  Lewis  &  Mrs. 

Anna     Mallet,    died    April    3"i,    1795, 

Aged  2  years  i  month  &  S  days. 
Henry    3Ianni}ig,    Died    Jan.    5, 

1852,  M.  48  years. 

In  memory  of 
Mr.  David  3Ieaker,  who  died  Nov. 

24*'',  1828,  in  the  73'*  year  of  his  age. 

In  memorv  of 
Esther  3Ieaker,  Wife  of  Mr.  David 

Meaker,  who  died   May  26''',  1S12,  in 

the  48"'  year  of  her  age. 
Mrs.  Pollji  3Ieeker,  Died  Aug.  29, 

1817,  /E.  26  yrs. 

Nathan  S.  3Ieeker,  Died  of  Yellow 
Fever  at  Staten  Island,  N.  Y.,  Sept. 
27,  1821,  JE.  31  yrs. 

Ann  li,  3Iiddlehrook,  Died  Dec. 
I,  1850,  M.  24  yrs. 


In  memory  of 
Anne,  wife  of  Anson  Morehouse,  who 
died  May  11,  1823.  aged  37  years. 

In  memorj'  of 
Lorintha,  dau*''  of  Anson   &   Anne 
Morehouse,  who  died  Sept.  10,   1841, 
Aged  30  years. 

In  memory  of 
3Irs.  Eunice  3Iorehouse,  Wife  of 
Mr.    Lyman    Morehouse,    Who    died 
March  14"',   1800,  In  the   27*^'  year  of 
her  age. 

In  memory  of 
Sarah  3Iorehotise,   wife  of    Isaac 
Morehouse,  who  died  Aug.  22,  1837, 
aged  86. 

In  memory  of 
Abigail,  wife  of  Samuel   Morehouse, 
who    died   Aug.    29,    1826,    aged    44 
years. 

Here  lyes  Buried    the  Body  of 
3Irs.  Sarah  3Iorris,  wife  to   Mr. 
Daniel  Morris,  who  departed  this  life 
April  the  16,   1761,  in  y"  48*''  year  of 
her  age. 

Here  lyes  the  Body  of 
Iluldah  Nif'holls,  wife  to  Mr.  John 
Nicholls,  who   died  .April  16,  1759,  in 
ye  ^gth  year  of  her  age. 

In  memory  of 
Charles  S.,  who  died  March  23,  1835, 
aged  3  yrs.  &  6  mo. 
Also  of 
John  A.,    who   died   Nov.    15,    1836, 
aged  14  mo. 
Sons  of  John  W.  &  Susan  Nichols.    . 

In  memory  of 
3Ir.  John  Nichols,  who  died  Nov. 
2i'S  1801,  in  the  57"'  year  of  his  age. 

In  memory  of 
Phehe,    relict   of  Mr.   John    Nichols. 
who  died  March  3,  1835,  M.  82  years. 

In  Memory  of 
3Irs.  3Iehetable  Nichols,  Wife  of 
Mr.  John   Nichols,  who  departed  this 
life,  April  9"',   1785,  in  y**  32<i  year  of 
her  age. 

[A  Tablet.1 
Sacred  to  the  Memory  of 
Eliilip  Nichols,  Esq.,  who  departed 
this   Life   May  13"',   1807,   in  the  82'^ 
year  of  his  age. 
Tears  in  regret  in  sympathy  we  give. 
That  such  superior  excellence  should  die; 
But  dear  to  memory  wilt  thou  ever  live. 
Blest  shade  whose  meed  is  immortality. 


Sir  at  fie  Id  Burying-placc. 


-^-    .^-■■-: 


Sacred  to  the  memory  of  id 

PttiLiP  Nichols    Esq. 

who  departed    this  Life 


May  13  tK.  1807. 

in  tke  82** year  of  Kis  age. 

Vd^^cf} such  .sup^fiQii^exceUence  should dtej 
Jiiit  ^dearto:/7i£m  q rywili  thou  ever  liye, 
-/^l^lessf;  shade  ItfhQj^enjieist^ is  ijnm ortality.  : ^V^ 


Sacred  to  the  memory  of 

M^^Mary  Nichols  Ute  Consort 
of  Philip  Nichols  Esq. 
who  departed  this  life 
May  13  ^^    1811. 
In  the  78*.    year^    of  her  ag^e.   ^ 


The  soul  of  orig'in  divine 
God's  glorious  image  freed  from  day 
In  heaven's  eternal  sphere  snail  shine 

A  star  of  day .  ,  i 


572 


History  of  Stratford. 


Sacred  to  the  memory  of 
Mrs.  3Iar!/  K'u-hols,  la'ie  Consort 
of  Philip  Nichols,  Esq.,  who  departed 
this  life,  May  is'i^,    1811,  in  the  78*'' 
year  of  her  age. 
The  soul  of  origin  divine, 
God's  glorious  image  freed  from  clay. 
In  Heaven's  eternal  sphere  shall  shine, 
A  star  of  day. 

Here  lyes  Buried  y'  Body  of 
3Irs.   Sehcckah  Nichols,  wife  to 

Mr.  John  Nickols,  who   departed  this 

life,  Sept.  la"",  1749,  in  y®  36**^  year  of 

her  age. 

Here  lyes  y"  Body  of 
Muldah  Nichols,  Dau"'  of  Mr.  John 

&  Mrs.  Rebeckah   Nichols,  who  died 

Sept.  4'^,   1753,  in  y*  13*''  year  of  her 

age. 

Here  lyes  y"  Body  of 
SaraJi  Nichols,  Dau*''  of  Elijah  & 

Mrs.  Huldah    Nichols,  who  departed 

this  life  June   y"  4"',    1753,    in  y^  19'^ 

year  of  her  Age. 
William,    Nichols,    Died    July  21, 

1837,  Aged  82  yrs. 

JPhili2)   E.,    his   son,   Died  Sept.  26, 
1855,  Aged  48  years. 

Han  a  all  Nichols,    Died    Oct.   14, 
1855,  JE.  69. 

Here  lyes  the  Body  of 
Mrs.  Abigail   Odell,  Wife  to  Wil- 
liam Odeil,  who  died  Jan. 40"" 

year  of  her  age.* 

Here  lyes  y''  Body  of 
Mrs.  Dehorah  Odell,  wife  of  Lieut. 
Hezekiah   Odell,   who   departed    this 
life  June  27,    1756,   in  y  55"'  year  of 
her  age. 

Here  lyes  y"  Body  of 
Hldah  Odell,  Dau"'  of  Lieut.  Heze- 
kiah &  Mrs.  Deborah  Odell,  who  died 
June  22',  1756,  in  y'^  27^''  year  of  her 
age. 

Here  lyes  buried  y**  Body  of 
Mr.   John   Odell,    Who    Departed 
this  life   June  i"',    Ajino  Don.    1743, 
Aged  77  Years. 

Here  lyes  Buried  y''  Body  of 
Mrs.  Sarah   Odell,    wife   to   Serg. 
John    Odell,    who  died    Octob'^   25"', 
A.  D.  1743,  in  y"  79*^^  year  of  her  age. 
In  memory  of 
Hainael  Odell,  Esqr.,  who  Depart- 
ed  this  Lile  June  the  7"',  A.  D.  1775, 
in  the  69">  year  of  his  Age. 

*  The  dates  are  entirely  gone  by  the  falling 
off  of  a  part  of  the  slate  stone. 


In  memory  of 

Mrs.  Johannah  Odell,  Wife  of 
Mr.  Samuel  Odell,  who  departed  this 
Life  June  ii"",  1776,  in  the  37"' year 
of  her  age. 

Jusfis  Odell,  died  January  y"  29*'', 
1767,  Aged  3  Days  &  4  hours. 

Squire   Odell,  died    January   y«    29, 
1767,  Aged  3  Days  &  4  months. 
The      Twins     of     Mr.      Nehemiah 

Smith  Odell  &  Mrs.  Eunice  his  Wife. 
In  memory  of 

3£iss  Temj>erance  Odell,  who  de- 
parted this  life  Octob''  17,  1794,  Aged 
27  years  8  months  &  3  days. 

Too  early  lost,  just  in  the  bloom  of  youth, 

Go  noblest  patern  of  exalted  truth, 

Absolved  from  earth  that  peaceful  shore  ascend 

Where  love  inhabits,  love  that  knows  no  end. 

Here  lyes  y*^  Body  of 
Nehemiah,  son  of  Will™  Odell,  Dec"^ 
March  y*'  26,    1727,   in  y'^'  8"^  year  of 
his  age. 

Here  lyes  v*  Body  of 
Nathaniel  Odetl,  Son  of  Mr.  Wil- 
liam &  Mrs.  Sarah  Odell,   Who  Died 


July 
age. 


15"^,    1746,  in  y*  3'!  year  of  his 


Here  Ives  y'  Body  of 
Ebenez''  Odell,  Son  of  Mr.  William 
Odell,  Who  died  Octo''  7"",  1743,  in  y* 
19"'  Year  of  his  age. 

In  memory  of 
Mrs.  Abigail,  Wife  of  Joel   Parish, 
who  died  June   i"*,   1777,   in   her  37*'' 
year. 
Abraham  Parrott,  died  Nov.  16, 
1825,  JE.  48. 

Lord  we  commit  our  souls  to  thee, 
Accept  the  sacred  trust. 

Lucy  Wells,  Wife  of  Abraham   Par- 
rott, Died  Sept.  8.  1856,  M.  80. 

Revive  this  nobler  part  of  ours 
And  watch  our  sleeping  dust. 

In  memory  of 
Henri/  O.  Parrott,  Son  of  Abraham 

&  Lucy  Parrott,  who  died  July  8,  1826, 

aged  13  yrs.  11  mos.  &  16  days. 
In  iriemory  of 
Manj    E.    Parrott,    daughter    of 

Abraham  &  Lucy  Parrott,  vvho  died 

Sept.  23,  1826,  aged  15  yrs.  &  11  mo. 
Thomas  Parrott,  died  Dec.  8, 1851, 

JE.  58. 
Sally,  Wife  of  Thomas  Parrott,  died 

Aug.  17,  1839,  JE.  49. 

In  memory  of 
Isaac  Patchin,  who  died  Feb.  11, 

1832,  aged  85  yrs. 


Sir  at  field  Buryiui^-placc. 


573 


In  memory  of 
Elijah  Feet,  wliodied  Nov.  26,  1841, 
aged  81  years. 

In  memory  of 
Anna  JPeet,  wife  of  Elijah  Peet,  who 

died  June  i,  1843,  aged  76  years. 
This  monumeni  is  sacred  to  the  mem- 
ory of 
Mrs.  Anne  JPixlei/,  Relict  of  Mr. 
William  Pixlev,  who  died  Sept.  20"", 

1800,  in  the  6g*''  year  of  her  age. 
Here  lyes  Buried  ye  Body  of 

3£rs.  Hannah    Porter,  Wife    to 

Ensign  John    Porter,   Who  departed 

this  life  Octob''  y«  28"',  1763,  in  y"  61^' 

year  of  her  age. 
Nathaniel  Porter,  son  of  John  & 

Lucy  Porter,  died  June  21^^,   i8oo,  in 

the  14*''  year  of  his  age. 
In  memory  of 
3rr.  Samuel  Porter,  who  departed 

this  life  Sepf  13"",   1795,   In   the  78^'' 

year  of  his  Age. 

In  memory  of 
Mrs.  Abiah  Porter,  Relict  of  Mr. 

Samuel    Porter,    who    died    July  g"*, 

1801,  In  the  76"'  year  of  her  age. 

In  memory  of 
Mrs.  Sarah  Porter,  Wife  of    Mr. 
Samuel  Porter,  Jun"',  who  died  April 
3'^,  1805,  In  the  25"^  year  of  her  age. 
Depository  of 
Miss  Betsey  Bayniond,  who,  in 
the  bloom  of  life  was  snatched  from 
her  friends,  and  y"  companions  of  her 
youth,  Jany    14"",  A.  D.   1792,  In  the 
17*''  year  of  her  age. 
31  rs.   Ruth   Risley,    Relict  of  Mr. 
Timothy    Risley,    of    Egg    Harbour, 
dec^,   and    Daughter    of    Mr.    David 
Wells  of  this  Town,   Dec"^,  died  Jan>' 
2^,  1794,  aged  36  years. 
Here  lies  entombed  the  Remains  of 
The  Reverend  Robert  Jioss,  Sarah 
Ross,   his  Wife,   and  James  Merrick 
Ross,  their  Son. 

The  Reverend  Robert  Ross,  A.M.,  a  native 
of  Ireland  ;  in  his  infancy  brought  into  this 
Country,  Was  sometime  a  Tutor  at  ihe  College 
of  New  Jersey,  where  he  also  received  his  ed- 
ucation ;  Afterwards  Pastor  of  the  Presbyte- 
rian Church  in  this  Society,  over  which  he  was 
ordained  November  28th,  1753,  and  in  which  he 
labored  in  word  and  doctrine,  43  years. 

A  person  who  long  sustained  a  high  charac- 
ter for  Christian  Literature  and  general  knowl- 
edge. In  his  principles,  orthodox  ;  In  his 
preaching  practical  and  judicious.  He  advo- 
cated the  truths  of  the  Gospel  by  doctrine  and 
example,  and  was,  therefore,  a  pious  guide  cS: 
instructor. 

He  died  Augst.  29,  1799,  aged  73 
years. 


Mrs.  Sarah   lloss,   died   the   s.ime 
day  with  her  luisband,  aged  52.     And 
James  3Ierrivli  lioss,  13  days  afn-r 
his  parents,  aged  10  years. 

O  thou  gloDinv  monarch  I 
Are  these  the  trophies  of  thy  c(Mi<|ucriii((  arms  ? 
Nor  reverend  hoary  OKc  mix  blomning  youth. 
Nor  boasted  strength  uscupu  thy  fatal  dart  ! 

These  seem  to  speak 
With  silent  horror  to  my  shivering  lieart ; 
Bid  me  survey  my  swift  u()proachiMR  duoin. 
And   view  the  dark   retreat   which   waits  my 
coming. 

This  monument  is  erected  by  Eiipha- 
let    Jennings,    to    the    memory   of   his 

Father-in-law  and  family, iSoi. 

Here  lyes    Buried 
James  Ross,  son   af  Rev.   Robert  & 
Mrs.  Sarah  Ross,  Born  Sept.  12,  1758, 
Drowned  Sept.  10,  1760. 

Sacred  to  the  memory  of 
Rev(f  StejtJlcn  Royce,  who  depart- 
ed this  life  Aug"  3'',  1802,   in  the  47''' 
year  of  his  age. 
Here  in  death's  cold  embrace  this  bodv  lies. 
The  soul  is  gone  to  mansions  in  the  skies  ; 
His  dust  must  sleep,  his  voice  be  heard  no  more. 
Till  the  last  trump  shall  sound  from  shore  to 

shore. 
Then  burst  the  bands  of  death  with  sweet  sur- 
prise. 
And  in  his  Saviour's  glorious  form  arise. 

Here  lyes  Buried  the  Body  of 

3Ir.  Edmund  Rowfaud,  who  de- 
parted this  life  April  the  13"',  1769,  in 
the  41"  year  of  his  age. 
In  memory  of 

Henry  Rowland,  who  died  June 
19"',    1775,    aged     about     84     years. 

Erected  by  Rowland   B.  Lacey  in    1S79. 
Here  lyes  Buried  y"  Body  of 

3Irs.  Tatnar  Rowland,  wife  to 
Mr.  Henry  Rowland,  who  died  .April 
yo  21",  A.  D.  1737,  in  y"  42'  year  of 
her  age. 

Here  lyes  Buried  the  Body  of 

3Ir.  Thomas  Saiiford,  who  de- 
parted this  li/e  May  y"  20,  1757,  in  >•• 
83'^  year  of  his  age. 

Here  lyes  y«  Body  of 

3Irs.  Hannah  San  font,  wife  to 
Mr.  Thomas  Sanford,  who  Departed 
this  life  May  iS"",  1755,  in  y  75  year 
of  her  age. 

In  memory  of 

Deacon  Altel  Seclye.  who  died  May 
g"",  iSio.  in  the  85"'  year  of  his  age. 

3Iarcy,  wife  of  Dea.  Abel  Seelcy,  died 
March  5,  18 ivy,  aged  98. 

Hannah,  Daughter  of  Mr.  .A.bel  <S: 
Mrs.  Marcy  Seely,  died  Nov'  y"  19. 
1746,  aged  I  year&  11  months. 


574 


History  of  Stratford. 


This  Stone  was  erected  by  Seth  Seelye, 

Jun.  in  commemoration  of  his 

late  wife, 

Abigail  Seelye,  who  died  July  8*^, 

1800,  in  the  31"  year  of  her  age. 

In  memor}'  of 

Ezra   Seeley,   died    Aug.   14,    1827, 

aged  81  years. 
3Iury,  wife  of  Ezra  Seeley,  died  Aug. 
7,  1822,  M.  81. 

Here  lyes  Buried  y*  Body  of 
Ensign  Nathan  Seelye,  who  de- 
parted this  life  April  30,  1766,  in  y" 
52*^  year  of  his  age. 

Here  heth  y"  Body  of 
Eunice,  y"  wife  of  Nathan  Seelye,  who 
died  June  6"',  1745,  in  y*  28*'i  year  of 
her  Age. 
tlennett  E.,  wife  of  George  B.  Seeley, 

died  Jan.  7,  1850,  JE.  35. 
Mavy  E,,  iheir  daughter,   died   Dec. 
22,  1847,  M.  6  yrs.  &  2  months. 
In  Memory  of 
Nathaniel    Seelye,    who   departed 
this  life  March  27,  1786,  in  y"  85  year 
i>f  His  Age. 

In  memory  of 
Mi-s.    Elizabeth    Seelye,    wife    of 
Mr.  Nathaniel  Seelye,    who  departed 
tins  life  December  9"^,  1781,  in  y''  79* 
year  of  Her  Age. 

In  memory  of 
Lieut.   Nathan  Seelye,  who    de- 
parted this  Life  June  24"'  1787,  Aged 
44  Years  wanting  21  days. 
In  memory  of 
Mrs.   Debovuli   Seelye,    Relict   of 
Lieut.  Nathan  Seel3'e,  who  died  Sept. 
22'^,  1811,  in  the  69"^  year  of  her  age. 
In  memory  of 
Polly,  wife    of    Rohwell    Seeley,    who 

died  Sept.  g,  183S,  aged  46  years. 
James  H.,   son   of  Roswell  &  Polly 
Seeley,  Died  Nov.  23,  1848,  M.  19. 
In  memory  of 
Euth  Seeley,  wife  of  Joseph   Seeley, 
who  died  Oct.  8,  1815,  aged  29  years. 
In  memorj'  of 
Mrs.    Betsey  Seeley,  wife  of    Mr. 
Joseph    Seeley,    who    died     Dec.    24, 
1824,  aged  40  years. 

In  memory  of 
Mary  E.,  daughter  of  Joseph  &  Ruth 
Seeley,  who  died   May  ir,    1835,  aged 
24  years. 

Here  lyes  the  Body  of 
SetJi  Seelye,  Dec'^  July  y"  29*'',   1727, 
in  y*'  i8"i  year  of  His  Age. 


In  Memory  of 
Deac^^  Seth  Seelye,  who  died  May 
23'*,  1817,  in  the  79  yr  of  his  age. 
Blessed  are  the  dead  who  die  in  the  Lord. 

In  Memor}'  of 

Mrs.  Joanna  Seelye,  Wife  of  Deac° 
Seth  Seelye,  Who  departed  this  life 
Feb''y  25*'',  1797,  In  the  62'^  year  of 
her  age. 

In  Memory  of 

3Iiss  Anne  Seelye,  Daughter  of 
Deac"  Seth  &  Mrs.  Joanna  Seelye, 
who  died  June  25'*",  1815,  in  the  53*^ 
year  of  her  age. 

In  memory  of 
Seth  Seeley,  who  died  Nov.  2,  1844, 
aged  28  3'rs. 
Don't  mourn  my  wife  and  children  so  dear, 

I  am  not  dead  but  sleeping  here  ; 

My  peace  is  made,  my  grave  you  see. 

Prepare  for  death  and  follow  me. 

We  know  that  our  redeemer  lives, 
We  trust  the  promises  he  gives. 
And  part  in  hope  to  meet  above 
Where  all  is  joy  and  all  is  love. 

Seth  Seeley,  son  of  Mr.  Samuel  O. 
&  Mrs.  Sally  Seelye,  died  March  30*'\ 
1814,  aged  lb  months  &  16  days. 

Abiah  Sherman,  Died  May  28, 
1717,  aged  19  years. 

Elnathan  Sherinan,  aged  about  8 

years  old.  Who  died  April  15,  1717. 

Here  lyes  Buried  y**  Body  of 

Mr.  Amos  Shertnatt,  Who  Depart- 
ed this  life,  Decern''  n*'»,  1760,  in  y* 
36"'  j^ear  of  his  age. 

Sacred  to  the  memory  of 

Anson  Sherman,  who  died  at 
Orange  Springs,  New  Jersey,  July  19, 
1S35,  yE.  44  yrs. 

Here  lyes  Buried  the  Bod}'  of 

Capt.  David  Sherman,  who  de- 
parted this  life  Jan''  y®  i  Anno  Dom"', 
1753.  in  y"  88"'  year  of  his  age. 

[See  opposite.] 

Here  lyes  Buried  the  Body  of 
Mrs.   Marry   Sherman,   Wife    to 
Capt.  David  Sherman  Who  Departed 
this  life  Aug.  19  A.  D.  1745,  in  y"  75"" 
year  of  her  age. 

Here  lyes  Buried  the  Body  of 
Lieut.  David  Sherman,  Who  De- 
parted this  life  July  y*  8"'  Anno  Domni, 
1752,  in  y"  60  year  of  His  Age. 

Here  lyes  the  Body  of 
Mrs.   Dinah  Sherman,    Wife   to 
Mr.   David    Sherman,    Dec''  April  y" 
13"'.  1732,  in  ye  37'^  Year  of  Her  Age. 


Sir  at  fie  Id  Bnrying-place. 


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576 


History  of  Stratford. 


Sarah  Thompson,  i^  Wife  of  Lieut. 

David  Sherman, . 

Here  Ives  Buried  the  Bodv  of 
Mr.   David  Sherman,   Who  was 

killed    by  lightning   in   the   House  of 
God  at  public  worship  on   the  28"^  of 
July,  I77i,iny'^'  35'''  Year  of  His  Age. 
Here  lyes  y"  Body  of 

3lrs.  Mar  If  Sherman,  Wife  to  Mr. 
David  Sherman  and  Dau"'  of  Mr. 
Stephen  &  Mrs.  Eunice  Starling,  Who 
departed  this  Life  May  y  28"',  1765, 
in  V''  25'^  Year  of  Her  Age. 
This  Stone  is  erected  to  the  memory  of 

Capf.  Darld  Sherman,  who  died 
August  22',  1810,  in  the  54*''  year  of 
his  age. 

Also  of  his  son, 

David  Sherman,  who  was  sup- 
posed to  be  lost  on  his  passage  from 
Washington  in  North  Carolina  to 
New  York  with  his  whole  crew  in 
the  schooner  Recovery  about  the  20"" 
of  Decem''\  1800,  in  the  25"^  year  of 
his  age. 


In  Memory  of 

Mrs,  Hehecra,  Wife  of  Capt.  David 
Sherman,  who  died  Mar.  4,  1825,  aged 
70  years. 

In  Memory  of 

Isaac  Sherman ,  son  of  Mr.  David 
&  Mrs.  Rebecca  Sherman,  died  March 
y'  ig"',  A.  D.  1784,  Aged  14  months 
&  5  days. 

In  memory  of 

31  r.  Ehenezer  Sherman,  who  died 
Sept.  28"\  1S19,  aged  66  years. 

Hervey  Sherman,  son  of  Mr.  Sterl- 
ing &  Mrs.  Anna  Sherman,  died  July 
I*',  1805,  aged  2  months  &  15  days. 
In  memory  of 

3Irs.  Jemima  Sherman,  Relict  of 
Mr.  Nathaniel  Sherman,  who  died 
Feb>'  10''',  1806,  in  the  77*^  year  of  her 
age. 

3Iatf7iew  Sherutan,  born  Oct.  21, 

A.  D.,  1645,  died —  A.D.,  1698. 

And 

Hannah  JBalhley,  his  wife,  died 
about  1712. 


MATTHEW  S'HERMAK. 

^orq  Oct  2r=  ^ .D.  16^^ 

-HIS  win:. 

^ted  about    Ji.D.    I7j2. 


Erected,  by  l^awlaifd  3  Lacey    li^ 


St  rat  field  Burynig-f^lacc. 


577 


Here  lies  tlie  bod_v  of 
Deac^  Seth    Sheiumn,    Who  de- 
parted this  life,  August  7"',   1807,  in 
ihe  53  year  of  his  age. 
Pause  and  consider  where  the  good  man  lies, 
Mark  well  his  path  and  follow  to  the  skies. 

Here  lyes  Buried  the  Body  of 
3Iv.  Andrew  Shevivood,  Who  de- 
parted  this   Life,    Nov"   23'',  1767,  in 
the  47'''  Year  of  His  Age. 
In  Memory  of 
Anna    W.,    daughter   of   Charles   & 
Miranda  B.  Sherwood,  who  died  July 
19,  1:837,  JE.  3  mos.  &  22  ds. 
David  Sfierwood,  1763. 

This   monument   is  erected    to    the 
memory  of 
Capt.  David  Sherwood,  who  de- 
parted this  life,  July  i?"*,  1811.  in  the 
49"*'  year  of  his  age. 
Tinae  was,  like  me,  he  life  possessest. 
And  time  shall  be  when  1  shall  rest. 

Epitraim  S.  Sltericood,  died  Nov. 
3,  1867,  JE.  89  yrs.  &  9  mo. 
In  memory  of 

Salljf,  wife  of  Ephraim  Sherwood,  who 
died  Oct.  25,  1826.  aged  44  years. 

Sarah,  wife  of  Ephraim  S.  Sherwood, 
died  April  4,  1857,  yE.  76  vs.  &  10  mo. 
Here  lyes  Buried  the  Body  of 

Mr.  Giirdon  Sherwood ,  who  de- 
parted this  life  August  y^'  22"'',  1772, 
in  y"  32'"'  year  of  his  age. 

Here  lyes  Buried  the  Body  of 

Capt.  John  Sherivood,  who  de- 
parted this  Life  Sept.  the  I7">,  1779, 
in  y*  74"'  year  of  His  Age. 


Here  lyes  y'  Body  of 
Mrs.  Mary   Sherirood,  Wife    to 
Capt.  John  Sherwood,  Who  departed 
this  Life  June  y*  12"',  1767,  in  y*  58"" 
year  of  Her  Age. 

Lucy,  Daughter  of  Mr.  Philemon  and 
Mrs.  Hepzibah  Sherwood,  was  horn 
June  10,  1795,  &  died  March  27,  1799. 

Here  Ives  the  Body  of 
Capt,   3Iattheiv    Sherwood,    de- 
parted   this   life   y'  26"»  of    October, 
1715,  in  y*  72  Vear  of  his  age. 

Here  lyes  the  Body  of 
3Irs.    Mary    Sherwood,   wife    to 
Capt.  Matthew  Sherwood,  aged  about 
87  years.     Dec'  December  25,  1730. 

Here  lyes  the  Bodv  of 
Matthew    Sherwood,   that  deccs' 
22  year,  1700  [or  1709.] 

Here  lies  the  Body  of 
Nathaniel    Sherwood,  who   died 
Octob"^  2',  17S4,  in  the  78'*'  year  of  his 
age. 

In  memory  of 
Mrs.   Mercy   Shenrood.  Wife   of 
Mr.   Nathaniel    Sherwood,  who  died 
July  26,  1779,  in  the  76"'  year  of  her 
age. 

yhitenion  Sherwood,  died  April 
19,  1838,  aged  76  years. 

Hepsihah,  wife  of  the  late  Philemon 
Sherwood,  died  Sept.  9.  1848,  JE.  S2 
yrs. 


578 


History  of  Stratford. 


In  memory  of 
Nathaniel  Shevwood,  son  of  Mr. 

Philemon  and    Mrs.   Hepzibah  Sher- 
wood,   who    was    drowned    May    ii, 
1807,  in  the  20'''  3'ear  of  his  age. 
Dear  lovely  Son  and  Brother 
Vain  is  the  wish  that  calls  thee  back  again, 
Vain  is  the  wish,  heaven  is  thy  natal  shore  ; 
There  free  from  sorrow,  free  from  every  pain 
To  thee  the  ills  of  life  are  known  no  more. 

Rebecca  J.,  daughter  of  Mr.  Charles 
&  Mrs.  Lois  Sherwood,  died  Dec.  30, 
1818,  aged  7  months  &  23  days. 
Here  lyes  Buried  the  Body  of 

Capt.  Samuel  SJierwood,  Dec^ 
Nov''  y"  10,  Anno  Donnii  1732,  in  the 
52  year  of  His  Age. 

Here  lyes  the  Body  of 

Rehekah  Shaitvood,  Wife  to  Capt. 
Samuel  Sharwood,  Aged  40  Years. 
Dec'i  May  16"^,  1 721-2. 

Here  lyes  3"  Body  of 

3Irs.  Mary  Shevwood,  Widow  of 
Capt.  Samuel  Sherwood,  Who  died 
Sept.  18*,  1743,  in  3-'  61^'  year  of  her 
age. 

In  memory  of 

Capt.  Samuel  Sherivood,  who 
died  Sept.  lo"",  1802,  in  the  71"*  j'ear 
of  his  age. 

In  memory  of 

A-lltl,  relict  of  Hezekiah  Bradley,  for- 
merly the  wife  of  Capt.  Samuel  Sher- 
wood, who  died  Dec.  26,  1822,  aged 
84. 

In  memory  of 

Stephen  Sherivood,  who  died  July 
12,  1837,  aged  89  years. 

Here  lyes  the  Bod3'  of 

DocP\  Thomas  Sherwood^  who 
Dec^  May  y"  7"',  1727,  in  y"  41^''  3'ear 
of  his  age. 

Amanda  Louisa,  only  child  of  Ste- 
phen &  Harriet   Silliman,    who  died 
Feb.  8,  1838,  JE.  17  mo.  8  ds. 
In  memor3'  of 

Daniel  Silliman,  JEsqr.,  who  de- 
parted this  Life  Feb''  25"',  A.  D.  1773, 
in  the  52  Year  of  his  age. 
In  memory  of 

3Irs.  Sarah  Silliman,  Wife  of  Mr. 
Daniel  Silliman,  that  departed  this 
life  February  3'''  22'^,  A.  D.  1773,  aged 
48  3'ears. 

Hannah  Silliman,  Daug"^  of  Na- 
thaniel &  Hannah  Silliman,  Dec'' 
Feb''!'  y  18,  1826,  Aged  2  years  &  10 
mo. 


Sacred  to  the  niemor3'  of 
Loretta,  Daughter  of  Capt.  Nathaniel 
&  Mrs.  Chloe  Silliman,  who  was  born 
Sept.  23,  1791,  &  died  Aug*'  24,  1794, 
aged  2  3'ears  11  months  i  da3'. 
Here  lyes  Buried  y"  Body  of 
3Irs.  Ruth  Silliman,  Wife  to  Mr. 
Robert  Silliman,  Who  Departed   this 
life  March  y''  15"',  1756,  Aged  5S  years 
I  month  &  15  Das. 
Rhoda    Silliman,   Daug"    of    Mr. 
Robert  &   Mrs.  Ruth  Silliman,  Died 
April    22'',  A.  D.   1739,  aged  3  years, 
9  months  &  16  Days. 

Here  lyes  y*"  Body  of 
Ruth  Silliman,  y'   Dau*''  of  Robert 
&  Ruth  Silliman,  aged  6  years  i  mo. 
&  2  days  ;  who  Died  Sept.  23,  1727. 
In  memor3'  of 
Capt.   Seth    Silliman,    who    died 
March  31'',  1808,  in  the  67*''  year  of 
his  age. 

In  memory  of 
3Irs.  Lois  Silliman,  wife  to  Capt. 
Seth  Silliman,  who  Died  July  13,  1807, 
in  the  63''  year  of  her  age. 
In  memory  of 
3Ir.  Seth  Silliman,  son  of  Capt. 
Seth  &  Mrs.  Lois  Silliman,  who  died 
Dec  I'*',  1794,  aged  21  years,  l  month 
&  7  days. 

In  memor3'  of 
Elisabeth,  wife  of  Seth  Silliman,  who 
died  Oct.  10,  1826,  aged  54  years. 
In  memory  of 
3Ir.  Josiah  Smith,  who  departed 
this  Life  August  26"',  1794,  Aged  37 
years. 

In  memory  of 
Leivis,  son  of  Tertullus  Stephenson  & 
Sarah   his  Wife,  who   died  Sept.    11, 
1805,  J£.  9  years. 

In  memory  of 
Abijah  Steiling,  JEsqr.,  who  died 
March  17"',   1802,  in  the  57*  year  of 
his  age. 

In  memorA^  of 
3Irs.    Eunice    Sterling,   relict    of 
Abijah  Sterling,  Esq.,  who  died  Feb. 
15,  1816,  in  the  73  3'ear  of  her  age. 
George,    Son   of  Mr.   David    &    Mrs. 
Deborah    Sterling,    died    March    5"'. 
1802,  aged  I  year  &  2  days. 
Here  lyes  y^  Bod3'  of 
3Irs.  Hannah  Starling,  wife   to 
Mr.    Jacob    Starling,   who    departed 
this  life  June  y"  I4»'',  1756,  in  y   77*'' 
year  of  her  age. 


Sir  at  field  Buryiiig-/>/acc. 


579 


Here  lyes  the  Bodj-  of 
3Iarji    Sterling,    Daugh""    of    Mr. 
Jacob  &  Mrs.  Hannah  Sterling,  who 
died   March  2"'',  Anno  Doin.  1737,  in 
y«  23"^  year  of  her  age. 

In  memory  of 
Mr.  Sherwood  Sterliuf/,  who  died 
Sept.  22'',  1S02,  in  the  29"*  year  of  his 
age. 

In  memory  of 
Mr.  Stephen  Sterlhif/,  who  depart- 
ed this  life  Oct"  23'',  1797,  in  the  43 
year  of  his  age. 

In  Memory  of 
Mr.  Stephen  Stertinf/,  who  depart- 
ed   this  life  March  19''',   1793,  in  the 
81^'  year  of  his  age. 

To  the  memory  of 

Eunice  Sterling,  wife  of  Stephen 
Sterling,  who  died  October  8,  1808, 
aged  88  years. 

Sacred  to  the  memory  of 

Xeheniiah  Strong,  Est/.,  Formerly 
Professor  of  Mathematiks  and  Nat- 
ural Philosophy  in  Yale  College. 
He  died  August  13,  1807,  in  the  80"' 
year  of  his  Age. 


Sacred  the  memory  of 
Mrs.  Marij  Strong,  late  Consort  of 
Nehemiah  Strong,  Esqr.,  formerly 
Professor  of  Mathematics  and  natural 
PhiIosoph3-  in  Yale  College.  She 
died  January  23'',  A.  D.  1807,  Anno 
.iEtat  sue  76. 

Death  like  an  overflowinp  stream 
Sweeps  us  away,  our  life  s  a  dream. 

Joseph  Strong,  died  March  23,  1816, 
in  the  75  year  of  his  age. 
In  luemory  of 

Sirs.    Comfort    Strong,   Wife    of 
Joseph  Strong,  Esqr.,  who  died   Feb. 
14"',  1804,  in  the  65'''  year  of  her  age. 
In  memory  of 

f'onifort.  Wife  of  Joseph  Strong,  who 

died   Sept.  13,  1841,  Aged  77  years. 

In  memory  of 

Char  it  ji  Strong,  Dau"  of  Mr.  Jos- 
eph 6t  Mrs.  Comfort  Strong.  Who 
departed  this  life  August  y  5".  1776, 
in  the  19""  month  of  her  age. 

Miss    Anna,    Daughter    of    Joseph 
Strong,  Esqr.,  and   .Mrs.  Comfort  his 
Wife,  departed  this  life  July  2',  1798. 
In  the  19'''  Year  of  her  Age. 
Rest  in  sweet  slumbers,  lovely  Sister,  rest. 
Thy  life  be  copied  and  thy  memory  blest. 


58o 


History  of  Stratford. 


In  memory  of 
Miss  Comfort  Strong,  Daughter 
of  Joseph  Strong,  Esqr.,  and  Mrs. 
Comfort  his  wife,  who  departed  this 
life  March  7'\  1801,  in  the  2o">  year 
of  her  age. 
Stop  friend  and  drop  the  pittying  tear 

O'er  these  lov'd  remains  beneath  this  sod, 
Yet  think  their  spirits  rest  not  here 
But  in  the  bosom  of  their  God. 

In  memory  of 
3Iiss  Sarah  Strong,  Daughter  of 
Joseph  Strong,  Esqr.  &  Mrs.  Comfort 
Strong,  who  died  Oct"  18"',   1804,  in 
the  33'^  year  of  her  age. 

In  memory  of 
Tryphena^   wife  of  John   Strong,  of 
Fairfield,   who    died    Sept.    10,    i82g, 
aged  56  years  &  6  months. 

In  memory  of 
Aaron  Summers,   who  died   Feb. 
24,  1826,  aged  81  years. 

In  memor}'  of 
Huldali  Smnmers,  wife  of  Aaron 
Summers,    who  died   April  22,  1837, 
aged  83  years. 

In  Memory  of 
Alice   Summers,  who   died    March 
26,  1823,  aged  62  years. 

In  memory  of 

Elnafhan  Summers,  who  died 
Dec.  9,  1831,  aged  85  years. 

ZTl'ania,  danghter  of  Einathan  Sum- 
mers, died  Dec.  7,  1849,  Aged  68 
years. 

Here  lyes  y*"  body  of 

Enoch  Summers,  son  of  Mr.  Daniel 
and  Mrs.  Eunice  Summers,  who  de- 
parted this  life  March  y'-  12"^,  1759.  in 
y  is""  year  of  his  age. 

In  memory  of 
3Ir.  Jahez  Summers,    who  died 
Aug^'  21*',  1801,  aged  80  years  &  27 
days. 

In  Memory  of 
Mrs.  Ahiah  Summers,  who  died 
Sepf  S'^',  1807,  in  the  84"'  year  of  her 
age. 

In  memory  of 
3Iarg  Summers,  who  died  Jan.  12, 
1824,  aged  80  years. 

Precious  in  the  sight  of  the  Lord  is  the  death 
of  his  saints. 

In  memory  of 
Mrs.  Mar  if  Summers,  who  died 
April   ig"",   1806,  in   the  25'^  year  of 
her  age. 


In  memory  of 
3Iary  Summers,    wife   of    Samuel 
Summers,  who  died   Feb.  2**,  1811,  in 
the  66"'  year  of   her  age. 

In  memory  of 
Miss  Hhoda  Summers,  who  died 
Aug.  12,  1823,  in  her  37  year. 

Here  lyes  Buried  the  Body  of 
3Ir.  Nathan  Summers,  Who  De- 
parted this   Life   Decem"^  y'°  13,  1772, 
in  y'^  70""  year  of  His  Age. 

Here  lyes  the  Bod}-  of 
3Irs.  Comfort  Summers,  Wife  of 
Mr.  Nathan  Summers,  Who  departed 
this  Ife  Octob'  y  4"",    1763,  in  y''  63'^ 
Year  of  Her  Age. 

Here  lies  the  body  of 
3Irs.  Martha  Summers,  Wife  of 
Nathan  Summers,  who  died  Oct.  26"', 
1751,  in  y  50**^  year  of  her  Age. 
In  memory  of 
Samuel  Summers,  who  died  June 
16"^,  1810,  in  the  74"'  year  of  his  age. 
Here  lyes  y  Body  of 
Mrs.  Eunice  Summers,  Wife  of 
Mr.  Samuel  Summers,  Who  departed 
this  Life  Feb'>'  8"^,    1766,   in  ye    25"^ 
Year  of  Her  Age. 

In  memory  of 
Capt.    Stej)7ien    Summers,    who 
died  July  16"',   iSii,  in  the  68"' year 
of  his  age. 

Also  of  his  son, 
Stephen  Su miners,  JuW".,  Master 
of  the  Brig  William,  who  with  his 
crew  were  lost  Nov'  1810,  aged  34 
years. 
Nathaniel  Thorp,  died  Jan.  9, 1836, 
^.38. 

Died  Jan.  26,  1826,  an 
Infant,   daughter   of    Nathaniel    and 
Mary  Ann  Thorp,   aged  4  mo.  &  18 
days. 

Died  Jan.  7,  1828, 
Emily,  daughter  of  Nathaniel  &  Mary 

Ann  Thorp,  aged  11  mo.  &  17  days. 
Grandison  B.   Treadwell,   died 

Sept.  24,  1865,  J£.  61  years,  4  Mo. 
Muth  Ann,  his  wife,  died  April  22, 

1869,  JE.  55  yrs.  2  Mo. 
Naomy,  daughter  to  Lieut.  Hezekiah 
&  Mrs.  Mehitable  Tredwell,  who  died 
A.  D.,  August  the  12"',  1744,  in  the 
12"'  year  of  her  age. 
Elizabeth  Treadivell,  Deceased 
May  10,  1709,  In  Her  4"'  year. 


Stmt  field  Burying-placc. 


581 


Here  Ives  the  Body  of 

11.  Treadivell,  Dessed  A  pi.  

In  Her  23  — . 

Here  lyes  the  Body  of 
Saviaef    TreadweU,  Died    Febray 

the  2S,  1717. 

Here  lyes  Buried  v"  Body  of 
Mi'.  Stejthen  Trea dwell,  Who  De- 

parted  this  Life  Nov''  23'',  Anno  Dom- 
ini, 1753,  in  y    44"'  year  of  His  Age. 

Here  lyes  y''  Body  of 
Thnothjf   Tredwell,  of  this  place, 

Who  deed   Sepf  about  y'    20"',  aged 

about  37  years,  1720. 
S.  T.     [Probably  a  Treadwell.] 
Sarah  Treadwell,  Died  Dec.  24"', 

1709. 
H.  T.,  i6gg.      [In  the  Treadwell   row 

of  stones.] 

D.  T.,  i6g6.     [In  Treadwell  row.] 

E.  T.  [and]  E.  [and]  M.—B.  [In 
Treadwell  row.] 

E.  T.,  1708.     [In  the  Treadwell  row.] 

Clark  31.  Ttitfle,  died  December  8, 
1867,   aged   59  yrs.  3  mos.  &  21  days. 

Lorintlia,  wife  of  Clark  M.  Tutile 
&  daughter  of  Abel  &  Ruth  Hubbell, 
died  May  19,  1852,  JE.  38. 

Here  13'es  y"*  Body  of  y" 
Hev.    Mr.    Nathaniel     Tucker, 

Who  died  December  20"',  1747,  in  y 
23'^  Year  of  His  Age  ;  Who  was  Rec- 
tor of  the  Church  of  Christ  in  Con- 
necticut Farms  in  Elizabeth  Town  in 
New  Jersey. 

Here  lyes  Buried  the  Body  of 
3Ir.  Ueuri/  fFakelhtf/,  who  Died 

Janu''>'  g'"*  Anno  Dom"',  1743,  in  y 
Co""  year  of  his  age. 

Here  lyeth  the  Body  of 
.Machel  Waklin,  Who  Departed  this 

life    in    the   year   of  Her    Age, 

March  10,  1708. 

Here  lyes  Buried  the  Body  of 
3rr.   Zebulon    Waketee,   who  de- 
parted  this  life,  July  V\  1767,  in  y" 
55""  year  of  his  age. 

Sarah  R.,    Daughter  of   Rufus  and 
Mary  Way,  died  July  30,  i85g,  aged 
3  mo.  and  9  ds. 
Sleep  on  dear  Babe  and  take  thy  rest. 
\Ve  mourn  thy  absence  now  but 
Soon  the  trump  of  God  shall  sound 
And  we  again  Behold  thy  lovely  face. 

38 


I  n  nieinorv  of 
t'ajd.  If  illiain  Pro/v/rii,  who  did 
Oct"  27"'.  1808,  in  tlie  75'"  vcar  of  his 
age. 

In  nieMior\'  of 
Anna  Wordin,  Wife  of  Capt.  Wil- 
liam   Word  in,   who  died   Aur"  27"". 
1805,  in  the  68"'  year  o(  his  aj{c. 
Here  Ives  the  Body  of 
Elizaheth   JVel—,  [probably  Wells] 
that  deceased    in    the  year  1706. 
In  niemorv  of 
Jedediah  ll'et/s,  wlio  died  March  9. 
1827,  aged  75. 

In  memory  of 

Jfanuah.    Wife   of  jedediah   Wells. 

who  died  June  5,  1838.  aged  84  years. 

In  memory  of 

Charitf/    Wells,   who    died    Oct.   2. 

1841,  yE.  61  yts. 

Ellen  Wells,  Wife  of  Henry  Man- 
ning, Died  Sept.  20,  1867;  /E.  83 
years  6  mos. 

Here  lyes  Buried  y"  Body  of 
3rrs.    Liujf    Wells,    Wile    to    Mr. 
ledediah    Wells,   who   departed    this 
life  Ocf  y"  28,  A.  D.  1751,  in  y"  23"* 
year  of  her  age. 

Behold  as  you  pass  by 
As  you  are  now  so  once  was  I, 
As  I  am  now  so  you  must  be, 
Prepare  for  death  and  follow  me. 

Here  lyes  y"  Body  of 
Mrs.  liilth  Wells,  wife  10  .Mr.  David 
Wells,  who  departed   this  life  [uly  y' 
3',  1766,  in  ye  35"'  year  of  her  age. 
In  Memory  of 
3Ir.  Stephen   Wells,  who  died  Sept. 
JI,  1825,  aged  70  years. 
In  memory  of 
3Irs.    3Iarif,   relict  of   .Mr.   Stephen 
Wells,  who  died   Sept.  11,  1827,  aged 
69  years. 

Erances    Caroline,    Daughter    of 
Robert  W.  >S:  .Amelia  Wetinore,  died 
Aprd  i",  1797,  .Aged  14  days. 
In  memory  of 

3Ir.  Benjamin  Wheeler,  who  de- 
parted this  Life  Dec'  26"",  179S,  In 
the  74"'  Year  of  his  .Age. 

Ill  memorv  of 
3Irs.  3Iar!i  Wheeler.  Wife  ..1  .Mr. 

Benjamin  Wheeler,  who  dej^arted  tiiis 

lite  Aug"  13"',  179S,    III    the   71"  year 

of  her  Age. 
Chauneey  ff'hee/er,  iiicd  April — , 

1803,  ^E.  52. 


582 


History  of  Stratford. 


Caroline  M.,  his  wife,  died  May  13, 
1853,  M.  92. 

Here  lyes  ihe  Body  of 
Isaac  IFheeler,  that  Decesed  Apr. 
I.  1712,  Age  70  yrs. 

Here  Ives  Buried  y''  Body  of 
Doctr.   John    Wheeler,  Who  De- 
parted this  life  Sepf   12^''.   1747,  in  y*- 
64*''  year  of  his  Age. 

In  Memory  of 
3Ir.  John  Wheeler,  Who  died  Sept. 
12"',  1790,  aged  80  years  10  months^ 
3  days. 

In  memory  of 
3Irs.  Dorothy  Wheeler,  Relict  of 
Mr.  John  Wheeler,  who  died  Oct.  9"'. 
1800,  in  the  87""  year  of  her  age. 

Here  lyes  y''  Body  of 
Lucy    Wheeler,    Daughter    of    Mr. 
Hezekiah  &   Mrs.   Abigail    Wheeler, 
Who  departed  this  Life  Nov.  y*  26"', 
1768,  in  y  14*  Year  of  Her  Age. 

Here  lyes  Buried  y"  Body  of 
yehemiah  Wheeler,  son  of   Doct. 

John  &  Mrs.    Hannah  Wheeler,  Who 

DeCi  Novemb"'  ye  28"',  Anno  1726,  in 

ye  ^th  year  of  His  Age. 
Nichols  C    Wheeler,  died  Feb.  6, 

1859.^.  65. 
Polly,  wife   of   Nicholas  C.  Wheeler, 

died  Aug.  29,  1853.  M.  61. 

In  memory  of 
3Iiss  Sarah    Wheeler,    Dau"'    of 
Amos  Wheeler,  Esqr.,   of  Brookfield, 
who  died  Aug.  13,   1805,  in  the  14'^ 
3'ear  of  her  age. 
Stay  passenger,  this  stone  demands  thy  tears, 
Here  lies  a  parent's  hope  of  tender  years. 
Our  sorrows  now,  but  late  our  joy  and  praise, 
I.osl  in  the  mild  aurora  of  her  days, 
M'hat  virtue  ziiight  have  graced  her  fuller  day  ! 
But   ah  !  the  charm  just  shown,  and  snatched 

away. 
Friendship,  love,  nature;  all  reclaim  in  vain, 
Heaven  when  it  will  refuses  its  gifts  again. 

Here  lyes  Buried  the  Body  of 
Mr.  Thuothy   Wheeler,  who  died 
March  5"',  1752,  in  y'  62''  year  of  his 
his  age. 

Here  lyes  y*^  Body  of 
Mrs.  Ann  Wheeler,  widow  of  Mr. 
Timothy  Wheeler,  who  departed  this 
life  July  the  18"^,  1764,  in  y*^  72"^  year 
of  her  age. 
Timothy  Wheeler,  son  of  Mr.  Tim- 
othy &  Mrs.  Grissel  Wheeler,  was 
born  Sept.  s"*  &  died  Sepf  28"",   1790. 


In  Memory  of 
Win.  B.    Wheeler,  who  deed  Julj> 
20,  1842.  aged  33  yrs. 
Don't  mourn  my  friends  and  parents  dear, 
I  am  not  dead,  but  sleeping  here  ; 
My  peace  is  made,  my  grave  50U  see, 
Prepare  for  death  and  follow  me. 

In  memory  of 
Elizabeth,  daugh"  of  Bennet  &  Susarv 
C.  Whitney,   Died  Dec.  29,   1839,  JE. 
II  weeks. 

In  memory  of 
Aaron  W,  Whiting,  who  died  Nov. 

3'',  1S33,  M.  52  yrs. 
Sally,   Relict   of    Aaron  W.  Whiting, 
Died  Mar.  2,  1866,  M.  85  years,  9  mos. 
In  memory  of 
Polly,  daughter  of  Capt.  Daniel  Wild- 
man,  formerly  of   Danburj',  who  died 
June  29,  1814,  AL.  17. 

The  grave  of 
Abraham  Wilson,  who  died  Sept. 

27,  1839,  aged  62  years. 
Etinice,   Wile   of    Abraham  Wilson, 
died  Feb.  28,  1854,  JE.  71. 
In  memory  of 
3Irs.  Eleanor  Wilson,  Wife  of  Mr. 
Amos  Wilson  &  Daughter  to  Mr.  Ben- 
jamin   &   Mrs.  Margaret  Lacey,  who 
departed  this  life  June  23,   1795,  aged 
27  years  2  months  &:  17  days. 

In  memory  of 
Ann  Wilsmt,  who  died  Dec.  10,  1856, 

Aged  60  years. 

I  am  the  resurrection  and  the  life  ;  he  that  be- 
lieveth  in  me  though  he  were  dead  yet  shall  he 
live. 

In  memory  of 
Mrs.  Anna  Wilson,  who  departed 
this  life  Oct.  29,   1844,  aged  73  years 
&  3  months. 

Blessed  are  the  dead  who  die  in  the  Lord. 

The  Grave  of 

Bitrr   Wilson,  who  died   April    12, 

1850,  JE.  76  years. 
Pnth,  Wife  of  Burr  Wilson,  deed  June 
29,  1858,  Aged  84  years. 
In  Memory  of 
Isaac  Wilson,  son   of  Burr  &  Ruth 
Wilson,  who  died  June  28,  1826,  aged 
29  years. 

In  memory  of 
Capt.   Daniel    Wilson,  who  died 

May  14,  1822,  aged  52  vears. 
Maria,  daughter  of  Daniel  &  Anne 
Wilson,  died  May  8,  1850,   aged   52 
years. 
Them  also  that  sleep  in  Jesus  will  God  bring 
with  him. 


Stmt  field  Burying-placi 


583 


The  Grave  of 
Oliver   Gould,     son    of    Alfred    >S: 
Louisa    Wilson,    who    died    Feb.    15, 
1837,  aged  5  mo  &  10  days. 
Death  came  like  a  winter's  day 
And  snatched  our  lovely  babe  away. 

EtisehUi  Gould,  Daughter  of  Alfred 
>.\:  Louisa  Wilson,  dec"*  Apr.  6,  1852, 
vE.  5  years  &  25  ds. 

The  grave  of 
Fairchild  Wilson,  who  died  May 
28,  1848,  JE.  35  yrs.  5  mos.  &  9  ds. 
Triumphant  in  the  closing  eye 

The  hope  of  glory  shone  ; 
Joy  breathed  in  the  expiring  eye. 

To  think  the  race  was  run. 
Thy  passing  spirit  gently  fled, 

Sustained  by  grace  divine. 
O  may  such  grace  on  us  be  shed 
And  make  our  end  like  thine. 

tfanies  Wilson,  Died  Nov.  24,  1852, 

^E.  82  yrs.  &  8  Mo. 
Sarah,  wife  of  James  Wilson,    Died 
April   12,  1870,  JE.  93  yrs.  8  mos. 
In  memory  of 
Mr.  James  Wilson,  son  of  Mr.  Rob- 
ert &  Mrs.  Catharine  Wilson,  who  was 
seized,  Sept.  4"',  at  Trinity,  in  New- 
foundland, of  the  illness  of  which  he 
died  Oct.  12,  1773,  in  y"  32''  3'ear  of 
his  age. 

Swift  as  the  sun  revolves  the  day 

We  hasten  to  the  dead, 
Slaves  to  the  mind  we  puff  away. 

And  to  the  ground  we  tread, 
We  steer  our  course  up  thro'  the  skies. 

Farewell  this  barren  land. 
There,  there  the  Dear  wealth  of  spirits  lies 
And  beckoning  Angels  stand. 

In  memory  of 
Mrs.  Sarah  Wilson,  wife  to  Mr. 
James  Wilson,  Dau""  of  Mr.  Daniel 
&  Mrs.  Sarah  Morris,  who  departed 
this  life  March  the  29,  1771,  in  ye  26"' 
year  of  her  age. 
Come  courteous  friend,  come  drop  a  tear 

Over  these  dry  bones  &  say  : 
These  once  were  strong  as  mine  appear 

And  mine  must  be  as  they. 
Thus  should  these  mouldering  members  teach 

What  now  our  senses  learn. 
For  dust  &  ashes  loudest  preach 
Man's  infinite  concern. 

In  memory  of 
Mr.  John  Wilson,  Jun^'.,  Son  of 

Mr.  Robert  &  Mrs.  Catharine  Wilson, 

who  died  Oci"^  20"',  A.  D.   1776,  in  y-' 

29""  year  of  his  age. 

You  sacred  mourners  of  a  nobler  mould 
Born  for  a  friend  whose  dear  embraces  hold 
Beyond  all  nature's  ties  you  that  have  known, 
Two  happy  souls  made  intimately  one, 
And  felt  a  parting  stroke,  'tis  you  must  tell. 
The  smart  twinges  &  the  racks  I  feel  borne. 

This  soul  of  mine  that  dreadful  wound  has 
Off  from  its  side  its  dearest  half  is  torn, 
The  rest  lies  bleeding  &  but  lives  to  mourn. 


In  memory  of 
Justus  Wilson,  who  died   b<t..  14, 
1839,  aged  73. 

In  miniory  of 
Charitji,  wife  of  Justus  Wilson,  who 
died  April  23,  1850.  in  the  77  year  of 
her  age. 

raulina    Wilson,   bom   Agsi.   16. 

1798,  died  April  2S,  1879. 
Her  soul  Rests  in  peace. 

liobert  Wilson,  died   Mav  24,  1861. 

-  in  his  74"'  year. 

Sarah,  daughter  of  Robert  &  Sarah 
Wilson,  died  May  3.  1859.  '"  ''cr  24"' 
year. 

In  memory  of 
Mr.  IkOlnrf  Wilson,  who  died  May 
ii"'.  1813.  in  the  58"'  year  of  his  age. 
Happy  the  man  who  consecrates  his  hours 
By  vig'rous  effort,  and  an  hontst  aim. 
At  once  he  draws  the  sting  of  life  and  death  ; 
He  walks  with  wisdom  and  her  paths  arc  peace. 

In  memory  of 
Eunice,  wife  of  Robert  Wilson,  wlio 
died  Dec.  i,  1823.  in  her  68  year. 
The  grave  of 
I*amelia,  the  wife    of   Wyllys  Lyon 
and    daughter  of    Robert    &    Eunice 
Wilson.      She    died    Sept.   1",    1837. 
Aged  39  yrs.  2  mo.  12  ds. 

In  memory  <if 
3Iiss  Eleanor   Wilson,  who  died 
Oct.  8,  1S24,  aged  29  years. 
The  Grave  of 
Sarah,  daughter  of  Robert  &   Sarali 
Wilson.     She  died   Nov.  16,  1835.  in 
her  7  year. 

Thou  art  gone,  bright  flower. 
Deep  was  our  grief  to  part 

With  one  so  l(>vely,  innocent  and  fair. 
Remembrance  long  will   wring   the  wounded 
heart 

.\nd  hold  thy  beauteous  image  ever  ttiere. 

In  memory  of 
Sarah    Wilson,  who  died  Sept.  30. 
186S,  /E.  68  yrs.' 

.Vsleep  In  Jesus. 
In  memory  of 
Sill im an  Wilson,  who  died  July  8, 
1833.  aged  63  yr.s.  5  mo.  &  15  ds. 

In  memor)'  of 
lijioda,  wife  of  Sillin)an  Wilson,  who 
died  April  6,  1825,  aged   57  years,  8 
months  &  2  days. 

In  memory  of 
Sutntncrs  If'ilson,  son  of  Abraham 
&  Eunice  Wilson,  who  died  Sept.  21. 
1S26,  aged  22  years. 


584 


History  of  Stratford. 


In  memory  of 
Winthrop  Wilson,  who  died  Feb. 
3,  1826,  aged  33  years. 

Mary,  Daughter  of  Thomas  &  Eliza- 
beth Woodward,  died  18"^  Sept.  1S02. 

E.  H.     1694,  A.  8. 
J.  JP.     88. 
E.     16S9. 
J?.  G.     1703. 
B.  J.  D.  S.     F 
a.  J.    My  14,  1712. 
E.  J.     June  II,  1716. 
Jtf.  J.     Nov.  13,  1712. 
D.  D.     1688. 
3Irs.  P.  C. 
B.  B.     1712 
1689. 
1688. 


•  12,  1731- 


1706. 


S.J. 
A.B. 
M.B. 
O.  C. 


1689. 
1690. 


Here  lies 
DI.  J.     1733,  D.  Jan.  3. 
€.  J.  D.    M.  J.     1693. 
E.  J.    J.  E.     17,  1695. 
J.  O.     1691,  S.  12. 
O.  J.     M.  20,  170 — . 


m 

s. 

.  S. 
1717. 

H. 

Aged 
1718. 

6y 

'  Who 

died  June  17 

B 

H. 

1696. 

E. 

0. 

[721. 

Aged 

17. 

Who 

died    Oc.    16 

J. 

H. 

1690. 

D. 

M. 

M.S. 

1711. 

B. 

T. 

1707, 

Apl. 

9-D. 

S. 

C. 

1698. 

C. 

B. 

1700. 

A. 

B. 

1688. 
1699. 

S. 

B. 

1690. 

E. 

B. 

1699. 

M 

S. 

98. 

A. 

a 

1698. 

J). 

a 

1699. 

31 

B. 

Ds.  7, 

171 

5- 

A. 

T. 

S. 

N.  169 
91.     • 
[696. 

I. 

I. 

H. 

1689. 

E. 

H. 

1688. 

B. 

H. 

S. 

H. 

Here 

lies 

the  Body  of 

Matthew  Sherwood. 

CHAPTER    XIX. 


THE    BOROUGH    OF    liKI  DGKPORT 


ANY  plans  are  devised  at  the  present  day 
ll^to  build  cities  as  a  matter  of  enterprise  and 
money-making,  but  Bridgeport  grew  up 
without  a  plan  or  in  spite  of  one.  Before 
the  Revolution  it  was  supposed  that  New 
Pasture  Point  would  develop  into  a  citv, 
but  so  far  as  has  been  ascertained,  during 
that  war  a  point  of  trade  was  established  on 
the  west  side  of  the  harbor,  and  then  or 
soon  after,  was  called  Newfield.  In  1777 
the  name  is  first  found  recorded,  but  in  an 
accidental  way,  as  though  familiarly  used. 

In  January,  1787,  Josiah  Lacey,  of  Strat- 
field,  Nathan  Seeley,  of  Danbury,  and  David 
Burr,  of  Fairfield,  were  appointed  a  com- 
mittee by  the  Fairfield  County  Court  to  lay 
out  and  widen  the  highways  now  known  as  Main  street  and 
State  street.  The  former  is  designated  in  the  committee's 
report,  dated  April  13,  1787,  as  "the  road  at  the  foot  of 
Golden  Hill,"  and  the  latter  as  "the  road  from  the  dwelling- 
house  of  the  widow  Eunice  Hubbell,  near  the  stores  at  New- 
field,  to  the  town  line  between  Stratford  and  Fairfield. "' 
State  street,  as  a  highway,  was  laid  out  soon  after  November 
9,  1691.' 

In  May,  1787,  the  following  resolution  was  passed  by  the 
Connecticut  Legislature : 


1  State  Street  laid  out. 
"  Nov.  9,  1691.     Samuel  Sherman  and  Robert  Cune  was  chosen  and  uppointed 
by  the  town  to  view  vi^here  it  is  most  convenient  (or  a  highway  to  pass  in  y  Fair- 
field to  Paquonnock  Harbor  and  to  treat  with  y "  persons  through  whose  land  said 
highway  should  pass. 


586  History   of  Stratford. 

"Upon  report  of  a  committee  appointed  in  May  last, 
which  is  now  accepted  and  approved,  resolved  by  this 
Assembly  that  the  town  of  Stratford  be  and  they  are  hereby 
empowered  and  allowed  to  keep  and  maintain  a  public  Ferry 
in  said  town,  across  the  creek  or  harbour  called  New  Field 
Harbour,  from  the  point  of  land  called  New  Pasture  Point, 
below  Toby's  wharf,  to  the  opposite  shore  of  said  harbour  or 
creek,  to  and  on  to  land  of  Aaron  Hawley,  about  ten  rods 
south  of  said  Hawley 's  dwelling  house,  and  that  two  suffi- 
cient boats  shall  be  constantly  kept,  one  on  each  side  of  said 
creek,  plying  from  shore  to  shore  as  occasion  may  require,  at 
the  places  aforesaid,  during  the  pleasure  of  this  Assembly,  all 
subject  to  the  same  relations  that  other  Ferries  in  this  State 
are  by  Law  subject  to." 

The  western  terminus  was  near  the  foot  of  the  present  Un- 
ion street,  but  the  facilities  afforded  by  it  were  not  sufficient  to 
accommodate  the  public,  and  in  May,  1791-,  the  town  meeting 
of  Stratford  voted  its  consent  to  "  build  a  bridge  across  the 
Pequonnock  river  nearly  opposite  Cannon  and  Lockwood's 
wharf,"  and  in  the  same  month  the  Legislature  gave  author- 
ity to  Robert  Walker,  of  Stratford,  and  others  to  establish  a 
lottery  to  raise  the  funds  necessary  to  build  a  bridge  across 
Newfield  harbor,  and  appointed  a  committee  to  view  the 
circumstances  as  to  what  kind  of  a  bridge  would  be  needed, 
and  what  the  expense,  and  report  to  the  next  session. 

The  next  autumn  the  town  voted  to  request  the  General 
Assembly  that  if  a  bridge  was  built  by  lottery  the  expense  of 
maintaining  it  should  not  fall  upon  the  town. 

Upon  the  building  of  this  bridge  it  became  necessary  to 
change  the  road  which  passed  around  the  point  along  the 
shore,  and  a  committee  of  the  Legislature  made  the  follow- 
ing as  a  part  of  their  report  concerning  it : 

"  The  alterations  between  Newfield  Bridge  and  Benja- 
min's Bridge  are  grounded  on  the  necessity  of  avoiding  or 
shunning  the  road  now  traveled,  under  the  bank  where  the 
tide  flows,  which  renders  it  at  times  impassable,  to  the  det- 
riment of  travellers;  being  likewise  very  crooked,  which  is 
now  remedied  by  a  straight  line  on  good  ground  through 
Asa  Benjamin's  rope  walk.     Twenty  rods  of  the  south  part 


Brid^i^cport.  587 

thereof  must  be  taken  up  and  shifted  to  the  north  end, 
together  with  his  wheel  house,  which  is  thirty  feet  in  Icnj^lh, 
and  subject  him  to  the  necessity  of  purchasing  a  h)t  of  hind 
of  about  seven  acres  at  an  extravagant  price,  beside  the 
expense  of  taking  up  the  rope  walk." 

The  committee  recommended  that  three  hundred  and 
thirty  dollars  damages  should  be  paid  to  Asa  Benjamin  bv 
the  town  of  Stratford.  The  road  was  made,  and  liberty 
given  to  Stratford  to  set  up  a  toll-gate  at  Lottery  Bridge  in 
Newfield,  for  the  support  of  that  and  Benjamin's  bridge, 
which  was  done  in  1799.  In  1797  Benjamin's  bridge  was 
voted,  by  the  town,  to  be  "rebuilt  and  made  eighteen  feet 
wide." 

In  March,  1800,  the  town  voted  to  lay  out  a  **  new  road 
from  New  Pasture  Point  to  Old  Mill  road."  This  was  what 
is  now  East  Main  street. 

In  the  report  of  the  committee  fixing  the  place  from 
which  the  ferry  should  start  on  the  east  side  of  the  harbor, 
they  say,  "  from  a  point  of  land  called  New  Pasture  Point 
below  Toby's  wharf."  This  wharf  seems  to  have  been  the 
same  as  mentioned  in  a  deed  many  3^ears  before,  namely, 
March  17,  1745-6,  Ephraim  Watkins,  of  Ulster  county,  N.  V., 
sold  to  Peter  Veiw,  of  Stratford,  "  a  certain  wharf  in  Pequon- 
nock  River,  it  being  the  lowermost  wharf  in  said  river." 

A  part  of  the  township  of  Stratford  was  incorporated,  by 
special  act  of  the  Legislature,  in  October,  1800,  being  "con- 
stituted and  declared  to  be,  from  time  to  time,  forever  here- 
after, one  body  corporate  and  politic,  in  fact  and  in  name,  by 
the  name  of  *  The  Warden,  Burgesses  and  Freemen  of  the  Borough 
of  Bridgeport,'  and  by  that  name  they  and  their  successors 
forever  shall  and  may  have  perpetual  succession."' 

The  origin  of  the  idea  of  such  an  organization  is  made 
known  in  the  following  extract  from  a  letter  written  by  Jo- 
seph Backus,  one  of  the  earliest  lawyers  in  Bridgeport,  to 
Robert  Walker,  Esqr.,  dated  September  20,  1822  ;  "  I  say  that 
I  did  of  my  own  mere  motion  project  the  Borcnigh  incorpo- 
ration (the  first  project  of  the  kind  in  the  stale),  and  drew  the 


'  Stalute  Laws  of  Conn.,  I.  io6. 


588  History  of  Stratford. 

charter  and  then  submitted  it  to  the  citizens  to  obtain  its 
enactment."^ 

Hence  Bridgeport  was  the  first  Borough  in  the  State  of 
Connecticut,  and  as  a  forerunner,  in  its  success  and  prosper- 
ity, ha's  proved  itself  worthy  of  the  position  thus  taken. 

Before  the  charter  was  granted  considerable  money  had 
been  raised  and  expended  in  improvements  in  the  village, 
and  it  is  probable  that  the  fact  of  improvement  suggested 
the  need  of  further  organization,  and  hence  the  proposition 
for  a  borough. 

mghways,  or  streets,  additional  to  those  already  men- 
tioned, were  laid  out  under  the  direction  of  the  Warden  and 
Burgesses  of  Bridgeport,  November  i6,  1805,  Joseph  Backus, 
Justice  of  the  Peace  for  Fairfield  county,  having  appointed 
Samuel  Gregory,  Jr.,  Isaac  Booth  and  Philip  Sterling  "to 
appraise  and  assess  the  damages." 

ist.  The  extension  of  Water  street  from  Wall  to  a  point 
about  one  hundred  and  fifty  feet  north  of  Fairfield  avenue. 

2d.  Fairfield  avenue,  from  Main  to  Water  street. 

3d.  Wall  street,  from  Main  eastwardly  to  the  "  Lottery 
Bridge,"  which  then  stood  at  the  foot  of  Wall  street. 

4th.  Middle  street,  from  Fairfield  avenue  to  Wall  street. 

5th.  Broad  street,  from  State  to  John  street. 

6th.  John  street,  from  Broad  to  Main  street. 

7th.  Bank  street,  from  Main  to  Broad  street,  That  por- 
tion of  Bank  street,  from  Main  eastward,  had  been  previously 
deeded  to  the  borough  by  Stephen  Burroughs,  in  1802,  and 
was  known  as  Morris  street. 

8th.  Court  street,  from  State,  southward  ninety-nine  feet. 

At  that  time  there  were  several  other  streets  or  high- 
ways in  the  heart  of  the  borough  ;  Water  street,  from  Wall 
to  Baker's  pond  ;  Bank  street,  from  Water  to  Main  street, 
and  Broad  street,  south  of  State  to  the  outer  harbor,  and 
Gold  street  and  Union  street. 

Baker's  Pond  was  a  creek  extending  westward  across 
Main  street,  about  where  South  avenue  is  now  located,  but 
that  portion  of  Water  street  below  Gilbert  was  simply  the 
shore  beach  by  the  side  of  the  harbor. 


^  Esquire  Isaac  Sherman's  Manuscript  book. 


Bridgeport.  5X9 

The  Borough  at  this  time  owned  three  slips,  one  at  the 
foot  of  .State  street,  one  at  the  foot  of  Bank  street  and  (jnc 
at  about  the  foot  of  Wall  street. 

At  a  borough  meeting  held  May  3,  1808,  the  street  names 
as  above  noted  were  established. 

In  1801  St.  John's  Church  edifice  was  erected  on  the 
corner  of  State  and  Broad  streets,  and  that  of  the  First 
Congregational  Church  was  erected  in  1803,  on  the  corner 
of  Broad  and  Bank  streets. 

Business  Firms  of  the  Borough. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  firms,  with  the  names  of  the 
individuals  who  composed  them,  given  by  Esciuire  Isaac 
Sherman,  from  the  first  settlement  of  Bridgeport  to  the  first 
day  of  January,  1815,  being  those  of  merchants,  manufactur- 
ers, Boston  and  New  York  coasters,  and  West  India  traders, 
with  the  names  of  vessels  employed  as  well  as  the  names  of 
the  owners.  The  stores  and  places  for  doing  business  were 
mostly  confined  to  Water  and  State  streets. 

The  territory  on  which  the  city  of  Bridgeport  now 
stands  was  much  of  it  an  open  field  of  good  farming  land, 
and  at  the  close  of  the  Revolution  Main  and  State  streets 
were  laid  out  so  that  access  was  had  to  the  landing  place 
on  Pequonnock  river  or  Newfield  harbor;  Water  street 
and  the  old  Golden  Hill  road  having  been  opened  before  the 
Revolution.  The  name  of  the  landing  was  called  Newfield 
until  about  the  year  1800,  when  it  was  changed  to  Bridgeport. 

The  first  store  opened  for  trade  to  the  inhabitants  of 
Stratfield,  supposed  to  have  been  opened  by  Philip  Nichols, 
was  situated  at  the  head  of  tide  water,  near  where  Noah 
Plumb  now  resides.  This  store  may  have  been  first  started 
by  Richard,  the  father  of  Philip  Nichols,  at  about  the 
year  1730.  There  were  no  bridges  across  the  Pequonnock 
river  until  after  the  Revolution,  except  that  which  now 
crosses  near  the  said  Plumb's  house.  There  was  the  same 
depth  of  water  at  the  mouth  of  Bridgeport  harbor  as  there 
was  all  the  way  up  the  channel  to  the  wharf  belonging  10 
this  store,  and  therefore  all  the  vessels  came  up  and  did  their 
loading  and  unloading  at  this  wharf  until  near  the  time  of  the 
Revolutionary  War. 


590  History  of  Stratford. 

The  next  store,  and  the  first  that  was  opened  within  the 
limits  of  the  city,  was  near  the  foot  of  State  street,  built  on  a 
wharf,  by  Stephen  Burroughs,  before  the  Revolution,  and 
occupied  by  himself  in  the  grain  trade  to  Boston  until  about 
the  year  1800,  He  also  conducted  a  West  India  trade,  from 
this  store,  before  and  after  the  Revolution.  He  built  and 
owned  several  vessels  during  his  active,  business  life.  This 
store  was  occupied  during  the  Revolution  by  Lieut.  William 
Hall's  guard,  consisting  of  about  twenty- four  men.  This 
company  of  guard  commenced  service  January  i,  1777,  and 
continued  until  January  i,  1782,  by  authority  of  the  Council 
of  Safety  of  the  State  of  Connecticut. 

The  next  store  was  built  by  Major  Aaron  Hawley  soon 
after  the  Revolution,  which  he  sold  to  Daniel  Young,  who 
came  from  Norwich,  and  this  was  the  principal  store  for 
groceries  and  dry  goods  until  the  year  1800.  It  was  located 
on  Water  street  nearly  opposite  the  foot  of  Union  street, 
where  Mr.  Young  was  quite  successful  in  business. 

Some  little  time  after  the  Revolution,  but  before  18 15, 
the  firm  of  Abijah  Hawley  and  Company — which  consisted 
of  Abijah,  Aaron  and  Wilson  Hawley — carried  on  the  Boston 
and  West  India  coasting  trade.  Their  Boston  coaster  was 
called  the  Three  Sisters,  and  their  New  York  packet  was  a 
sloop  called  Caroline.  They  were  successful  in  business  for 
many  years. 

Capt.  Abraham  Hubbell  came  from  Wilton  and  built  a 
store  and  wharf  a  little  north  of  the  foot  of  State  street,  about 
the  year  1790,  and  carried  on  the  Boston  coasting  business. 
He  died  in  Boston,  of  the  small  pox.  Richard  and  Amos 
Hubbell,  of  Stratfield,  succeeded  him  in  the  Boston  and  West 
India  trade,  under  the  firm  name  of  Richard  and  Amos  Hub- 
bell, and  conducted  their  trade  with  a  brig,  called  Julius 
Cassar,  and  had  success  in  their  business. 

Afterwards,  David  Minot  and  Company  carried  on  the 
Boston  coasting  trade  from  the  same  store,  until  about  the 
year  1810,  and  were  successful.  This  firm  consisted  of  David 
Minot,  Stephen  Summers  and  William  DeForest.  Their 
Boston  coaster  was  a  standing  topsail  sloop  called   Hope. 

The    next   store  and  wharf  north  of  the  foregoing  was 


Bridgeport.  jc^i 

built  b}^  Stephen  Burroughs,  jr.,  about  the  year  1798  and 
owned  by  him  until  his  death.  It  was  burned  at  the  time  of 
the  great  fire  in  1845.  It  was  occupied  first  by  the  firm  ot 
Burroughs  and  DeForest,  consisting  of  Stephen  Burroughs. 
Jr.,  and  William  DeForest,  engaged  in  the  Boston  coasting 
and  West  India  trade,  which  partnership  continued  about 
ten  years,  and  was  ver}^  successful.  Thev  owned  the  stand- 
ing topsail  sloop  Volusia,  sailed  by  Capt.  Harry  Lewis. 

After  this  firm  the  same  business  was  continued  by  said 
Burroughs  until  the  year  181 5,  when  it  was  assumed  by 
Stephen  Burroughs  and  Isaac  Sherman,  and  thus  continued 
to  183 1,  with  success.  The  names  of  their  Boston  coasters 
were  Volusia,  sloop  Peacock,  schooner  Hero  and  the  schooner 
Nassau,  built  by  this  last  firm  for  a  Boston  coaster,  and  after 
one  year  it  was  sent  to  Mobile  under  a  charter  to  some 
merchants  from  New  York  to  St.  Stevens,  on  the  Tom- 
bigbee  river,  Capt.  Lent  M.  Hitchcock,  master.  She  en- 
tered the  port  in  June,  1817,  and  was  the  first  American 
vessel  that  entered  the  port  of  Mobile  after  it  came  into  the 
possession  of  the  United  States.  Capt.  Hitchcock  succeeded 
in  getting  the  Nassau  up  the  river  within  about  thirty  miles 
of  St.  Stevens,  where  his  cargo,  consisting  of  goods  for  mer- 
chants at  that  place,  was  put  into  lighters  and  carried  to  that 
place.  The  schooner  was  then  loaded  with  red  cedar  logs 
and  ash-wood  for  firewood.  She  lost  two  sailors  by  the 
yellow  fever  on  the  voyage.  This  vessel  was  continued 
under  the  command  of  Capt.  Hitchcock  with  good  success 
about  four  years,  as  a  packet  between  New  York  and  Mobile, 
when  the  trade  became  so  much  increased  as  to  require  larger 
vessels. 

The  store  and  wharf  next  north  of  Bank  and  east  of 
Water  street,  was  built  by  Amos  Hubbell,  and  was  called 
the  Yellow  store.  It  was  occupied  by  him  after  he  dissolved 
partnership  with  his  brother  Richard.  Capt.  Hubbell  built 
a  ship  and  a  brig  near  his  store  and  conducted  the  West  India 
trade  until  his  death,  in  1801. 

This  store  and  wharf  has  been  occupied  since  Capt.  Hub- 
bell's  decease  by  the  firm  of  DeForest  and  Hinman.  consisting 
of   William    DeForest    and    Isaac    Hinmaii.    who    conducted 


592  *  History  of  Stratford. 

the  Boston  grain  business;  their  coaster  being  a  fore  topsail 
schooner  called  the  Live  Oak,  of  one  hundred  tons,  built  by 
this  firm  in  1804.  It  was  next  occupied  by  the  firm  of  Hubbell 
and  Sherwood — C.  B.  Hubbell  and  Capt.  Sherwood — engaged 
in  the  West  India  trade.  These  were  followed  by  the  firm  of 
C.  B.  Hubbell  and  Daniel  Fayreweather,  in  the  dry  goods  and 
the  New  York  and  Boston  coasting  trade.  They  owned  a 
New  York  packet  called  the  Lapwing,  and  a  Boston  coaster 
called  Spartan.  Later,  C.  B.  Hubbell  and  his  brother-in-law, 
John  M.  Thompson,  from  Stratford,  conducted  an  exclusive 
dry  goods  business  in  the  "old  yellow  store"  on  the  east  side 
of  Water  street,  up  to  the  year  1842. 

The  next  store  and  wharf  north  was  owned  and  occupied 
by  David  Sterling  as  an  iron  and  grocery  store.  In  1807  this 
property  was  occupied  by  the  firm  of  Beach  and  Sherman — 
Doct.  James  E.  Beach  and  Isaac  Sherman — until  1809,  when 
Capt.  Sterling  Sherman  was  added  to  the  firm.  They  carried 
on  the  grocery  and  grain  business  and  New  York  packeting 
for  several  years  ;  the  name  of  their  packet  being  The  Bridge- 
port. 

The  store  and  wharf  next  north  was  owned  by  John  S. 
Cannon,  occupied  by  Esquire  Isaac  Sherman  and  Capt.  John 
Brooks,  Jr.  They  ran  a  packet  from  the  store  about  four 
years — from  1818  to  1822 — called  the  Mary  Ann. 

The  store  and  wharf  north  of  this  was  built  by  the  firm  of 
Lambert  Lockwood  and  John  S.  Cannon,  and  occupied  by 
them  during  several  years  in  dry  goods  and  grocery  trade, 
and  running  a  packet  sloop,  called  the  Juba,  to  New  York, 
sailed  by  Capt.  John  Brooks,  Sen. 

Another  store  and  wharf  north  was  built  by  Philip 
Nichols,  at  the  foot  of  Wall  street  and  adjoining  the  first 
bridge  across  the  harbor,  called  Lottery  Bridge,  because  it 
was  built  by  a  lottery  authorized  by  the  General  Assembly  in 
1791.  This  bridge  was  rebuilt  further  up  the  harbor,  where 
it  now  stands,  in  1807.  This  store  was  first  occupied  by 
Charles  T.  Nichols  for  the  sale  of  dry  goods,  and  for  a  print- 
ing office  by  Hezekiah  Ripley. 

The  store  north  of  this  was  built  by  the  firm  of  Prosper 
Whitmore  and   his   brothers   Robert  and  Whitmore, 


Bridgeport.  5^3 

about  the  year  1792.  They  conducted  the  West  India  trarlc, 
carrying  provisions,  cattle  and  horses  to  the  different  islands, 
and  bringing  back  rum,  sugar  and  molasses.  They  had  a 
number  of  vessels  employed,  but  they  failed  in  business  in 
1797. 

In  the  year  1805,  Josiah,  Mordecai  and  Joseph  II.  Prindle, 
brothers,  came  from  Derby  and  established  in  this  store  the 
West  India  business.  They  had  three  vessels  employed  in 
carrying  out  corn  meal,  horses  and  cattle,  and  bringing  back 
rum,  sugar  and  molasses.  They  lost  two  schooners  in  the  fall 
of  1808,  in  a  hurricane,  with  full  cargoes  of  stock  and  corn 
meal,  and  all  persons  on  board  perished.  As  the  result  ot 
these  losses  they  failed,  and  gave  up  the  business.^ 

Very  little  business  was  done  in  this  store  after  the 
Whitmores  failed  until  about  the  year  1816,  when  the  firm 
of  Sheldon  Smith  and  William  Wright  occupied  it  for  con- 
ducting the  saddle  and  harness  business,  which  firm  was  the 
continuation  of  the  same  business  carried  on  previously  in 
State  street  in  connection  with  William  Peet,  who  had  retired 
from  the  business. 

There  were  but  four  firms  on  the  west  side  of  Water 
street  previous  to  the  year  1815. 


*  General  Prosper  Montgomery  Wetmore,  son  of  Robert  William  and 
grandson  of  Rev.  Izrahiah  Wetmore,  was  born  in  that  part  of  Stratford  wliich  is 
now  the  city  of  Bridgeport,  Feb.  14.  1798.  He  married  Lucy  Ann,  daughter  of 
Francis  Ogsby,  of  New  York  City,  and  had  twelve  children,  three  sons  and  nine 
daughters.  He  resided  in  New  York,  and  in  1834  and  5  represented  the  city  in 
the  Legislature.  In  1819  he  was  commissioned  in  the  State  artillery  service,  and 
in  1825  he  organized  the  Seventh  Regiment  of  National  Guards  and  became  its 
first  colonel.  This  was  and  is  the  most  famous  military  regiment  in  that  State. 
After  some  years  he  was  appointed  paymaster  general  of  the  State  militia,  which 
office  he  held  until  1841.  In  1834  he  was  elected  one  of  the  Regents  of  the 
University  of  the  State,  which  office  he  held  until  after  1861.  For  many  years  he 
was  vice-president  and  secretary  of  the  Chamber  of  Commerce  of  New  York  City. 

Mr.  Wetmore  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the  American  Art  Union,  and  con- 
ducted it  as  its  president  for  three  years  with  great  success.  For  fifteen  years  he 
devoted  his  best  energies  to  the  management  of  the  New  York  Institute  for  the 
Deaf  and  Dumb,  of  which  he  was  for  many  years  the  senior  vice-president.  He 
wrote  much  for  the  public  papers,  and  in  1830  he  published,  in  an  elegant  octavo 
volume,  "Lexington,  with  other  Fugitive  Poems,"  which  is  the  only  collection  of 
his  writings.  He  did  considerable  other  literary  work.  He  was.  however,  gener- 
ally known  as  a  man  of  literary  influence  in  society  rather  than  as  an  author. 


594  History  of  Stratford. 

About  the  year  1794  a  firm  consisting  of  Doct.  James  E. 
Beach  and  David  Sterling,  built  a  story  and  a  half  wooden 
building  for  a  store  on  the  southwest  corner  of  Water  and 
Bank  streets,  where  they  sold  dry  goods,  groceries  and  med- 
icines until  the  year  1804.  The  same  business  was  continued 
by  successive  firms  until  1815,  as  described  on  page  514  of 
this  work. 

Another  store,  south  of  the  above,  fronting  on  Water 
street,  was  built  about  the  year  1798,  by  Elijah  Burritt  and 
Ephraim  W.  Sherman,  and  occupied  by  them  as  a  dry  goods 
and  grocery  store  until  about  1817.  Oliver  and  William 
Sherman,  sons  of  Ephraim  W.,  succeeded  Burritt  and  Sher- 
man and  continued  in  the  same  store  a  retail  grocery  business 
for  many  years. 

The  next  was  a  small  wooden  store  on  the  northwest 
corner  of  Water  and  State  streets,  built  by  Elijah  Hawley 
about  the  year  1790.  It  was  occupied  as  a  dry  goods  and 
grocery  store  until  181 5,  by  Salmon  Hubbell. 

About  the  year  1790  a  store  was  built  on  the  corner  of 
Water  and  the  south  side  of  State  street,  by  Ezra  Kirtland 
(at  that  time  pronounced  Catlin),  which  was  occupied  in  1794 
by  the  brothers  David  and  John  DeForest  as  a  dry  goods 
and  grocery  store,  which  was  robbed  and  fired,  but  not 
burned.  Their  clerk,  a  lad  about  fourteen  years  of  age,  by 
the  name  of  Shelton  Edwards,  was  murdered,  his  skull  being 
broken  by  a  shoe  hammer  in  three  places  and  his  throat  cut; 
but  the  perpetrators  were  never  discovered.  Owing  to  this 
catastrophe  the  DeForest  brothers  failed  in  business.  Hull 
and  Lyon  succeeded  them  in  this  store  building,  in  general 
trade  to  the  West  Indies.  They  built  a  ship  in  1795,  but 
failed  in  1799. 

A  small  store  was  built  about  the  year  1791,  adjoining 
Salmon  Hubbell's  on  the  west,  fronting  south  on  State  street, 
which  was  occupied  with  dry  goods  and  groceries  by  Seth 
and  Silas  Sherman  until  about  the  year  1800,  and  after  that 
continued  as  a  dry  goods  store  by  Silas  Sherman  and  his  son, 
Ira  Sherman.  Their  store  was  robbed,  about  the  year  1811, 
of  one  thousand  dollars  worth  of  dry  goods,  and  no  knowl- 
edge of  the  robbers  was  ever  obtained. 


«  X:  \  ;.! 


.:il!l 


Srth 


^■■iMd^... 


A  H  -c^^  'v,-^  W 


Bridgeport.  595 

Another  store  was  built  next  above  the  last  named,  front- 
ing on  State  street,  by  David  Sherman  about  the  year  1794, 
and  occupied  with  dry  goods  and  groceries  by  David  Sher- 
man and  Nathan  Seeley  until  about  1797.  They  carried  on, 
in  connection  with  their  store,  the  West  India  trade  in  a 
large  standing  topsail  sloop,  called  Minerva,  commanded  bv 
Capt.  Samuel  Squires,  w^ho  on  his  last  voyage  for  them  gam- 
bled away  the  avails  of  his  outward  bound  cargo  at  St.  Croix 
and  came  home  with  ballast  only,  which  catastrophe  broke 
up  said  firm,  and  Nathan  Seeley  removed  to  Bethel,  where 
he  died  an  old  man  about  1850,  while  David  Sherman  went 
back  to  his  farm  at  Pequonnock,  where  he  died  August  22, 
1810. 

In  the  year  1806  Samuel  Penney  built  a  store  on  the 
north  corner  of  Water  and  Bank  streets,  on  land  leased  from 
Mrs.  Eleanor  Hubbell,  which  was  occupied  by  Charles  Bost- 
wick  and  Samuel  C.  Kirtland  to  181 5  as  a  dry  goods  store. 

Isaac  Sherman,  Esq.,  son  of  David  and  Rebecca 
(French)  Sherman,  was  born  in  Stratfield,  Sept.  25,  1788. 
Very  early  in  life  Mr.  Sherman  compiled  and  executed  quite 
artistically  a  genealogical  chart,  showing  at  a  glance  his 
descent  on  his  father's  side  from  Matthew  Sherman — son  of 
Mr.  Samuel,  the  first  in  Stratford  —  and  Jacob  Sterling, 
and  on  his  mother's  side  from  Samuel  French  and  John 
Edwards,  heads  of  four  families  of  first  settlers  in  Stratfield, 
with  collateral  branches  in  each  generation.  When  sixteen 
years  of  age  he  went  to  sea  and  followed  it  with  varying  suc- 
cesses upwards  of  four  years,  having  been  shipwrecked  twice 
on  the  New  Jersey  coast.  At  this  time  he  had  ninety-five 
dollars,  to  which  his  mother  added  five,  making  one  hundred 
dollars  with  which  to  start  business.  To  this  his  uncle,  Dr. 
James  E.  Beach,  added  nine  hundred  dollars  as  a  loan,  and 
with  this  he  started  the  firm  of  Beach  and  Sherman,  located 
on  Water  street,  in  the  grocery  business,  conducted  solely 
by  himself.  In  this  he  was  so  successful  that  his  capital  was 
doubled  by  his  profits  at  the  end  of  the  first  year.  Shortly 
after,  his  brother,  Capt.  Sterling  Sherman,  was  admitted  a 
partner,  with  additional  capital,  and  in  this  form  the  business 


596  History  of  Stratford. 

was  continued  six  years.  In  December,  18 10,  he  married 
Maria,  daughter  of  Stephen  Burroughs,  Jr.,  and  purchased 
the  house,  then  recently  built,  on  the  northeast  corner  of 
Main  and  Gold  streets,  which  was  his  only  home  of  married 
life  for  fifty-three  years. 

In  181 5  he  joined  his  father-in-law  in  the  grocery,  grain, 
Boston  and  New  York  coasting  business,  which  was  success- 
fully continued  to  1831,  with  the  exxeption  of  an  interval  of 
four  3'ears  in  partnership  with  Capt.  John  Brooks,  Jr.,  in  the 
same  line  of  business.  The  firm  of  Burroughs  and  Sherman 
owned  a  number  of  vessels  and  built  the  schooner  Nassau  for 
a  Boston  coaster,  which  was  used  four  years  on  mercantile  trips 
to  Mobile  and  back,  under  the  command  of  Capt.  Lent  M. 
Hitchcock. 

In  1832  Mr.  Sherman  retired  from  commercial  life  but 
not  from  active  usefulness.  As  early  as  18 19  he  was  appointed 
justice  of  the  peace  and  this  office  he  retained  after  his 
retirement  from  business,  until  185 1.  He  was  town  clerk 
ff5r  sixteen  years  from  1831,  and  he  was  town  treasurer 
twenty-two  years,  and  afterwards  for  a  time  he  was  judge 
of  Probate  and  recorder  of  the  city.  He  served  the  city  in 
two  or  three  offices  for  a  short  time,  but  declined  further 
responsibility  in  its  government. 

That  he  was  a  most  industrious  man  is  amply  attested  by 
voluminous  records,  original  deeds  and  other  conveyances, 
wills  and  documents  which  are  preserved  in  the  archives  of 
the  town  and  probate,  and  in  the  private  box  of  nearly  every 
property  holder  of  his  time  in  this  vicinity. 

He  made  a  specialty  in  procuring  the  pensions  of  Revo- 
lutionary soldiers  for  them  and  their  families,  being  faithful 
both  to  the  government  and  the  soldiers,  and  his  list  of 
pensioned  soldiers  is  probably  the  most  complete  of  any  in 
the  county. 

At  nearly  the  close  of  his  life  he  was  induced  to  write  his 
remembrances  and  the  traditionary  history  of  Stratfield  and 
Bridgeport,  and,  although  he  entered  upon  the  undertaking 
reluctantly,  he  produced  a  valuable  manuscript  book,  with  a 
map  which  has  been  used  as  the  foundation  for  the  map  of 
Stratfield  and  the   biographical  sketches  in  connection  with 


^  i;  ill 


Bridgeport. 


597 


it,  and  the  record  of  the  mercantile  firms  in  the  borough  of 
Bridgeport  from  1790  to  1815.  This  work,  styled  "Esquire 
Sherman's  Recollections,"  is  a  valuable  contribution  to  the 
history  of  the  locality  now  comprised  in  the  city  of  Bridge- 
port. 

Mr.  Sherman  from  early  life  gave  attention  to  religious 
interests  and  in  1812  he  and  his  wife  united  with  the  First 
Congregational  church,  the  church  of  his  fathers.  In  1830  he 
was  elected  to  the  office  of  deacon,  in  which  he  continued  in 
active  service  until  1858,  and  for  a  long  period  was  the  most 
active  member  of  the  society's  committee,  being  also  treas- 
urer and  clerk  of  the  church.  In  his  own  estimation  he  had 
not  much  religion  to  speak  of,  but  his  life  told  a  truthful  story 
of  "  faith  and  works."  So  lived  and  labored  Isaac  Sherman, 
and  rested  November  23,  1863. 

The  Jiriilgepovt  Bank''  was  incorporated,  by  act  of  the 
General  Assembly  in  October,  1806;  which  limited  the  cap- 
ital stock  to  two  hundred  thousand  dollars,  and  that  amount 
having  been  subscribed,^  a  meeting  of  the  stockholders  was 

^  This  sketch  of  this  bank  is  taken  from  a  pamphlet  of  the  same  published  by 
R.  B.  Lacej-,  Esqr.,  in  1S85. 


^  The  Bridgeport  Bank. 
The  subscription  list  was  completed  b}'^  the  following  names  and  shares 


Shares. 

Elijah  Ufford,  Stratford - 2 

Henry  Nevins,  Norwich, i 

Asa  Spaulding,  Norwich, 4 

Jonathan  Sturges,  Fairfield i 

George  Hoyt,  Bridgeport, 2 

James  Grayham,  Sandisfield, i 

Ezekiel  Curtis,  Huntington, 2 

Jeremiah  Day,  New  Haven, i 

James  E.  Beach,  Stratfield, —  4 

Samuel  Watkinson,  Middletown, 5 

Elijah  Hubbard,  Middletown, 3 

Levi  Curtis,  Stratford, i 

Nathan  Wheeler,  Huntington, 2 

William   Haywood,  Stamford, i 

Asahel  Tuttle,  New  Haven, i 

Townsend  &  Thompson,  New  Haven,  i 


Shares. 

Eunice  Hall,  New  Haven,.. i 

William  Elliott,  North  Guilford,  ...  i 

Samuel  W.  Johnson,  Stratford, 5 

Buckley,    DeForest    and    Co.,   New 

Haven, 3 

Buckley  and  Austin,  New  Haven,.,  i 

Robert  Fairchild,  for  Stratford, 6 

James  Lewis,  New  London, i 

Samuel  Kirtland  and  Co.,  Bridgeport,  2 

Isaac  Thompson,  New  London, i 

Abel  Gregory,  New  Fairfield, 2 

Foot  and  Nichols,  Bridgeport, i 

Elijah  Boardman,  New  Milford 4 

Elijah  Waterman,  Bridgeport,. i 

Thomas  Wells,  New  Milford, i 

Lambert  Lockwood,  Bridgeport, 3 


39 


598 


History  of  Stratford. 


held  Feb.  3,  1807,  at  which  Joseph  Goodwin  was  chosen 
chairman,  and  the  following  persons  were  elected  directors  : 
Isaac  Bronson,  Birdsey  Norton,  Samuel  W.  Johnson,  John  S. 
Cannon,  Salmon  Hubbell,  Lambert  Lockwood,  David  Minot, 
Jessup  Wakeman,  and  Ebenezer  Jessup. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  directors  of  the  Bridgeport  Bank 
convened  at  the  dwelling  house  of  Ezra  Gregory,  inn-keeper 
in  said  Bridgeport,  on  the  3d  of  February,  1807,  Isaac  Bron- 
son was,  upon  ballot,  unanimously  elected  president  of  the 
bank;  and  in  the  same  month  a  committee  was  appointed  to 
purchase  a  lot  and  contract  for  a  building;  and  the  banking 
house  was  erected  in  1808. 

George  Hoyt  was  elected  cashier  in  March,  1807,  with  a 
salary  of  seven  hundred  dollars  per  annum,  with  the  privilege 
of  the  banking-house  to  live  in,  which  was  soon  after  made 
one  thousand,  he  paying  for  a  clerk's  assistance. 

In  1810,  in  order  to  "prevent  any  collision  of  interest 
between  the  Derby  and  Bridgeport  banks,"  Isaac  Bronson 
was  appointed  a  committee  to  make  arrangements  to  that 
effect  with  the  former  bank. 


Shares. 

John  S.  Cannon,  Bridgeport, n 

William   Peet,  Bridgeport g 

Isaac  Hinman,  Bridgeport 22 

Salmon  Hubbell,  Bridgeport, 8 

John  and  Chauncey  Deming,  Farm- 

ington, -  7 

Hezekiah  Balding,  New  Haven,  _..  i 

William  Brintnall,  New  Haven, 2 

Seth  P.  Staples,  New  Haven i 

Abijah   Hawley,  Bridgeport,... i 

Daniel  Nash,  Norwalk, i 

Stephen  Boroughs,  Bridgeport, i 

Ashbel  Baldwin,  Stratford, i 

Solomon  Cowles,  Farmington, i 

Zenas  Covvles,  Farmington, 4 

Elijah  Cowles  and  Co.,  Farmington,  9 

David  Judson,  Fairfield i 

Caleb  Atwater,  Wallingford,.. 3 

Reuben  S.  Norton,  Farmington, 1 

Humphrey  and  Whitney,  New  York,     5 


Shares. 

Henry  Ward,  New  Haven, 4 

Matthew  Marvin,  Wilton, 3 

David   Brooks,  Stratford, i 

Ezra  Gregory,  Bridgeport, i 

William  Batiell,  Torrington, i 

Gershom  Fenn,  New  Haven __  i 

Perry,  Mill  River, _.  13 

Robert  Fairchild,  Stratford i 

Dyer  While,  New  Haven, 3 

Ephraim  J.  Wilcoxson,  Stratford, i 

Samuel  Smedley,  Fairfield, 12 

Samuel  Ward,  Jr.,  New  York, 2 

Joseph  Goodwin,  Lenox,  .. 61 

Isaac  Hinman  and  Co.,  Bridgeport,.  16 
Shipman,    Dennison   and  Co.,   New 

Haven, .' ..  11 

Birdsey  Norton  and  Co.,  Goshen,  __  37 

Nathaniel   Prime,  New  York, 22 

Isaac  Bronson  and  Co.,  Greenfield,  656 

Total,--- r,ooo 


Bridgeport.  599 

On  January  24,  181 1,  in  view  of  an  apprehension  of  war, 
the  bank  passed  the  following  vote:  "That  in  the  present 
critical  situation  of  affairs  it  becomes  absolutely  necessary 
that  security  more  than  profit  should  be  considered,  and 
feeling  that  our  funds  in  New  York  should  be  placed  in 
the  best  possible  situation  of  security,  we  therefore  do  au- 
thorize I.  Bronson,  Esq.,  to  secure  what  sums  may  be  due 
and  owing  to  the  bank  in  the  city  of  New  York,  in  any  way 
he  may  judge  proper  for  the  benefit  of  this  institution,  and 
use  his  best  discretion  in  all  other  matters  concerning  the 
interest  of  the  bank  to  effect  the  purposes  aforesaid." 

Mr.  Bronson  continued  in  the  direction  of  the  bank  for 
twenty-five  years.  He  was  president  for  t"he  whole  period, 
except  an  interval  of  four  years,  from  1823  to  1827,  when  he 
gave  place  to  John  S.  Cannon,  returning  to  the  position  on 
Mr.  Cannon's  death  in  1827.  Capt.  George  Hoyt  continued 
cashier  for  eighteen  years,  until  his  death  in  1825,  when  he 
was  succeeded  by  his  son,  Josiah  S.  Hoyt,  for  seven  years. 
During  this  period  the  bank  prospered,  outrode  the  storms  of 
war  and  financial  crises  without  the  suspension  of  specie  pay- 
ments, and  paid  regular,  and  some  large,  extra  dividends. 
To  do  this  it  went  outside  of  Bridgeport  and  its  vicinity  to 
make  loans.  In  1832  Mr.  Bronson  sold  his  stock  and  retired 
from  all  connection  with  the  bank. 

On  November  7,  1S32,  Ebenezer  Jessup,  of  Saugatuck, 
was  elected  president,  and  a  month  later,  the  health  of  Josiah 
S.  Hoyt  having  become  impaired,  Charles  Hill,  of  Catskill, 
N.  Y.,  was  elected  cashier.  Mr.  Jessup  remained  president 
until  1838,  when  Sylvanus  Sterling,  of  Bridgeport,  was  elected 
president  and  George  Burroughs  cashier.  Several  changes 
were  made  in  the  amount  of  capital,  reducing  it  to  $110,000, 
but  in  1838  it  was  again  increased  and  made  $210,000. 

Sherman  Hartwell  was  elected  president  July  4,  1849, 
and  continued  in  the  office  until  July  6,  1869,  when  he  posi- 
tively declined  a  reelection.  During  this  period,  in  1854-5, 
the  banking  house  was  repaired,  another  story  added,  and  the 
exterior  improved,  at  a  total  cost  of  $6,000.  At  his  retirement 
from  the  presidency  of  the  bank,  Mr,  Hartwell  had  served  it 
thirty-six  years  as  a  director,  and  twenty  years  as  president; 


6oo  History  of  Stratford. 

and  the  directors  passed  the  following :  "■Resolved,  That  the 
thanks  of  this  board  are  due,  and  are  hereby  tendered  to  Sher- 
man Hartvvell  for  efficient  and  valuable  services  as  president 
of  this  bank  for  the  last  twenty  years,  and  as  evidence  of  the 
prosperity  of  the  bank  it  may  be  stated  that  it  has  during  the 
said  twenty  years  paid  its  stockholders  in  dividends  the  sum 
of  $430,700,  on  a  capital  of  $212,000,  and  increased  its  surplus 
$40,000."  Mr.  Hartwell  survived  in  quiet  retirement  until 
January  16,  1876,  when  he  passed  away  in  the  fulness  of  years, 
esteemed  and  honored. 

JSIv,  Munson  Haivley  was  elected  president  July  6, 
1869,  to  fill  the  place  made  vacant  by  the  retirement  of  Mr. 
Hartwell,  and  proved  a  worthy  successor.  His  administra- 
tion for  more  than  sixteen  years  has  been  economical,  efficient 
and  successful,  for  there  has  been  paid  during  this  period  the 
sum  of  $399,320  in  dividends,  and  the  surplus  increased  about 
$40,000. 

George  Siirroiiffhs,  the  veteran  cashier,  continued  his 
faithful  service  nearly  four  years  longer,  when  his  labor 
closed  suddenly  as  he  entered  the  banking  house  on  the 
morning  of  March  12,  1872,  having  served  as  cashier  nearly 
twenty-five  years  and  as  director  ten  years.  The  following 
was  passed  by  the  board  of  directors :  "  Whereas,  by  the 
death  of  our  highly  esteemed  friend  and  associate,  Mr. 
George  Burroughs,  who  for  nearly  thirty-five  years  faith- 
fully performed  his  duties  as  cashier  of  this  bank,  we  feel 
that  this  institution  has  suffered  an  almost  irreparable  loss. 
Always  at  his  post  of  duty,  kind-hearted  and  obliging  in  his 
business  transactions,  honest  and  true  in  all  his  dealings,  we 
most  sincerely  regret  his  loss,  not  only  to  this  institution, 
but  to  the  community,  and  we  extend  our  united  sympathy 
to  his  afflicted  family  in  their  sad  bereavement  which  a  wise 
Providence  has  called  them  to  sustain.  Resolved,  That  as  a 
token  of  our  regard  for  our  late  esteemed  friend,  the  Board 
of  Directors  of  this  bank  will  attend  his  funeral  in  a  body." 

At  the  death  of  Mr.  Burroughs  Mr.  Frank  N.  Benham 
was  appointed  cashier  and  has  served  faithfully  and  accepta- 
bly for  twelve  years,  and  for  the  last  three  )'ears  as  a  director. 


Bridgeport.  60 1 

The  list  of  directors  during  the  existence  of  the  bank, 
numbers  eighty-five  names. 

Of  the  present  board  of  directors,  only  one,  Mr.  R.  B. 
Lacey,  served  under  the  old  system,  he  having  first  entered 
the  board  in  1857,  and  none  of  the  rest  earlier  than  1869. 
The  names  of  the  present  board  are:  Munson  Hawley, 
Thomas  B.  Bartram,  Plumb  N.  Fairchild,  Carlos  Curtis, 
Thomas  B.  DeForest,  Rowland  B.  Lacey,  David  M.  Read, 
John  M.  Wheeler,  Frank  N.  Bartram. 

The  bank  has  had  seven  presidents:  Isaac  Bronson,  who 
served  twenty-one  years;  John  S.  Cannon,  four  years;  Eben- 
ezer  Jessup,  five  years;  Sylvanus  Sterling,  eleven  years; 
Hanford  Lyon,  one  year;  Sherman  Hartwell,  twenty  years; 
Munson  Hawley,  sixteen  years;  and  it  has  had  five  cashiers; 
George  Hoyt,  eighteen  years;  Josiah  S.  Hoyt,  seven  years; 
Charles  Hill,  five  years  ;  George  Burroughs,  thirty-five  years  ; 
Frank  N.  Benham,  twelve  years. 

Doct,  Isaac  Sronson,  son  of  Isaac  and  Mary  (Brockett) 
Bronson,  was  born  in  Middlebury,  Conn.,  March  10,  1760. 
After  improving  the  privileges  of  the  common  schools  and 
studying  medicine  with  Doct.  Lemuel  Hopkins,  of  Hartford, 
he  entered  the  Revolutionary  army  as  a  junior  surgeon,  Nov. 
14,  1779,  in  the  Connecticut  line  under  the  immediate  com- 
mand of  General  Washington,  and  served  efficiently  through 
the  war.  He  then  made  a  voyage  to  India,  traveled  in  Eu- 
rope, returned  to  the  United  States  about  1789,  and  soon 
after  married  Anna,  daughter  of  Thomas  Olcott,  of  Water- 
bury,  but  previously  of  Stratford.  About  the  year  1692  he 
settled  in  Philadelphia,  where  he  remained  two  years,  during 
which  that  city  was  visited  with  a  severe  yellow  fever  epi- 
demic, in  which  the  doctor  served  very  successfully  as  a 
physician,  and  it  has  been  currently  reported  that  he  there 
accumulated  property  which  was  the  foundation  of  his  subse- 
quent financial  success. 

After  this,  for  a  time,  he  pursued  the  business  of  a  banker 
in  New  York  City.  In  1796  he  purchased  the  property  of 
Timothy  Dwight,  D.D.,  on  Greenfield  Hill,  Conn.,  intending 
it  for  a  summer  residence,  but  it  became  his  settled  habita- 
tion, and  while  residing  there  in  1807  he  became  the  presi- 


6o2  History  of  Stratford. 

dent  of  the  Bridgeport  bank.  In  this  office  he  continued — 
with  an  interval  of  four  years — a  faithful  and  honored  officer 
until  1832,  when  he  retired.  He  died  at  his  home  on  Green- 
field Hill  May  19,  1839,  "^  his  80th  year. 

Doctor  Bronson's  banking  career,  extending,  as  it  did, 
through  two  great  financial  crises — that  of  1812  and  1836  and 
7 — was  one  of  extensive  influence  as  well  as  financial  success. 
The  papers  of  Hon.  Roger  Minot  Sherman  show  that  there 
was  much  conference  between  himself  and  Doctor  Bronson 
in  regard  to  financial  questions,  and  there  is  good  reason  to 
believe  that  the  independent  treasury-system  of  the  United 
States,  which  succeeded  the  breakdown  of  the  United  States 
Bank  under  the  administration  of  General  Jackson,  was  form- 
ulated after  and  mainly  in  accordance  with  the  suggestions 
of  these  masterly  minds. 

Doctor  Bronson  gave  much  attention  to  his  farm  at 
Greenfield  Hill,  supervising  personally  the  smallest  matters, 
as  well  as  the  greatest,  of  improvement  about  his  home,  which 
still  exhibits  his  genius,  skill  and  labor. 

John  S.  Cannon  came  to  Bridgeport  from  Norwalk 
about  1790,  a  merchant  of  some  wealth.  His  residence  was 
on  the  site  of  the  Waller  Building,  corner  of  Water  street 
and  Fairfield  avenue,  and  was  associated  in  business  with 
Lambert  Lockwood.  They  built  their  store  and  wharf  on 
the  present  site  of  Baruch  Ellis's  stone  yard  about  1792,  and 
conducted  a  general  trade  in  dry  goods  and  groceries,  and 
run  a  regular  packet  to  New  York,  the  vessel  being  the  sloop 
Juba,  sailed  by  Capt.  John  Brooks,  Sen.  Mr.  Cannon  owned 
the  next  store  south  of  the  above,  which  he  rented  to  Isaac 
Sherman  and  John  Brooks,  Jr.,  and  others. 

Lambert  Lochwood  came  to  Bridgeport  from  Wilton, 
Conn.,  about  1790,  and  had  his  residence  on  the  north  side  of 
State  street,  on  the  site  of  the  brick  block  between  the  houses 
of  the  late  Doct.  David  H.  Nash  and  Doct.  Robert  Hubbard. 
In  personal  appearance  he  was  possessed  of  a  full  stature, 
fine  presence  and  affable  manner. 

He  w^as  a  public  spirited  man,  connected  with  the  Con- 
gregational church.     His  house,  more  than  any  other,  was  a 


Bridgeport.  603 

home  for  visiting  clergymen  in  his  time.  His  son,  Roe 
Lockwood,  was  a  well  known  bookseller  of  New  York. 
Another  of  his  sons,  the  Rev.  Peter  Lockwood,  was  a  useful 
Presbyterian  minister.  In  later  life  he  was  connected  with 
books  and  stationery  and  printing,  having  the  late  David 
Sterling,  Jr.,  as  an  assistant  or  partner.  He  was  justice  of 
the  peace  and  grand  juryman  and  sometimes  was  called  upon 
to  quell  disturbances. 

On  one  occasion  Mr.  Lockwood  made  a  social  evening 
call  upon  John  S.  Cannon,  wearing  a  new  broad  cloth  coat. 
When  about  to  leave  for  home  it  was  found  to  be  raininer 
severely.  Mr.  Lockwood  remarked  that  he  did  not  like  to 
wet  his  new  coat  and  inquired  of  Mr.  Cannon  if  he  had  an  old 
coat  he  could  wear  instead  of  his  own.  Mr.  Cannon  said  he 
had,  and  soon  brought  it  forth.  This  Mr.  Lockwood  put  on 
and  departed  for  home,  leaving  his  new  coat.  Soon  after 
reaching  home  he  heard  a  rap  at  his  door,  and  behold  Mr. 
Cannon  appeared  wearing  Mr.  Lockwood's  coat,  drenched  by 
another  shower  that  had  overtaken  him  on  the  way,  to  make 
the  exchange  before  he  should  sleep. 

Salmon  Hiibhell  came  to  Bridgeport,  also  from  Wilton, 
about  1790,  and  had  his  residence  on  the  bluff,  fronting  Water 
street,  south  of  and  adjoining  Mr.  Cannon;  the  house  having 
been  taken  down  about  1873.  He  was  a  captain  and  pay- 
master in  the  Continental  army,  and  participated  in  the 
taking  of  Stony  Point  fort  under  General  Wayne.  He  wrote 
a  peculiarly  elegant  hand,  which  may  be  seen  on  the  early 
borough  and  town  records.  He  conducted  a  dry  goods  and 
grocery  store  on  the  northwest  corner  of  Water  and  State 
streets  more  than  twenty  years,  to  18 15.  He  was  the  first 
town  clerk  of  Bridgeport,  to  which  office  he  was  elected 
several  years  from  1820.  He  was  brother  of  Capt.  Thaddeus 
Hubbell. 

Isaac  Hititnan  came  from  Trumbull.  He  first  resided 
on  the  corner  of  Main  and  Bank  streets  and  afterwards  on  the 
corner  of  Wall  and  Water  streets,  which  later  became  the 
Washington  Hotel  and  was  kept  for  many  years  by  his  son, 
the  well  known  Capt.  Munson   Hinman.     He  kept  a  store  on 


6o4  History  of  Stratford. 

the  south  side  of  State  street,  but  on  the  erection  of  the  new 
block — now  old — on  the  north  side  of  State  street,  between 
the  post  office  and  Main  street,  he  removed  to  it  and  opened  a 
distinctively  dry  goods  store.  Richard  Hyde  married  one  of 
his  daughters,  and  was  associated  with  and  succeeded  him  in 
the  business.  Mr.  Hinman  died  in  middle  life.  Mr.  Hyde 
was  prominently  identified  with  the  dry  goods  trade  many 
years. 

William  JPeet  was  a  successful  business  man  of  the  old 
school.  His  residence  was  a  large  old  fashioned  house  with 
two  front  rooms  with  a  wide  hall  extending  from  the  front  to 
the  rear,  standing  on  the  site  of  the  present  post  office  build- 
ing, fronting  on  State  street.  Though  in  later  years  it  was 
skirted  with  stores  on  each  side,  yet  with  its  liberal  piazza 
and  front  yard  filled  with  shrubbery,  it  was  very  noticeable 
and  attractive.  He  was  a  tanner  and  currier,  and  his  yard 
was  located  on  Broad  street  between  Cannon  and  John 
streets.  The  remains  of  the  old  vats  were  but  recently  taken 
from  the  site  of  Messrs.  Hincks  and  Johnson's  new  factory. 
In  connection  with  Sheldon  Smith,  as  Peet  and  Smith,  he 
conducted  the  manufacture  and  sale  of  saddlery  in  and  over 
the  store  next  east  of  and  adjoining  his  residence  on  State 
street.  This  business  was  enlarged  by  adding  to  the  firm 
William  Wright,  who  opened  a  store  in  Charleston,  S.  C, 
soon  after  the  close  of  the  war  of  1812,  under  the  name  of 
Peet,  Smith  and  Company.  The  business  was  successful  and 
although  he  retired  from  it  early,  it  added  much  to  Mr.  Peet's 
wealth. 

He  reared  an  excellent  famil}'  ;  among  them  was  an 
Episcopal  clergyman  and  two .  successful  business  men  in 
New  York  City,  while  another  followed  the  business  of  his 
father  in  this  city.  One  daughter  married  William  Wright, 
above  mentioned,  who,  after  a  successful  business  career, 
became  governor  of  New  Jersey  and  United  States  senator 
from  that  state;  and  another  married  the  late  Hon.  Henry 
K.  Harral,  who  also  followed  the  saddlery  business  in 
Charleston,  S.  C,  New  York  city,  and  Bridgeport,  with 
great  success.  Mr.  Peet  survived  most  of  his  associates  and 
came  to  his  death  full  of  years. 


Bridgeport.  605 

CapU  David  31inot  was  a  man  of  wealth  for  his  time. 
His  business  firm  consisted  of  David  Minol.  Stephen  Summers 
and  William  DeForest.  They  carried  on  the  Boston  coasting 
trade  successfully  for  a  number  of  years  previous  to  1810,  in 
the  store  located  a  little  north  of  the  foot  of  State  street, 
which  had  been  previously  occupied  by  Richard  and  Amos 
Hubbell.  He  was  quite  a  conspicuous  person  in  the  com- 
munity, ranking-,  probably,  next  to  John  S.  Cannon.  They 
were  leaders  in  public  matters,  and  each  retained  his  connec- 
tion with  the  bank  until  his  death.  Mr.  Minot's  residence 
was  on  State  street  identical  with  the  green  on  the  east  side 
of  the  present  court-house.     He  died  in  1830. 

Samuel  William  Johnson^  of  Stratford,  was  the  son 
of  Judge  Wm.  Samuel  Johnson  and  grandson  of  Dr.  Samuel 
Johnson,  and  was  a  prominent  citizen  of  the  county  and 
State.  He  served  the  bank  eight  3^ears,  frequently  as  presi- 
dent pro  tcin.  of  the  meetings  of  the  board  of  directors,  the 
relation  ceasing  in  18 14. 

JEzra  Greffory,  Hen,,  came  to  Bridgeport  from  Wilton 
in  1796.  His  house,  situated  on  the  west  side  of  Main  street 
at  the  head  of  Wall,  was  occupied  by  him  for  many  years 
as  a  public  house  or  tavern.  He  was  one  of  the  original 
stockholders  of  the  bank  and  all  the  early  meetings  of  the 
stockholders  and  board  of  directors  were  held  at  his  house, 
until  the  bank  building  was  completed.  He  was  a  director 
of  the  bank  from  1817  to  1821.  His  house  was  burned  with 
many  others  in  the  great  fire  in  1845.  He  was  deputy  sheriff 
and  a  prominent  citizen,  as  was  also  his  son,  Ezra,  Jr.,  in  1840, 
and  many  years  after.  His  daughter  married  Jesse  Sterling, 
from  Trumbull,  a  successful  dry  goods  merchant,  postmaster, 
and  in  the  later  years  of  his  life,  treasurer  of  the  Housatonic 
Railroad  Company. 

Son,  Elijali  Hoardtnan  was  a  prominent  citizen  and 
merchant  of  New  Milford.  He  was  a  grandson  of  the  Rev. 
Daniel  and  Jerusha  (Sherman)  Boardman  and  therefore  was  a 
great  grandson  of  Dea.  David  Sherman,  of  Stratfield.  His 
business  career  extended  from  1782  to  1819,  and  was  very 
successful.     In  1795  he  became  leading  member  of  the  Con- 


6o6  Histo?y  of  Stratford. 

necticut  Land  Company,  and  therefore  one  of  the  purchasers 
of  the  Western  Reserve,  now  comprising  a  considerable 
portion  of  the  northern  part  of  the  State  of  Ohio.  He 
attended  in  person  to  the  survey  and  sale  of  a  large  propor- 
tion of  the  section  divided  to  his  company,  and  derived  con- 
siderable income  from  the  sale.  He  was  a  representative  in 
his  own  State  and  in  the  upper  house  or  senate  from  1818  to 
1 82 1,  and  was  a  representative  in  the  17th  congress,  and  hav- 
ing been  elected  to  the  United  States  senate  for  six  years, 
was  a  member  of  that  body  at  his  decease,  which  occurred  in 
Ohio  during  one  of  his  visits  there  in  1823.  He  was  a  director 
of  this  bank  from  1808  to  1817-18.  His  personal  appearance 
was  unusually  elegant,  affable  and  refined.  His  business 
talents  were  uncommonly  good  and  his  constancy  in  their 
use  was  rarely  surpassed.  The  late  Hon.  William  W.  Board- 
man,  of  New  Haven,  was  his  son. 

Capt.  George  Hoyt  was  a  native  of  Bridgeport.  He 
owned  and  resided  in  a  house  built  by  his  father  before  the 
Revolution  on  the  high  bluff  on  the  west  side  of  Water  street, 
about  two  hundred  feet  south  of  State  street.  In  his  earlier 
days  he  was  a  seaman  in  the  employ  of  John  S.  Cannon  or 
his  firm.  His  fine  business  qualities  were  well  known  and  at 
the  organization  of  the  Bridgeport  bank  he  was  elected  the 
first  cashier,  which  position  he  filled  with  great  acceptance 
eighteen  years,  until  his  death  in  July,  1825. 

Abijah  Hawley  was  a  representative  of  one  of  the  old- 
est, most  numerous  and  prominent  families  in  the  early  set- 
tlement of  Stratford  and  Stratfield.  The  Hawley  family  was 
among  the  most  wealthy  at  the  start,  and  as  they  branched 
out  from  the  old  homestead  they  were  everywhere  thrifty, 
acquiring  large  tracts  of  land,  and  in  Bridgeport  they  were 
among  the  first  for  adventure  and  successful  trade.  "As  rich 
as  the  Hawley 's,"  was  a  familiar  phrase  among  the  people 
seventy  years  ago.  The  rule  had  its  exceptions,  but  was  so 
applicable  as  to  become  a  common  saying.  Isaac  Sherman, 
Esq.,  speaks  as  follows  of  the  firm  of  Abijah  Hawley  and 
Company:  "It  was  composed  of  Abijah,  Aaron  and  Wilson 
Hawley.     They  carried  on  the  Boston  coasting  grain  business 


UNITED   BANK    BUILDING,   ERECTED   IN    1884  AND    85. 


Bridgeport.  607 

and  West  India  trade.  Their  coaster  was  called  the  Three 
Sisters,  probably  from  the  wives  of  the  partners,  who  were 
all  daughters  of  Capt.  Stephen  Summers;  and  their  New 
York  packet  was  the  sloop  Caroline,  and  they  were  very 
successful  for  many  years.  Their  store  and  wharf  were  on 
Water  street  a  little  south  of  State  street,  the  grain  elevator 
of  Mr.  John  Hurd  occup3nng  about  the  same  site.  Abijah 
Hawlev  was  the  sixth  generation  from  Joseph  Hawley,  the 
first  settler  of  the  name  in  Stratford,  through  Samuel,  of 
Stratford  ;  Dea.  Thomas,  Capt.  Ezra  and  Thomas,  of  Strat- 
field.  The  last  was  the  father  of  Abijah,  whose  residence 
was  on  the  west  side  of  Water  street  corner  of  Thomas. 
The  following  were  children  of  Abijah  and  Polly  (Summers) 
Hawley :  George,  Abijah,  Thomas,  Emeline  and  Munson. 
The  first  two  followed  the  water  for  many  years.  Thomas 
was  a  merchant,  the  founder  of  the  well  known  hardware 
house  of  T.  Hawley  and  Company,  Emeline  married  Dea. 
George  Sterling,  and  Munson,  who  has  been  a  successful 
merchant,  and  who  in  later  years  has  given  his  attention  to 
banking,  has  been  for  the  last  sixteen  and  a  half  years  the 
efficient  president  of  this  bank,  and  now  at  the  age  ot  more 
than  four  score  years  it  may  be  said  of  him,  that  his  eye  (to 
business)  has  not  become  dimmed,  nor  his  natural  force  abated. 
The  United  Bank  Building',  erected  in  1885,  by  the 
Bridgeport  National  Bank  and  the  City  Savings  Bank,  sit- 
uated on  the  northeast  corner  of  Main  and  Bank  streets,  is 
constructed  with  granite  copings  and  steps,  with  rock-faced 
Springfield  brown  stone  extending  to  the  height  of  the  second 
story  on  the  front  and  one  story  on  the  side.  Above,  the 
materials  are  Trenton  pressed  brick  with  brown  stone  trim- 
mings. The  main  entrance  is  situated  in  the  center  of  the 
building,  on  Main  street,  and  the  banking  room  floor  is 
reached  through  a  commodious  vestibule  by  a  broad  flight  of 
slate  steps.  The  side  walls  of  vestibule  and  main  halls  are 
composed  of  enamelled  brick  laid  in  neat  geometrical  patterns. 
The  floor  of  the  hall  on  the  first  floor  and  of  the  business  por- 
tion of  both  banking  rooms  is  of  white  marble  tiles.  There  is 
a  commodious  staircase  leading  to  the  second  floor,  composed 
entirely  of  iron  and  slate. 


6o8  History  of  Stratford, 

The  building  contains  three  stores,  accommodations  for 
two  banks,  and  thirteen  offices ;  it  has  also  ample  storage 
room  on  the  third  floor,  which  is  reached  by  a  circular  iron 
staircase.  The  structure  is  heated  throughout  by  steam  and 
the  best  of  plumbing  appliances  have  been  introduced.  The 
store  and  office  floors  are  finished  in  pine;  the  banking  room 
floors  and  halls  in  cherry  in  the  natural  wood.  The  vaults 
in  the  banking  rooms  are  among  the  best  ever  built  in  this 
country  and  are  furnished  with  the  latest  improvements  of  all 
kinds;  their  exterior  surfaces  are  built  of  enamelled  brick  in 
the  same  manner  as  the  main  halls. 

The  building  was  designed  for  strength,  convenience  and 
utility  ;  no  effort  was  made  for  elaborate  or  ornate  architect- 
ural display,  but  a  general  appearance  of  solidity  and  strength 
was  aimed  at:  it  was  the  aim  of  the  designer  to  indicate  ex- 
teriorly the  purpose  for  which  the  interior  was  to  be  used. 
The  style  of  architecture  adopted  was  a  modified  Gothic  in 
combination  with  heavy  Romanesque  arches;  the  architect 
relied  more  upon  the  contrasting  colors  of  the  materials  used 
and  the  grouping  of  the  entrances  and  windows  for  his  effects 
than  upon  elaborate  detail.  He  aimed  not  only  to  obtain 
pleasant  and  commodious  quarters  for  the  banks,  at  an  easily 
accessible  height  above  the  sidewalk  level,  but  at  the  same 
time  to  utilize  the  space  underneath  the  banks  for  business 
purposes.  The  problem  thus  presented  was  solved  by  the 
introduction  of  stores  with  areas  in  front.  This  led  to  much 
adverse  criticism  while  the  building  was  being  constructed, 
but  the  ready  rental  of  the  stores  and  their  popularity  is  the 
best  and  most  conclusive  argument  that  the  bank  officials 
acted  wisely  in  adopting  this  mode  of  construction. 

Shipping  and  Shipmasters. 

As  early  as  1760  the  mouth  of  the  Pequonnock  river  was 
called  the  harbor,  but  previously  it  had  been  called  the 
Pequonnock  river,  showing  that  not  very  remote  from  that 
date  vessels  began  to  come  up  the  river  to  load  and  unload. 
Previous  to  the  death  of  Richard  Nichols  in  1756,  the  ship- 
ping business — whatever  it  was — was  done  at  what  is  called 
the  Berkshire  Pond.     Not  loner  after  this  a  store  and  wharf 


Bridgeport.  609 

were  built  by  Philip  Nichols  at  the  south  end  of  Pembroke 
street,  or  the  Point,  and  about  the  same  time  or  soon  after — 
a  little  before  the  Revolution — loading  and  unloading  vessels 
began  on  the  west  side  of  the  harbor,  and  this  locality  as  early 
as  1777,  was  called  Newfield,  and  the  mouth  of  the  river 
Newfield  Harbor/ 

The  beginning  of  shipyards  in  the  Pequonnock  river 
must  date  about  1720  and  continued  to  enlarge  in  propor- 
tions until  after  1800;  and  the  result  was  that  many  of  the 
farmers  held  property  in  vessels  and  their  sons  learned  to  be 
sailors  and  commanders  of  these  and  other  vessels.  Before 
the  Revolution,  but  especially  after  it,  trade  with  the  West 
Indies  was  of  commanding  proportions,  and  when  Bridgeport 
began  to  spread  out  as  a  seaport  town  just  after  the  3'ear 
1800,  the  coast  trade  to  Boston,  New  York  and  Baltimore 
and  the  West  Indies  was  largely  the  cause  of  the  rapid 
growth  of  the  borough.  "  The  West  India  trade  was  a  very 
considerable  interest  quite  early  and  continued  to  be  prose- 
cuted as  late  as  1840.  The  parish  mill  site  was  on  Pequonnock 
river  at  what  is  known  as  Pequonnock  Mills.  The  West 
India  trade  made  brisk  times  for  the  coopers  and  millers,  and 
led  to  the  construction  of  the  Yellow  Mill  and  Berkshire 
dams  and  mills,  using  tide  water  as  a  power." 

"  The  success  of  the  whaling  business  in  eastern  ports  led 
to  investments  in  that  business  here.'" 

The  JBridge2)ort  Whaling  Coynpany  was  incorpo- 
rated in  May,  1833,  with  a  capital  stock  of  one  hundred 
thousand  dollars ;  the  following  persons  being  named  as 
corporators:  Eben  Fairchild,  Daniel  Tomlinson,  David  P. 
Minot,  Samuel  F.  Hurd  and  David  Perry.*  This  company 
owned  and  fitted  the  following  ships — the  Harvest,  Hamilton, 
Atlantic  and  Steiglitz. 

A  company  was  also  formed  for  fishing  on  the  banks  of 

*  Historical  Notes  of  Major  Wm.  B.  Hincks. 

■"  Report  of  Bridgeport  Board  of  Trade  for  1878,  p.  32. 

*  Conn.  Private  Acts,  First  Series,  i.  590. 


6io        '  History  of  Stratford. 

New  Foundland,  in  charge  of  Captain  E.  Doane,  but  the  com 
pany  was  not  particularly  successful." 

The  Bridffeport  Hteatriboat  Company  was  incorpo- 
rated in  May,  1824;  the  persons  named  being:  Daniel  Ster- 
ling, Enoch  Foote,  Ransom  C.  Canfield,  Isaac  Sherman, 
Thomas  C.  Wordin  and  Wilson  Hawley,  with  a  capital  stock 
not  to  exceed  thirty  thousand  dollars.  Wilson  Hawley, 
Daniel  Sterling,  Thomas  C.  Wordin,  Reuben  Tweedy  and 
Isaac  Sherman  were  the  first  directors  of  this  company.'" 

Only  two  companies  had  been  previously  incorporated 
in  this  State  for  the  purpose  of  navigation  by  steam  ;  the  first 
was  secured  in  October,  1818,  and  named  "The  Connecticut 
Steamboat  Company  ;"  the  second,  The  Connecticut  River 
Steamboat  Company,  in  May,  1823. 

^  Log-Book  of  Ship  Atlantic 

On  her  third  voyage  to  the  south  Atlantic  and  Indian  Oceans,  whaling,  during  the 

years  1837-8  and  9;  having  departed  from  Bridgeport,  Conn.,  on  July  22d,  1837, 

returning  on  April  12th,  1839. 

Master,  Wm.  Post. 

1st  Mate,  Job  Babcock. 

2d      "      John  Lewis. 

3d       "       Edward  Howel. 

Recapitulation. 
The  voyage  has  occupied  629  days.  The  ship  has  been  at  sea  567  days. 
According  to  calculations  made  at  the  end  of  each  day  the  whole  distance  sailed 
is  46,640  miles.  The  whole  number  of  whales  seen,  making  no  allowance  for  the 
same  ones  seen  at  different  times,  is  901,  of  which  165  are  sperm.  The  total  num- 
ber struck  is  75.  The  number  of  whales  taken,  including  one  found  dead,  is  34, 
of  which  ten  were  females.  The  whole  number  of  pleasant  days  (tolerable  whaling 
weather),  is  462,  as  may  be  seen  by  the  following  table,  where  the  pleasant  or 
whaling  days,  whales  seen,  whales  struck,  and  whales  obtained,  are  arranged 
against  the  several  days  of  the  week. 

Pleasant.  Whales  seen.  Whales  struck.   Whales  obtained. 

Sundays,. 70  170  15  9 

Mondays, 64  181  6  4 

Tuesdays -66  114  13  6 

Wednesdays 6g  127  iS  5 

Thursdays, 65  123  10  4 

Fridays, 65  86  85 

Saturdays 63  106  5  i 

462  907  75  34 

'"  Conn.  Private  Acts,  First  Series,  ii.  1106. 


Bridgeport.  6 1 1 

The  following-  charters  were  grnnted  by  the  Connecticut 
General  Assembly  with  and  following  that  of  Bridgeport : 

The  Bridgeport  Steamboat  Company,  May,  1824. 

The  Hartford  Steamboat  Company,  May,  1824. 

The  New  Haven  Steamboat  Company,  May,  1824. 

The  Norwalk  and  New  York  Steamboat  Association,  May, 
1824. 

The  Ousatonic  Steamboat  Company,  May,  1825.  This  com- 
pany was  to  run  steamboats  between  Derby  and  New 
York,  and  their  boat  "Ousatonic"  was  running  on  that 
line  the  next  year. 

The  Stamford  Steamboat  Company,  May,  1825. 

The  Steam  Navigation  Company,  May,  1825. 

By  a  letter  to  Roger  M.  Sherman  dated  January  8,  1838, 
it  is  seen  that  the  boat  named  Fairfield  was  running  on  the 
Bridgeport  line,  but  had  then  discontinued  her  trips  for  the 
winter.  The  steamboat  Nimrod,  Captain  John  Brooks,  was 
on  this  line  quite  a  number  of  years,  and  is  still  remembered 
by  many  individuals. 

The  number  of  men  who  "  followed  the  sea"  from  Bridge- 
port as  well  as  Stratford,  would  make  a  long  list,  and  com- 
prise many  who  were  in  their  day  well  known  to  the  mer- 
chants of  New  York.  A  few  illustrations  are  here  sfiven  at 
length  as  affording  more  interest  than  the  list,  if  that  could 
be  obtained. 

The  grave-stone  inscriptions  of  this  region  reveal  the  sad 
fate  of  many  who  sailed  from  these  ports  never  to  return. 
The  probate  records  show  that  fathers  and  brothers,  remem- 
bering the  perils  of  the  great  deep,  recorded  their  wills  as  a 
settlement  of  all  earthly  estates,  before  passing  out  of  these 
harbors  on  their  long  journeys. 

In  addition  to  the  illustrations  here  following,  a  list  of 
sea  captains,  from  fifty  to  one  hundred,  who  were  raised  in 
the  territory  of  old  Stratford,  might  be  obtained,  who  sailed, 
not  as  far  away,  but  by  many  perils,  successes  and  disasters, 
like  those  whose  records  are  given. 


6i2  History  of  Stratford. 

Capt.  E^ekiel  Hnhhell^^  of  Bridgeport,  son  of  John 
and  Eleanor  (Burr)  Hubbell,  was  born  in  Fairfield,  Conn., 
April  5,  1768.  After  enjoying  all  the  advantages  of  an  early 
education,  at  the  age  of  fourteen  he  was  employed  as  clerk 
on  board  of  vessels  belonging  to  Richard  and  Amos  Hubbell, 
well-known  merchants  trading  between  Newfield  (Bridgeport) 
and  the  West  Indies.  Soon  manifesting  great  confidence  in 
himself,  he  not  only  took  charge  of  the  cargo  and  business  of 
the  concern,  but  also  the  command  of  the  vessel  as  a  merchant 
navigator,  called  in  those  days  captain  and  supercargo,  both 
positions  being  filled  by  the  same  person.  In  1797,  owing  to 
his  industry  and  perseverance,  he  became  managing  owner  of 
two  fine  vessels,  the  brig  Caroline  and  the  ship  Sally  and 
Betsey,  and  became  also  interested  in  other  vessels  of  smaller 
capacity.  Next  he  took  command  of  the  armed  ship  Citizen, 
of  New  York  city,  which  carried  sixteen  guns  and  was 
manned  with  a  crew  of  fifty  men,  and  in  her  he  made  several 
voyages  to  Havana.  The  New  York  "Commercial  Adver- 
tiser" of  July  15,  1798,  says:  "Ship  Citizen,  Hubbell,  master, 
off  Newfield,  Thursday  last,  via  Halafax,  where  she  had  been 
taken  by  an  English  cruiser,  and  after  a  close  examination  of 
the  crew  and  papers,  was  released."  The  same  paper  of 
December  6,  1798,  says:  "This  day  came  up  the  armed  ship 
Citizen,  Capt.  E.  Hubbell,  sixteen  guns,  nineteen  days  from 
Havana.  Came  out  with  eighteen  vessels  under  convoy,  and 
parted  with  them  on  the  coast.  Left  a  French  privateer 
lying  off  Havana,  but  she  did  not  seem  inclined  to  come 
out.  Flour,  $6>^  ;  sugars,  6'  to  7'  cwt.  Cotton  goods  pro- 
hibeted." 

Early  in  1799  he  ventured  in  the  same  ship  (Citizen)  to 
Vera  Cruz,  in  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  and  endeavored  to  open  a 
trade  and  dispose  of  the  investment  he  had  on  board,  adapted 
to  the  wants  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  city  of  Mexico.  Disap- 
pointed in  gaining  permission  to  land  his  goods,  he  proceeded 
to  Honduras,  thence  to  Havana  and  New  York. 

The  information  Captain  Hubbell  obtained  at  Vera  Cruz 
of  the  vast  wealth  of  the  Spaniards  in  their  South  American 

''  History  of  the  Burr  Family,  96. 


Bridgeport,  613 

States  on  the  Pacific  coast,  and  the  fabulous  reports  of  the 
demand  for  certain  descriptions  of  goods,  enabled  him,  on 
returning  home,  to  plan  an  important  and  enterprising  ven- 
ture to  those  countries.  Being  a  man  of  great  prudence  yet 
indomitable  energy,  he  at  once  enlisted  the  confidence  of  his 
friends,  purchased  the  ship  Enterprise,  of  250  tons,  and  joined 
capital  with  Isaac  Moses  and  Son,  and  Hoyt  and  Tom,  each 
owning  one-third  of  the  ship  and  cargo.  After  taking  on 
board  an  invoice  of  costly  goods,  of  little  bulk,  adapted  to  the 
wants  of  the  Spaniards  in  Chili  and  Peru,  and  in  addition,  to 
guard  against  possible  failure  and  disappointment,  as  at  Vera 
Cruz,  shipping  a  quantity  of  goods  suited  for  traffic  with 
the  Indians  on  the  northwest  coast  of  America,  he  sailed 
from  New  York  in  October,  1799,  with  intelligent  officers 
and  a  reliable  crew,  numbering  thirty  men  and  bo3's.  Mak- 
ing slow  progress  in  crossing  the  equator  and  coming  into 
the  high  southern  latitudes  with  lengthening  days,  they 
decided  to  seek  a  harbor  on  the  east  coast  of  Patagonia, 
which  the}'  effected  in  the  latitude  of  about  45°  south,  where 
they  cleaned  the  ship  of  barnacles  and  sea  grass,  for  further 
and  swifter  progress.  Passing  Cape  Horn  early  in  February, 
after  a  stormy  and  tempestuous  time,  they  were  favored  in 
the  Pacific  Ocean  with  fine  southerly  breezes,  which  carried 
them  along  the  coast  of  Patagonia  and  southern  Chili,  and 
about  the  first  of  March,  1800,  anchored  in  the  harbor  of 
Valparaiso. 

As  man}'  of  the  crew  were  suffering  with  scurvy  for  the 
want  of  vegetables,  of  which  they  had  been  without  for  many 
months,  the  governor  granted  permission  for  the  ship  to 
remain  in  port  for  a  reasonable  time,  but  as  no  vessels  except 
those  bearing  the  Spanish  flag  were  allowed  to  enter  the  port 
for  purposes  of  trade,  the  Enterprise  was  closely  watched 
and  guarded  by  revenue  officers.  During  this  stay  Captain 
Hubbell  obtained  a  passport  to  visit  the  capital,  Santiago  de 
Chili,  ninety  miles  in  the  interior,  and  was  the  first  citizen  of 
the  United  States  allowed  to  visit  that  city.  He  was  espe- 
cially noticed  by  the  Viceroy,  General  O'Higgins,  upon 
whom  he  called,  and  requested  to  land  and  sell  his  cargo 
under  any  restrictions  His  Excellency  might  see  fit  to  enjoin. 
40 


6 14  History  of  Stratford. 

While  permission  was  refused,  yet  the  beautiful  city  was 
shown  to  him  and  he  returned  to  his  vessel.  Lingering  at 
Valparaiso  for  ten  days  he  succeeded  in  making  a  conditional 
sale  for  the  greater  portion  of  his  cargo  to  the  governor, 
deliverable  at  Conception,  a  bay  about  three  hundred  miles 
south  of  Valparaiso.  After  arranging  the  terms  an  agent 
was  placed  on  board  the  vessel,  who,  after  it  had  sailed, 
examined  the  cargo,  and  following  instructions,  they  ap- 
proached Conception  Bay,  where  a  payment  of  150,000  Span- 
ish dollars  was  to  be  made  on  board,  in  advance  of  the  deliv- 
ery of  the  goods.  The  morning  was  fair,  the  scenery  mag- 
nificent, a  beautiful  bay  and  harbor  could  be  seen,  overtopped 
by  the  snow-capped  Cordilleras  in  the  distance,  as  the  ship 
glided  to  her  haven.  The  agent  landed  and  proceeded  tow- 
ards a  thi'cket  at  a  short  distance,  but  instead  of  finding 
friends  to  answer  his  countersign,  he  was  surprised  by  a 
squad  of  cavalry  in  ambush.  Seeing  at  once  the  treachery 
of  the  officers  and  his  own  defeat,  he  sprang  for  his  life 
towards  the  boat,  into  which  the  crew  took  refuge  also,  he 
barely  escaping  the  coils  of  a  lasso  as  they  pushed  off  for  the 
ship,  which  was  reached  in  safety  except  a  wound  received 
by  one  of  the  officers  from  the  ambush.  Some  years  after- 
wards it  was  learned  that  the  governor's  friends  betrayed 
him  and  the  silver  coin  sent  to  Conception  Bay  was  seized 
by  the  viceroy  and  confiscated. 

Captain  Hubbell  then  sailed  toward  the  northwest  coast 
of  America,  and  approaching  the  coast  of  New  Spain  he 
stood  into  the  harbor  of  San  Bias,  with  the  hope  of  landing 
the  Spanish  agent,  but  being  fired  upon  from  the  forts  he 
continued  his  course  northerly  to  Nootka  Sound.  At  this 
place  and  the  adjacent  coasts  he  traded  such  suitable  goods 
as  he  had  with  the  Indians  for  their  valuable  furs,  and  pro- 
ceeded to  China,  callmg  at  the  Sandwich  Islands  and  the 
Russian  settlements  near  Kamtschatka,  where  he  sold  them 
at  a  great  price,  with  which  he  purchased  a  large  portion  of 
a  cargo  of  cheap  Bohea  tea  and  other  goods.  Sailing  in 
January  he  arrived  off  Bridgeport,  in  Long  Island  Sound, 
June  27,  1802,  one  hundred  and  forty  days  from  Canton  on 
his  way  to  New  York  City.     Being  the  first  navigator  of  the 


Bridgeport.  6 1 5 

globe  from  New  York,  his  arrival  caused  much  excitement. 
Many  of  his  friends  had  mourned  for  him  as  lost  for  he  had 
not  been  heard  from  during  his  absence  of  nearly  three  years." 

In  the  spring  of  1803  Captain  Hubbell  purchased  an 
interest  in  the  Catharine  Ray,  a  fine  vessel  of  about  200  tons, 
and  took  command  of  her  as  captain  and  supercargo,  on  a 
voyage  to  China,  with  a  view  to  an  important  investment  in 
silks,  which  voyage  was  performed  in  regular  course,  return- 
ing to  New  York  in  the  spring  of  1804.  Under  a  similar 
arrangement  with  the  same  owners  he  made  a  second  vo3'age 
to  China,  returning  home  in  the  spring  of  1805,  when  the 
vessel  was  sold. 

In  May,  1805,  he  resumed  the  command  of  his  old  ship, 
Citizen,  under  the  auspices  of  the  firm  of  Hoyt  and  Tom,  and 
fitted  her  for  a  voyage  to  China,  which  was  performed  by 
investing  $150,000  in  Spanish  coin  in  the  purchase  of  silks,  he 
receiving  only  his  commission,  and  returned  to  New  York  in 
May,  1806,  In  October,  1807,  he  sailed  on  another  voyage  to 
China,  in  the  ship  Augustus,  owned  by  Isaac  Moses  and  Son, 
Hoyt  and  Tom,  and  himself,  stopping  on  his  way  at  the  Isle 
of  France,  where  he  purchased  a  cargo  of  cotton.  Disposing 
of  his  cotton  at  Canton  he,  after  some  unexpected  delays  and 
difficulties,  shipped  a  cargo  of  tea,  upon  the  recommendation 
of  Houqua,  the  senior  Hong  merchant,  to  whom,  in  want  of 
sufficient  funds,  he  gave  the  following  note  : 

Canton,  China,  January  15,  1808. 
"$103,000.    Twelve  months  after  date,  for  value  received, 
I  promise  to  pay  to  the  order  of  Houqua,  Hong  merchant, 
one  hundred  and  three  thousand  dollars  for  cargo  of  tea  per 
ship  Augustus,  with  interest  at  12  per  cent,  per  anum. 

EzEKiEL  Hubbell." 

Leaving  Canton  he  sailed  for  Amsterdam,  Holland,  for 
the  sale  of  his  tea,  but  on  arriving  at  Plymouth,  in  the  Eng- 
lish Channel,  found  that  in  consequence  of  war  between 
England  and  Holland  the  port  of  Amsterdam  was  blockaded. 
After   consulting    London    merchants    he    proceeded    on    his 

^'^  It  is  stated  that  another  vessel  from  New  York  had  been  around  the  globe, 
conripleting  the  voyage  in  1799. 


6i6  History  of  Stratford. 

voyage  through  the  North  Sea,  where,  after  some  delay, 
lying  in  sight  of  the  blockading  squadron,  he  ran  the  block- 
ade in  the  night.  The  sun  rose  brightly  the  next  morning 
and  found  the  good  ship  Augustus  embeded  in  the  sandy 
beach,  near  the  main  channel  to  Amsterdam,  fully  protected 
by  the  fortifications,  while  in  the  distant  offing  the  British 
fleet  was  seen  powerless  to  reach  her.  Permission  being 
obtained  from  Louis  Bonaparte,  then  King  of  Holland,  the 
cargo  was  soon  landed  in  the  king's  warehouses  at  Amster- 
dam, from  which  it  was  afterwards  disposed  of  through  the 
aid  of  London  merchants,  and  Captain  Hubbell  reiurned  to 
New  York,  arriving  in  December,  1808.  After  enormous 
expenses  the  result,  still,  was  a  large  profit,  leaving  Captain 
Hubbell,  for  those  days,  not  only  independent,  but  rich.  He 
paid  his  note,  which  was  receipted  as  follows:  "Received 
pay  in  full,  with  interest,  as  adjusted,  $119,000.     Houqua." 

Under  this  Captain  Hubbell  wrote:  "  Paid,  thank  God! 
E.  H." 

From  1809  until  1812  Captain  Hubbell  resided  at  his 
country  home  in  Bridgeport,  where  he  occupied  his  time  in 
gratifying  his  tastes  and  assisting  his  friends  in  their  various 
pursuits  in  life.  In  1813  he  entered  into  an  extensive  specula- 
tion by  purchasing  large  tracts  of  woodlands  near  West  Point, 
on  the  Hudson  river,  with  the  object  of  furnishing  ship  tim- 
ber, but  the  enterprise  proved  a  losing  investment.  This, 
with  other  losses  in  consequence  of  the  war,  led  him  again 
to  project  foreign  adventure. 

In  1817,  after  nine  years  spent  mostly  in  retirement,  he 
planned  a  voyage  to  the  eastern  world,  and  in  combination 
with  his  friends  Hoyt  and  Tom  and  others,  sailed  in  his  old 
ship.  Citizen,  as  captain  and  supercargo,  with  ample  means  in 
Spanish  dollars,  for  Manila.  There  he  loaded  with  sugars 
and  indigo,  and  returned  to  New  York,  realizing  but  moder- 
ate returns  on  the  expenditures  and  risks.  Retaining  his 
interest  in  the  Citizen,  she  was  despatched  again  to  Manila 
in  the  spring  of  1819,  under  the  command  of  Captain  Loring, 
with  Captain  HubbelTs  son  George  William,  then  twenty- 
three  years  of  age,  on  board  as  supercargo  in  charge  of  the 
business  of  the  ship.  She  loaded  at  Manila  for  Hamburg, 
where  she  arrived  in   May,  1820.     His  son,  after  dispatching 


Bridgeport.  6 1 7 

the  ship  from  Hamburg  back  to  Manila,  in  charge  of  Captain 
Loring  as  master  and  supercargo,  returned  to  New  York, 
where  he  arrived  in  February,  1821. 

Captain  Hubbell  continued  to  reside  at  his  home  in 
Bridgeport  from  the  spring  of  1818  until  1821,  when  he 
embarked  in  the  ship  Ajax,  a  new  vessel  in  which  he  was 
interested,  and  the  building  of  which  he  superintended.  His 
two  sons,  George  William  and  Henry  Wilson,  the  former 
twenty-five  and  the  latter  sixteen  years  of  age,  were  passen- 
gers on  this  voyage,  and  had  in  view  the  establishing  of  a 
mercantile  house  in  Manila.  The  Ajax  sailed  from  New 
York  xAipril  21,  1821,  and  arrived  at  Manila  the  following 
August,  after  120  days  passage.  She  loaded  and  returned  to 
New  York,  arriving  in  May,  1822,  leaving  his  sons  at  Manila, 
who  during  the  year  prepared  a  cargo  for  the  Ajax  on  her 
return  as  a  regular  trader  in  the  monsoon  season.  Captain 
Hubbell  made  four  vo^'ages  in  the  Ajax,  taking  out  valuable 
investments  of  English  and  French  manufactures  adapted  to 
the  wants  of  that  people.  The  Ajax  was  finally  sold,  and 
within  four  months  afterwards,  in  August,  1825,  foundered  in 
crossing  the  Atlantic  on  a  voyage  to  England. 

In  June,  1825,  he  took  command  of  the  ship  Sabina,  and 
proceeded  to  Manila,  where  he  loaded  and  arrived  home 
April  22,  1826,  bringing  with  him  his  younger  son. 

On  December  26,  1826,  he  sailed  on  a  voyage  in  the  ship 
Sabina  to  Rio  Janeiro  and  Valparaiso  (where  he  landed  under 
very  different  circumstances  from  those  encountered  on  his 
former  visit  to  Chili  in  1801),  thence  to  Lima  and  Pata  in 
Peru,  Guayaquil,  in  Ecuador,  thence  to  the  Sandwich  Islands, 
and  thence  to  Manila.  At  the  latter  place  he  loaded  his  ship 
from  proceeds  of  treasure  which  was  taken  over  in  the  ship 
from  Lima,  together  with  returns  from  cocoa  shipped  from 
Guayaquil,  and  sandal  wood  from  the  Sandwich  Islands. 
After  an  absence  of  fifteen  months  and  eighteen  days  he 
arrived  at  New  York  April  14,  1828,  in  a  passage  of  one 
hundred  and  eighteen  days  from  Manila.  His  son,  Henry 
Wilson,  in  the  capacity  of  supercargo,  was  with  him  through- 
out the  voyage.     This  was  Captain  Hubbell's  last  voyage. 

The  following  extract  is  from  a  letter  written  by  Capt. 
Hubbell  under  date  Dec.  7,  1833: 


6i  8  History  of  Stratford. 

"  I  have  retired  from  going  to  sea,  some  five  or  six  years, 
but  to  give  you  some  idea  of  my  travels,  I  have  traveled 
245,000  geographical  miles  since  I  passed  my  fourteenth  year, 
which  distance  was  made  up  in  eight  voyages  to  the  Indies, 
which  average  over  30,000  miles  each  vo3^age.  I  am  65  years 
of  age — now  set  myself  down  in  this  village  enjoying  the 
fruits  of  my  travels  and  for  passtime  accepted  the  Presidency 
of  the  Connecticut  Bank,  which  has  been  in  operation  two 
years  very  successfully  thus  far." 

Capt.  Hubbell  was  a  member  of  the  First  Congregational 
Church  in  Bridgeport,  to  which  he  was  strongly  attached. 
He  died  from  the  effects  of  an  influenza  April  i,  1834. 

George  William  Hubbell  and  Henry  Wilson  Hubbell, 
sons  of  Capt.  Ezekiel  Hubbell,  were  captains,  supercargos 
and  merchantmen,  and  followed  the  sea  most  of  their  lives. 
George  William,  after  traveling  round  the  globe  many  times, 
performing  efficient  and  successful  service  as  a  merchant, 
died  at  Manila,  Philippine  Islands,  May  3,  1831,  aged  35 
years.  Henry  Wilson  continued  to  follow  the  sea  as  a  mer- 
chant more  than  twenty  years  after  the  decease  of  his  brother, 
and  his  voyages  in  distance  sailed  sums  up  to  over  370,000 
miles." 

Two  other  illustrations  of  Bridgeport  sea  captains  are 
given  in  "A  Centennial  History"  of  1876,  by  Major  W.  B. 
Hincks,  in  some  sketches  of  men  of  the  Revolution. 

"  Early  in  the  war  Capt.  David  Hawley,  of  Stratfield, 
sailed  to  the  West  Indies  for  a  cargo  of  gunpowder,  which, 
upon  his  return,  was  divided  between  the  towns  of  Stratford 
and  Fairfield,  a  part  of  it  being  stored  for  a  tiriie  in  Nichols' 
tavern  on  the  old  county  road.  In  March,  1776,  he  sailed 
again  from  Stratford  in  command  of  a  privateer  sloop,  but 
was  captured,  when  four  days  out,  by  a  British  man  of  war, 
Bellona.  Large  inducements  were  offered  him  by  his  captors 
to  change  his  allegiance  and  act  as  a  pilot  to  the  British  fleet, 
but  these  were  firmly  declined.  He  was  taken  to  Halifax, 
but  after  a  captivity  of  only  two  weeks  made  his  escape  with 
eight  companions  in  a  small  boat,  and  at  length  found  his 
way  back  home.     In  August,  1776,  he  was  commissioned  by 


'^  See  History  of  the  Hubbell  Family,  144. 


i  « .1  p  \  l^  p  )l  ^ . 

f   ft  ^.t;  ^«  5«  ^"  "*»  13  vi  f I  .- 


% 


>:  -^'• 


nc^ 


vv/ 


Bridgeport.  619 

the  legislature  to  raise  a  naval  detachment  for  service  upon 
Lake  Charaplain,  and  a  few  months  later  he  took  part  in  the 
disastrous  action  fought  upon  this  lake  between  the  British 
and  American  flotillas.  After  this,  Long  Island  Sound  was 
his  cruising  ground,  and  besides  capturing  Judge  Jones  we 
find  him  in  May,  1777,  and  again  in  August  of  the  same  year, 
bringing  a  number  of  prizes  into  Black  Rock  harbor.  After 
the  war  he  resided  in  Bridgeport  until  his  decease  in  1807. 
He  built  on  the  corner  of  Water  and  Gilbert  streets  the  first 
brick  house  erected  within  the  city  limits." 

"  Capt.  Samuel  Smedley  sailed  upon  the  Atlantic  as 
commander  of  the  brig  Defense,  perhaps  the  most  successful 
vessel  in  the  Colonial  Navy.  He  captured  many  prizes, 
among  them  the  British  ship  C3^rus,  mounting  eighteen  guns 
and  laden  with  a  cargo  that  sold  for  about  ;i^20,ooo,  one  of  the 
most  valuable  captures  made  during  the  revolution.  After 
the  war  Capt.  Smedley  was  for  many  years  collector  of  Cus- 
toms for  this  district,  residing  and  having  his  office  at  Fairfield." 

Capt,  Isaac  Utirroughs,  son  of  Stephen  Burroughs, 
born  in  Bridgeport  or  Newfield,  Conn.,,  in  1778,  and  died 
at  his  residence  in  Bridgeport,  Conn.,  January  8,  1861,  was 
also  a  sea  captain.  Like  his  father  before  him,  he  was  exten- 
sively engaged  in  navigation  and  owned  a  large  number  of 
vessels,  which  plied  between  Boston,  New  York  and  nearly 
all  the  southern  ports,  besides  visiting  many  of  the  islands  of 
the  sea.  He  was  a  large  owner  of  real  estate  in  this  city,  and 
a  director  in  the  old  Bridgeport  bank.  He  was  a  life-long 
Whig  and  Republican,  and  as  such  represented  his  town  in 
the  State  Legislature.  He  was  a  warden  for  several  years  of 
St.  John's  Episcopal  Church,  and  one  of  its  most  liberal  sup- 
porters. He  married  Rebecca,  daughter  of  Andrew  Hurd, 
of  Old  Mill,  Conn.  Their  children  were  six  in  number,  all  of 
whom  are  deceased.  Catharine  A.  married  A.  A.  Pettingill, 
an  accomplished  gentleman  and  scholar,  of  Bridgeport.  She 
gave  in  her  will  the  elegant  building  known  as  the  Burroughs 
Block,  to  the  Bridgeport  Public  Library  for  a  perpetual 
library  building.'^ 

"  See  Bridgeport  Public  Library  and  Reading  Room. 


CHAPTER    XX. 


ECCLESIASTICAL    HISTORY. 


EVVFIELD  village  people,  both  Congrega- 
^L  tional  and  Episcopal,  went  to   Stratfield,  a 
distance  of  one  mile  or  more,  about  twenty- 
five  years,  to  church,  but  as  soon  as  the  bor- 
)^^^!^''-:^y^     ough  was  organized  in  1800  movements  began 
s^w^rjci^,^/       |-Q  bi'ing  these  churches  into   the  borough, 
where  then  were  located  the  post  office  and 
stores. 

The  Episcopal  people  were  the  first  to 
build  a  church  edifice  here. 


St.  John  s  Church,  Bridgeport. 

The  first  edifice  built  as  a  house  of  wor- 
ship for  this  church  in  Stratfield  was  erected 
in  the  summer  of  1748,  as  indicated  by  the  following  record:' 

"  I  have  formerly  mentioned  a  Church  built  at  Stratfield, 
in  which  they  are  very  urgent  to  have  me  officiate  every 
third  Sunday,  because  we  have  large  congregations  when  I 
preach  there.  The  people  living  in  the  town  and  westward 
are  very  much  against  it,  because  Mr.  Caner  used  to  keep 
steadily  to  the  Church  in  town,  but  then  there  was  neither 
Church  nor  Congregation  at  Stratfield." 

Mr.  Caner  resigned  his  pastorate  in  Fairfield  and  re- 
moved to  Boston  in  the  year  1747,  and  Mr.  Lamson  was  his 
successor  as  missionary  pastor  at  Fairfield,  and  he  says  there 
was  "  neither  Church  nor  congregation  at  Stratfield,"  under 


'  Church  Documents  of  Conneciicut,  vol.  i,  page  246,  letter  of  Joseph  Lainson, 
dated  Fairfield,  Nov.  10,  1748. 


Bridgeport.  62 1 

Mr.  Caner,  and  hence  the  interest  in  establishing  a  church  in 
this  locality  must  have  taken  form  and  the  church  been  built 
after  Mr.  Lamson  came  and  in  the  year  1748,  and  Mr.  Lamson 
held  services  in  it  that  year.  It  was  called  St.  John's  Church 
and  was  a  frame  building  with  a  steeple,  and  stood  on  the 
corner  of  Church  Lane  (now  Wood  avenue,  of  Bridgeport). 
Among  the  contributors  for  its  erection  were  Col.  John  Burr, 
John  Holburton,  Timothy  Wheeler,  Joseph  Seeley,  John 
Nichols,  Richard  Hall  and  Samuel  Beardslee.  For  some 
3'ears  the  Rev.  Joseph  Lamson  officiated,  dividing  his  labors 
so  as  to  minister  here  and  in  other  localities,  and  was  suc- 
ceeded by  the  Rev.  John  Say  re. 

Tradition  says  Mr.  Lamson  was  engaged  to  marr}^  Abi- 
gail Rumsey,  of  Fairfield,  that  she  went  to  Stratford  to  visit 
friends,  was  taken  very  ill,  and  being  attended  by  her  parents 
and  Mr.  Lamson  in  her  illness,  she  directed  just  before  her 
decease,  that  a  string  of  gold  beads  which  she  wore  should  be 
taken  from  her  neck  and  placed  on  his,  which  was  done  and 
he  wore  them  as  long  as  he  lived.  The  following  is  the  tomb- 
stone inscription  memorial  of  the  young  lady:  "Abigail  Rum- 
sey, Daughter  of  Mr.  Benj"'"  &  Mrs.  Rebecka  Rumsey  of 
Fairfield,  Who  Died  Octb''  14,  1743,  Aged  16  years  &  7 
months."" 

Although  there  was  neither  church  nor  congregation  at 
Stratfield,  there  were  communicants  of  the  Episcopal  Church 
residing  here  while  Mr.  Caner  preached  at  Fairfield,  for  the 
following  vote  is  recorded  in  the  Stratfield  society's  book: 
"  December  24,  1746.  Voted  a  tax  or  rate  on  all  the  polls 
and  ratable  estate  of  the  Society,  of  nine  pence  on  the  pound 
to  defray  the  ministerial  charges  in  the  society.  Professed 
Churchmen  exempted."  This  vote,  however,  to  exempt  the 
churchmen  was  rescinded  at  a  society  meeting  the  next  Feb- 
ruary. 

It  is  certain  that  some  of  these  men  who  contributed  to 
build  this  Episcopal  Church  were  prominent  persons  in  the 
Congregational  society  until  the  great  stir  made  soon  after 
Whitefield's  visit  to  Stratford  and  Fairfield  in  October,  1740. 

^  See  page  227  of  this  book. 


622  History  of  Stratford. 

The  following  record  is  conclusive:  "At  a  lawful  meeting  of 
the  Society  of  Stratfield  held  on  22  day  of  December,  1743, 
it  was  voted  that  Capt.  John  Burr,  David  Sherman,  Jr.,  and 
Timothy  Wheeler  be  a  committee  to  order  the  prudentials 
of  the  society  for  the  year  ensuing."  Col.  John  Burr  was 
moderator  of  this  same  meeting,  so  that  his  position  as  a 
prominent  man  of  the  Congregational  society  at  that  date  is 
also  decided.  It  is  indicated  that  Col.  Burr  and  Timothy 
Wheeler  united  with  the  Episcopal  Church  in  the  year  1744, 
since  in  the  annual  meeting  of  the  Stratfield  society,  Decem- 
ber, 1744,  neither  of  their  names  occurs. 

John  Beardslee,  who  has  been  supposed  to  have  been  a 
member  of  the  Episcop)al  Church  some  years  earlier,  was 
moderator  of  the  Stratfield  society's  meeting  in  October, 
1743.  Samuel  Beardslee  was  not  prominent  in  the  Stratfield 
society;  he  conformed  to  the  Episcopal  Church,  probably, 
with  others  in  1744,  and  after  several  years  joined  the  Baptist 
Church. 

It  is  therefore  quite  certain  that  in  1740  there  were  very 
few  if  any  communicants  of  the  Episcopal  Church  residing 
within  the  boundaries  of  the  Stratfield  society. 

The  records  of  this  St.  John's  Church  now  in  existence, 
begin  with  a  copy  of  the  summons  of  "those  persons  profess- 
ors of  the  Episcopal  Church,  inhabitants  of  Stratfield  Society, 
to  appear  at  the  Church  in  said  Society,  Thursday  the  ninth 
day  of  instant  December,  at  two  of  the  clock  in  the  afternoon, 
for  the  purpose  of  forming  themselves  into  one  body  Corpo- 
rate, or  Society,  for  to  chuse  Society  officers  for  the  well- 
ordering  and  governing  the  prudential  affairs  of  said  Episco- 
pal Church  as  they  in  their  wisdom  shall  judge  meet  and 
fitting."  This  document  bears  the  date  December  i,  1784. 
The  first  meeting  was  held  on  the  day  designated  and  after 
choosing  the  parish  officers  it  was  "voted  to  settle  Mr.  Philo 
Shelton  in  this  Society."  Mr.  Shelton  at  that  time  was  a 
candidate  for  orders,  and  continued  to  officiate  as  lay  reader 
until  the  arrival  of  Bishop^Seabury,  who  admitted  him  to  the 
order  of  Deacons  of  Christ  Church,  Middletown,  and  to  the 
order  of  Priesthood  in  Trinity  Church,  New  Haven,  in  1785. 
Aside  from  the  fact  that  his  rectorship  was  the  first  after  the 


Bridgeport.  623 

organization,  and  the  longest  that  the  parish  has  known,  he  is 
also  to  be  remembered  as  the  first  individual  who  received 
Episcopal  ordination  in  this  country,  as  appears  from  the 
inscription  placed  over  his  remains,  which  were  interred  in 
the  Episcopal  Church  which  was  at  Mill  Plain,  Fairfield,  also 
under  his  charge.  The  increase  of  business  and  the  popula- 
tion in  the  borough  of  Bridgeport,  necessitated  a  change  in 
the  locality  of  the  church,  and  accordingly  in  1801  the  second 
edifice  was  erected  at  the  southeast  corner  of  State  and  Broad 
streets  in  Bridgeport.  Mr.  Shelton's  rectorship  continued 
until  Easter  in  1824. 

The  following  sketch  of  his  life  and  labors  is  taken  largel}' 
from  the  '' Seabury  Centenary  of  Connecticut,"  published  in 
1885. 

Mev.  Philo  Shelton,  son  of  Samuel  and  grandson  of 
Daniel  Shelton,  was  born  in  Ripton — now  Huntington — May 
7,  1754.  He  was  graduated  at  Yale  College  in  1775,  and  offi- 
ciated as  lay  reader  in  several  places,  principally  at  Fairfield, 
Stratfield  and  Weston,  after  1779.  While  waiting  for  ordina- 
tion he  married,  April  20,  1781,  Lucy,  daughter  of  Philip 
Nichols,  Esq.,  of  Stratford — now  Bridgeport.  In  February, 
1785,  a  formal  arrangement  was  made  that  his  services  in 
each  of  the  three  places  should  be  proportioned  to  the  num- 
ber of  churchmen  residing  in  them  respectively,  and  until  he 
should  be  in  orders  it  was  stipulated  to  pa}'  him  twenty 
shillings  lawful  money  for  each  day  that  he  officiated.  Rev. 
Ashbel  Baldwin,  his  nearest  neighbor  in  parochial  work,  and 
most  intimate  friend  and  associate  in  efforts  to  build  up  the 
church  in  Connecticut,  used  to  say  that  the  hands  of  Bishop 
Seabury  were  first  laid  upon  the  head  of  Mr.  Shelton  on  the 
3d  of  August,  1785,  so  that  his  name  really  begins  the  long 
list  of  clergy  who  have  received  ordination  in  this  country 
by  Bishops  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church.  In  the 
Diocesan  Convention,  under  an  established  rule  of  that  body, 
he  invariably  outranked  Mr.  Baldwin,  and  so  was  frequently 
the  presiding  officer  in  the  absence  of  the  Bishop,  which  is 
another  proof  that  he  was  his  senior  by  ordination  as  well  as 
in  years. 


624  History  of  Stratford. 

After  his  admission  to  Holy  Orders,  according  to  his 
own  statement,  Mr.  Shelton  took  full  "  pastoral  charge  of  the 
cure  of  Fairfield,  including  Stratfield  and  Weston,  dividing 
his  time  equally  between  the  three  churches,  with  a  salary  of 
one  hundred  pounds  per  annum  from  the  congregations,  and 
the  use  of  what  lands  belonged  to  the  cure."  Five  years 
passed  away  before  the  enterprise  of  building  a  new  church 
in  Fairfield  was  really  begun,  and  then  it  was  erected  about  a 
mile  west  of  the  site  where  the  old  one  stood,  and  was  only 
inclosed  and  made  fit  for  occupancy  at  the  time  and  not  fin- 
ished and  consecrated  until  1798. 

Then  the  population  was  drifting  from  Stratfield  toward 
the  borough  of  Bridgeport,  and  in  t8oi  it  was  deemed  advisa- 
ble to  demolish  the  old  church  and  build  a  new  one  in  a  more 
central  locality ;  and  Mr.  Shelton,  seeing  the  wisdom  and 
advantage  of  this  movement,  encouraged  it. 

This  new  church  in  the  borough  was  so  far  completed 
that  it  was  used  in  the  beginning  of  Advent,  1801,  and  two 
years  later  "  the  ground  floor  was  sold  at  public  vendue  for 
the  purpose  of  building  the  pews  and  seats  thereon,  and  fin- 
ishing the  church,  and  the  money  raised  in  the  sale  amounted 
to  between  six  and  seven  hundred  dollars."  The  building 
cost  about  thirty-five  hundred  dollars  above  this,  and  was 
met  by  voluntary  contributions  of  the  people.  Mr.  Shelton, 
in  speaking  of  the  whole  work,  said  :  "  It  has  been  conducted 
in  harmony,  with  good  prudence,  strict  economy,  and  a  de- 
gree of  elegance  and  taste  which  does  honor  to  the  committee 
and  adds  respectabilit}^  to  the  place." 

For  nearly  forty  years  the  scene  of  his  ministerial  labors 
was  undisturbed,  and  he  dwelt  among  his  people  in  quietness 
and  confidence  and  had  the  satisfaction  of  seeing  them  attain 
to  a  high  degree  of  worldly  prosperity.  The  silent  influence 
of  a  good  life  carried  him  along  smoothly  and  left  its  gentle 
impress  wherever  he  was  known.  "A  faithful  pastor,  a  guile- 
less and  godly  man,"  is  a  part  of  the  inscription  upon  the 
marble  monument  erected  over  his  ashes  in  the  Mountain 
Grove  Cemetery  at  Bridgeport,  a  few  years  since,  by  his  son 
William,  and  these  words  sum  up  very  appropriately  his 
ministerial  and  Christian  character.     While  he  confined  him- 


Bridgeport.  625 

self  closely  to  the  duties  of  his  cure,  he  shrank  not  from  work 
put  upon  him  by  the  diocese  and  was  for  twenty-four  years  a 
member  of  the  standing  committee  and  a  firm  supporter  of 
ecclesiastical  authority  in  seasons  of  trial  and  trouble.  He 
was  also  several  times  chosen  a  deputy  to  the  General  Con- 
vention, and  never  failed  to  attend  its  sessions. 

Mr.  Shelton  continued  to  serve  in  this  parish  until  his 
resignation  of  the  pastorate  of  St.  John's  Church,  which  took 
effect  at  Easter  in  1824.  After  this  he  confined  his  labors 
regularly  to  the  church  in  Fairfield,  but  did  not  long  survive 
the  change,  for  he  died  February  27,  1825,  and  was  buried 
under  the  chancel  of  the  old  church  in  Mill  Plain,  Fairfield, 
where  he  had  ministered  so  many  years,  and  a  marble  tablet 
was  provided  by  the  congregation  to  mark  his  resting  place, 
on  which,  among  other  things,  were  inscribed  the  date  of  his 
birth,  graduation,  admission  to  Holy  Orders,  and  the  words: 
"  being  the  first  clergyman  Episcopally  ordained  in  the  United 
States." 

The  remains  of  Mr.  Shelton  now  have  a  final  resting-place 
with  those  of  his  wife  and  two  of  his  daughters  in  Mountain 
Grove  Cemetery.  A  monumental  tablet  in  the  wall  of  St. 
John's  Church,  Bridgeport,  "  bears  an  affectionate  testimony 
to  his  Christian  worth  and  ministerial  fidelity."  Bishop 
Brownell  said  of  him  :  "  For  simplicity  of  character,  amiable 
manners,  unaffected  piety,  and  a  faithful  devotion  to  the 
duties  of  the  ministerial  office,  he  has  left  an  example  by 
which  all  his  surviving  brethren  may  profit,  and  which  few 
of  them  may  hope  to  surpass." 

His  widow  survived  him  thirteen  years,  being  an  intelli- 
gent and  devout  churchwoman,  who,  as  it  has  been  said,  "  lelt 
a  name  only  to  be  loved  and  honored  by  her  friends."  Two 
of  his  sons  entered  the  ministry.  George  Augustus  Shelton, 
the  younger,  was  a  graduate  of  Yale  College,  and  died  rector 
of  St.  James's  Church,  Newtown,  L.  I.,  in  1863.  The  other 
son,  William  Shelton,  D.D.,  succeeded  his  father  for  a  time 
in  Fairfield,  and  then  went  to  Buffalo,  where  for  more  than 
half  a  century  he  was  the  distinguished  rector  of  St.  Paul's 
Church,  the  oldest  parish  in  that  city.     Both  died  childless. 


626  History   of  Stratford. 

Hev,  Henry  H,.  Judah  in  1824  succeeded  the  Rev. 
Philo  Shelton  in  the  pastorate  of  St.  John's  Church,  and 
continued  therein  until  the  year  1833,  when  he  was  followed 
by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Gurdon  S.  Coit.  In  1836  the  third  church 
edifice  was  built,  located  at  the  southeast  corner  of  Broad 
and  Cannon  streets,  and  Dr.  Coit  served  the  parish  until  1861, 
when  he  resigned. 

Gurdon  SalfonsfaU  Coit,  D,D.f  was  born  in  New 
London,  Conn.,  October  28,  1808,  and  was  graduated  at  Yale 
College  in  1828,  and  became  rector  of  St.  John's  Church, 
Bridgeport,  in  October,  1833.  In  1836,  during  his  labors 
here,  the  third  edifice  of  worship  for  this  church  was  built 
on  the  corner  of  Broad  and  Cannon  streets,  a  stone  structure 
of  dignified  proportions  and  commodious  capacity.  It  is  still 
standing  but  occupied  for  other  purposes,  the  congregation 
having  removed  to  their  new  edifice  on  the  corner  of  Park 
and  Fairfiefd  avenue. 

Dr.  Coit  continued  rector  of  this  parish  with  much  suc- 
cess until  he  accepted  the  chaplaincy  of  Colonel  Berdan's 
regiment  of  sharp-shooters,  September  26,  1861.  After  the 
war  he  became  rector  at  Naugatuck  and  subsequently  at 
West  Haven.     He  died  in  Southport,  Conn.,  Nov.  10,  1869. 

In  1861  Dr.  Coit  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  Junius  M. 
Willey,  whose  brief  rectorship  was  terminated  by  his  untimely 
death  on  April  7,  1866,  This  is  the  only  instance  in  the  long 
history  of  the  parish  in  which  its  members  have  been  called 
to  follow  the  remains  of  one  who  while  yet  their  official  head 
had  been  summoned  from  the  labor  of  earth  to  the  rest  of  the 
blessed. 

Mev.  JEatOfi  W.  Maxcy,  D.D.f  became  the  pastor  of 
St.  John's  Church  at  Whit  Sunday,  1867,  and  continued  in  its 
service  until  his  resignation  took  effect  on  Easter,  1885.  Dur- 
ing his  labors  here  the  fourth  edifice  of  worship  for  this  parish 
was  erected,  being  located  at  the  corner  of  Park  and  Fairfield 
avenues,  which  was  occupied  by  the  congregation  the  first 
time  at  Easter  in  1875.  It  is  one  of  the  finest  edifices  in  the 
city  and  has  one  of  the  most  favorable  locations.  Dr.  Maxcy 
resigned   this  parish   after  eighteen  years  of  successful  and 


Bridgeport.  627 

most  constant  labors,  at  Easter,  1885,  ^nd  has  since  become 
the  rector  of  a  pleasant  and  prosperous  church  in  the  city  of 
Troy,  N.  Y. 


First  Congregational  Church  of  Bridgeport. 

This  was  originally  the  Stratfield  Church,  the  history  of 
which  until  1745  has  been  given  in  a  previous  part  of  this 
book.  The  Rev.  Samuel  Cooke,  the  pastor,  died  December 
2,  1747,  and  his  successor  was  Lyman  Hall. 

Mr,  Lyman  Rail  was  born  in  Wallingford,  April  12, 
1724,  and  graduated  at  Yale  College  in  1747.  He  studied 
theology  with  an  uncle  in  Cheshire,  and  was  ordained  in 
Stratfield,  September  20,  1749,  but  his  pastorate  was  short, 
closing  June  18,  175 1.  He  then  taught  school  in  Fairfield, 
studied  medicine  and  became  a  physician.  He  married.  May 
20,  1752,  Abigail,  the  accomplished  daughter  of  Thaddeus 
Barr.  She  died  July  8,  1753,  as  seen  by  the  inscription  on 
her  grave-stone.' 

Mr.  Hall  was  in  Fairfield  as  late  as  1757,  but  afterwards 
removed  to  the  State  of  Georgia,  and  early  in  1775  took  a 
seat  in  the  Continental  Congress  as  a  representative  of  that 
patriotic  people.  He  was  a  signer  of  the  Declaration  of 
Independence,  and  in  1783  was  the  first  Governor  of  that 
State.  He  died  October  19,  1790,  leaving  a  widow  but  no 
children.* 

^  "  Here  lies  buried  the  Body  of  Mrs.  Abigail  Hall,  wife  of  Lyman  Hall  M.A., 
Daughter  of  Thaddeus  Burr,  Esq^,  died  July  8*'\  1753,  Aged  24  Years. 

Modest,  yet  free,  with  innocence  adorned  ; 

To  please  and  win,  by  Art  and  Nature  formed  ; 

Benevolent  and  wise,  in  virtue  firm  ; 

Constant  in  Friendship,  in  Religion  warm  ; 

A  partner  tender,  unaffected,  kind  ; 

A  lovely  Form,  with  a  more  lovely  mind, — 

The  scene  of  Life  iho'  short  sh'  improved  so  well. 

No  charms  in  human  forms  could  more  excel  ; 

Christ's  Life  her  copy  ;  His  pure  law  her  Guide  ; 

Each  part  She  acted,  perfected,  and  dy'd." 

*  Sermon  by  the  Rev.  Charles  Ray  Palmer,  of  Bridgeport,  1876. 


628  History  of  Stratford. 

Hew  Hohevt  Hohs^  after  an  interval  of  two  years  and 
more,  succeeded  Mr.  Hall  in  the  pastorate  of  the  Stratfield 
Congregational  Church.  He  was  the  son  of  Irish  parents, 
but  a  native  of  this  country.  He  was  born  in  1726,  graduated 
at  Princeton  in  175 1,  and  ordained  pastor  here  November  28, 
1753,  which  position  he  filled  with  much  efficiency  and  suc- 
cess more  than  forty-two  years.  He  lived  on  the  old  stage 
road,  a  little  west  of  Church  Lane,  in  a  house  recently  taken 
down.  He  was  beyond  doubt  a  remarkable  man.  He  was 
six  feet  in  height  and  well  proportioned.  His  presence  was 
imposing,  and  his  ruffled  shirt,  wig,  and  cocked  hat  seemed 
peculiarly  in  keeping  with  it.  His  usual  dress  was  a  black 
suit  with  knee  breeches,  and  white  topped  boots.  He  was 
distinguished  for  his  classical  attainments  and  was  esteemed 
as  a  sound  theologian  ;  but  he  most  strongly  impressed  him- 
self upon  the  community  through  the  warmth  of  his  patriot- 
ism and  the  decisiveness  of  his  political  convictions.  He 
became  a  man  of  influence  on  the  patriotic  side  and  propor- 
tionally obnoxious  to  the  royalists.  At  the  outbreak  of  the 
Revolutionary  War  he  preached  on  the  text,  "  For  the  divis- 
ions of  Reuben  there  were  great  searchings  of  heart,"  in  a 
way  long  to  be  remembered.  A  company  of  soldiers,  raised 
to  join  the  invasion  of  Canada,  in  the  fall  of  1775,  mustered 
in  his  door  yard  and  was  commended  to  God  in  a  fervent 
prayer  by  him,  before  starting  on  their  expedition.  He  was  a 
steadfast  promoter  of  education  and  published  some  school 
books.  He  married,  first,  Mrs.  Sarah,  widow  of  Samuel 
Hawley,  December  18,  1753.  She  was  Sarah  Edwards  before 
marriage  to  Mr.  Hawley.  She  died  October  10,  1772.  Mr. 
Ross  married,  second,  Eulilia,  daughter  of  Ebenezer  and 
Elizabeth  (Williams)  Bartram,  of  Fairfield.  She  died  Decem- 
ber 9,  1785,  in  her  49th  year,  being  much  esteemed  by  the 
people.  Mr.  Ross  married  in  1786,  Sarah,  daughter  of  Rev. 
Jonathan  Merrick,  of  North  Branford.  She  died  August  29, 
1799,  leaving  a  son,  Merrick,  who  died  September  11,  1799. 
By  his  first  wife  he  had  a  son  and  daughter.  The  son,  while 
a  lad,  was  drowned  in  his  father's  well,  but  the  daughter, 
Sarah,  married  Eliphalet  Jennings,  and  her  descendants  are 


*  Sermon  by  the  Rev.  Charles  Ray  Palmer,  of  Bridgeport,  1876. 


Bridgeport.  629 

still  living-.     Another  son,  of  the  third  marriage,  survived  his 
father  only  a  few  days. 

Mr.  Ross  resigned  his  charge  April  30,  1796,  and  died 
August  29,  1799,  of  a  fever,  and  within  twenty-four  hours 
Mrs.  Ross  died  of  the  same  disease.  They  were  buried  in 
the  same  grave. 

The  long  period  covered  by  the  pastorates  of  Cook,  Hall, 
and  Ross — over  eighty  years — saw  many  changes  in  the  com- 
munity at  Stratfield.  The  inhabitants  were  no  longer  solely 
farmers  and  stock  growers,  but  had  developed,  before  the 
middle  of  the  century,  in  spite  of  all  discouragements,  a 
coasting  trade  of  quite  honorable  proportions,  and  a  race  of 
mariners  had  been  bred  to  the  ocean.  Mechanics  and  trades- 
men, in  a  new  form,  had  found  means  for  living-  in  Stratfield, 
and  thus  the  simple  uniformity  of  the  earlier  period  passed 
away.  Political  events,  too,  brought  about  changes.  The 
French  and  Indian  wars  introduced  no  foeman  within  the 
borders  of  Connecticut,  but  her  sons  did  yeoman  service  in 
the  struggles  of  sister  colonies.  The  Revolution,  as  is  well 
known,  laid  heavy  burdens  upon  the  Connecticut  coast,  and 
the  long  train  of  evils  which  accompanied  and  followed  it 
went  far  toward  ruining  every  interest  of  society.  The  last 
ten  or  twenty  years  of  Mr.  Ross's  ministry  were,  for  many 
reasons,  times  of  trial.  The  diseases,  vices,  sufferings,  losses, 
universal  insolvency,  which  came  with  or  were  entailed  by 
the  war,  made  darker  days  than  had  ever  been  seen  before. 
Good  morals  were  forsaken  and  godliness  decayed  to  a  dis- 
astrous extent.  The  difficulties,  depressions  and  straits  of 
the  church  during  this  time  must  have  tasked  even  so  ardent 
and  zealous  a  man  as  Mr.  Ross.  As  the  process  of  recuper- 
ation slowly  went  on,  another  change  in  the  community 
worked  important  results.  The  little  cluster  of  houses  and 
stores  which  acquired  the  name  of  Newfield,  on  the  shore  of 
the  harbor  and  in  the  vicinity  of  the  present  intersection  of 
State  and  Main  streets,  began  to  increase  in  importance,  and 
this  was  the  nucleus  of  the  future  town  and  city  of  Bridge- 
port, in  which  the  individuality  of  Stratfield  was  eventually 
to  be  lost. 

41 


630  History  of  Stratford. 

JRev,  Sainiiel  JBlatchford  was  the  successor  of  Mr. 
Ross  in  the  pastorate  of  the  Stratfield  Church.  He  was  the 
son  of  Henry  and  Mary  Blatchford,  and  born  in  Devonport, 
Devonshire,  England,  in  the  year  1767.  His  father's  family 
sympathised  with  the  American  cause  during  the  Revolution, 
and  he  was  often  employed  to  convey  means  of  relief  to 
American  prisoners  of  war  in  the  Mill  prison.  His  interest 
in  these  objects  of  his  friends'  bounty  led  him  to  an  early 
purpose  to  visit  this  country.  He  was  placed  at  a  boarding 
school  at  Willington,  in  Somersetshire,  and  afterwards  at 
Homerton  College,  near  London.  After  completing  his  stud- 
ies he  was  employed  as  assistant  minister,  and  in  November, 
1789,  he  was  ordained  pastor  at  Kingsbridge,  near  Dartmouth. 
He  married,  in  March,  1788,  Alicia,  daughter  of  Thomas 
Windeatt,  Esq.,  of  Bridgetown,  Totwas,  a  lady  admirably 
fitted  for  her  station,  and  spared  to  him  to  the  end  of  his  life. 
In  1791  Mr.  Blatchford  removed  to  Topsham,  near  Exeter, 
and  thence,  in  1795,  he  emigrated  to  America,  according  to 
his  long  cherished  purpose,  and  arrived  in  New  York  August 
ist  of  that  year.  He  preached  first  in  Bedford,  N.  Y. ;  then 
for  a  year  at  Greenfield  Hill,  succeeding  there  President 
Dwight. 

In  February,  1797,  he  was  invited  to  preach  in  the  Strat- 
field church  for  six  months,  with  the  view  of  a  settlement, 
which  he  afterwards  accepted,  and  he  was  installed  Novem- 
ber 22  of  the  same  year.  His  salary  being  inadequate,  he 
added  to  it  by  teaching  an  academy  for  boys.  He  lived  in  a 
house  now  numbered  644  Main  street,  and  his  academy  was 
just  below,  on  land  now  owned  by  Thomas  Calef.  He  lab- 
ored here  until  March  20,  1804,  when  he  resigned  to  accept  a 
call  to  Lansingburgh,  N.  Y.,  where  he  continued  until  his 
death,  March  17,  1828.  He  was  honored  with  the  degree  of 
D.D.  by  Williams  College  in  1808.  He  had  seventeen  chil- 
dren, of  whom  ten  survived  him.  While  here  he  had  not 
developed  his  best  powers,  for,  being  unfamiliar  with  Amer- 
ican life,  scantily  supported,  burdened  with  work  and  care  in 
his  double  duties,  he  could  not  do  justice  to  himself.  But  he 
became  an  able,  prominent  man.  As  a  preacher  he  was 
instructive  in  matter,  unaffected  and  impressive  in  manner. 


Bridgeport.  63 1 

He  was  well  read  in  theolog-y,  and  decided  in  his  convictions. 
He  possessed  generous  sympathies  and  was  interested  in  all 
enterprises  of  beneficence,  especially  in  the  education  of 
young  men.  His  labors  here  were  of  great  service  to  the 
church,  and  only  too  soon  terminated.  The  church  at  his 
coming  was  low  as  to  prosperity,  but  he  gave  it  a  rising 
impulse.  A  revival  in  1800  added  a  number  of  persons  to 
the  membership,  and  in  1803  a  movement  to  build  a  new 
house  of  worship  was  successfully  inaugurated.  He  died 
December  2,  1846, 

A  story  is  told  of  Mr.  Blatchford's  ready  and  appropriate 
use  of  language  in  rendering  thanks  at  the  table  of  William 
Worden.  Mr.  VVorden  had  been  to  short  beach  and  just 
returned  with  some  fine  clams,  which  Mrs.  Worden  had 
hastily  cooked,  as  Mr,  Blatchford  happened  to  call.  A  very 
plain  table  was  set  with  bread,  butter,  milk,  tea  and  the 
clams,  and  Mr,  Blatchford  was  invited  to  share  the  meal  and 
ask  a  blessing,  which  proposition  he  accepted,  and  in  giving 
thanks  said:  "O  Lord,  thou  hast  cast  our  lines  in  pleasant 
places  and  given  us  a  goodly  heritage.  Thou  feedest  us  with 
the  finest  of  the  wheat  and  givest  us  the  milk  of  kine.  Thou 
causest  us  to  suck  the  abundance  of  the  sea  and  treasures  hid 
in  the  sand." 

The  removal  of  the  Congregational  place  of  worship  was 
more  difficult  than  that  of  the  Episcopal.  The  movement 
originated  in  the  borough  and  was  wholly  voluntary,  and 
therefore  the  records  of  the  inception  do  not  appear  on  the 
books  of  the  society. 

The  building  shown  in  the  accompanying  cut  as  the  First 
Congregational  Church  was  erected  and  inclosed  during  the 
year  1803.  On  June  11,  1804,  the  society  voted  to  agree  to 
hold  the  meetings  for  public  worship  half  the  time  in  Bridge- 
port, when  a  house  suitable  for  that  purpose  shall,  without 
expense  to  the  society,  be  so  far  completed  as  to  accommo- 
date such  meetings.     Ayes,  32;  nays,  19. 

A  meeting  of  the  society  was  warned  and  held  June  20, 
1808,  in  the  new  meeting  house,  and  it  was  voted  to  hold 
public  worship  there  two-thirds  of  the  time,  and  during  this 
year  the  change  was  made  entire. 


632 


History  of  Stratford. 


Methodist. 


Second 
congregatiomal. 


First  Congregational. 
A  View  of  the  Churches  of  Bridgeport  in  1835,  looking  from  the  South. 

A  list  of  pew  holders  in  the  old  church  at  this  time,  not 
including  pew  owners,  is  recorded,  namely :  Josiah  Lacey,  Dea. 
John  P.  Austin,  William  DeForest,  Lambert  Lockwood,  Lewis 
Sturges,  Silas  Sherman,  Ezra  Gregory,  Thomas  Woodward, 
Simon  Backus,  Benjamin  Wheeler,  Stephen  Burroughs,  Jr., 
Wilson  Hawley,  Samuel  Hawley,  Jr.,  Elijah  Burr,  Stephen 
Hull,  Abijah  Morehouse,  William  Benedict,  Wid.  Mary  Sher- 
man, Salmon  Hubbell,  Robert  Southward,  David  Sterling, 
Thomas  Gouge,  Jesse  Seeley,  Henry  May,  Abijah  Sherman, 
Samuel  Wordin,  Levi  Silliman,  Barzillai  Benjamin,  Anson 
Beardsley,  Samuel  Burr. 

In  1830  a  division  occurred  in  this  church  and  thirty-nine 
men  and  seventy-eight  women  were  dismissed  at  their  own 
request,  to  form  a  second  Congregational  church,  the  old  church 
giving  them  one-half  of  the  church  property  and  funds,  and 
also  contributing  two  thousand  dollars  toward  the  erection  of 
a  church  edifice.  This  new  edifice,  when  built,  being 
so  much  of  an  improvement  in  such  structures,  seems 
to  have  stimulated  enterprise,  for  the  Episcopal  Church 
was  enlarged  and  improved,  and  the    First    Congregational 


Bridgeport. 


633 


people   also   rebuilt   their  steeple  in  an  improved  form,  and 
reconstructed  the  pulpit  and  galleries.' 

This  building  was  occupied  until  1850,  when  it  gave  place 
to  the  present  edifice.  The  former  was  purchased  for  the  use 
of  Christ  Church  and  removed  upon  John  street,  at  the  site 
of  the  present  works  of  Nichols,  Peck  and  Co.,  where  it  was 
accidentally  destroyed  by  fire  in  1851. 

Mev,  Elijah  Waterman  was  the  successor  of  Mr. 
Blatchford.  He  was  -the  son  of  Nehemiah  and  Susannah 
(Isham)  Waterman,  and  born  in  Bozra,  Conn.,  November  28, 
1769;  was  graduated  at  Yale  College  in  1791,  and  engaged  in 
teaching,  intending  to  study  law,  but  changed  his  purpose, 
and  in  1792  became  a  student  under  Dr.  Dwight  at  Green- 


•  A  nearly  complete  list  of  pew  holders  in  the  First  Congregational  Church 
in  1S35. 

Officers  of  tlie  Church  :  Rev.  John  Blatchford,  pastor  ;  Isaac  Sherman,  David 
Sherwood,  and  Sylvanus  Sterling,  deacons  ;  Isaac  Sherman,  Hanford  Lyon,  and 
Joseph  Mott,  society's  committee;  Daniel  Sterling,  treasurer;  N.  S.  Wordin, 
clerk  ;  Nathaniel  Wade,  collector  ;  Sylvanus  Sterling,  salesman. 


Daniel  Thatcher, 
Alanson  Hamlin. 
Alexander  Hubbell, 
Daniel  Sterling, 
Hanford  L^on, 
Thomas  C.  Wordin, 
Samuel  Niles, 
Charles  B.  Hubbell. 
Doct.  James  E.  Beach, 
S3'lvanus  Sterling, 
David  Sterling, 
Joel  Thorp, 
Philo  C.  Wheeler, 
John  M.  Thompson, 
Daniel  Fayerweather, 
Charles  Hawley, 
Gideon  Thompson, 
Benjamin  Wheeler, 
Isaac  Sherman, 
Nathaniel  Wade, 
Legrand  Sterling, 
Levi  Wordin, 


Peui  holders. 
Alanson  Caswell, 
Coley  E.   Betts, 
James  Betts, 
Daniel  Curtis, 
Henry  N.  French, 
Gurdon  Hawley, 
Abijah  Heardsley, 
Wyllys  Stiilman, 
Alexander  Black, 
Nathaniel  Humiston, 
Cyrus  Botsford, 
Titus  C.  Mather, 
Joseph  Mott, 
Isaac  M.  Conklin, 
Capt.  E.  Wicks, 
David  Wheeler, 
David  Victory  Seeley, 
Joseph  Knapp, 
George  Wade, 
Ezra  Gregory, 
Joseph  P.  Sturges, 


Nichols  Beardsley, 
Lemuel  Coleman, 
William  R,  Bunnell, 
Thomas  Bartram, 
Ira  Peck, 
Joseph  C.  Lewis, 
David  Hubbell,  3d, 
Anson  Hawley, 
David  Sherwood, 
Robert  Milne, 
Wheeler  French,  Jr., 
Judson  Bray, 
Sturges  and  Smith, 
Isaac  E.  Beach, 
Stephen  Nichols, 
George  Kippen, 
Samuel  Porter, 
Elijah  C.  Spinning, 
Samuel  Wordin, 
Louisa  Bartlett, 
Eleazer  Edgerton. 


634  History  of  Stratford. 

field  Hill,  and  afterwards  with  Dr.  Jonathan  Edwards  at 
New  Haven.  In  April,  1794,  he  went  to  Windham  to  preach 
as  a  candidate,  and  the  next  October  was  ordained  pastor 
there  and  served  that  church  ten  years.  He  married,  No- 
vember 18,  1795,  Lucy,  daughter  of  Shubael  Abbe,  of  Wind- 
ham. She  was  born  May  21,  1778,  and  died  at  Bridgeport, 
Sunday  morning,  March  17,  1822.  He  married,  second, 
Lucy  Talcott,  of  Springfield,  Mass.,  in  October,  1823,  who 
survived  him. 

Mr.  Waterman's  ministry  was  terminated  at  Windham  in 
1804,  and  on  the  first  day  of  January,  1806,  he  was  installed 
pastor  of  the  church  in  Stratfield,  where  he  continued  until 
his  death.  He  built  and  resided  in  the  house  on  Golden  Hill 
street  now  owned  by  the  heirs  of  Hanford  Lyon.  In  person 
he  was  of  medium  height,  well  built,  and  had  the  appearance 
of  great  physical  strength,  and  possessed  a  fine  presence. 
He  was  active  in  his  habits,  p:)ssessed  a  high  spirit  and  a 
keen  sense  of  favors  and  injuries,  and  was  liable  to  sudden 
outbreaks  of  temper,  yet  placable.  He  was  a  vigorous  thinker 
and  his  manner  of  delivery  was  animated  and  effective.  He 
was  a  moderate  Calvinist,  leaning  strongly  to  the  New  School 
side  of  theology  in  his  day,  but  being  a  man  of  strong  com- 
mon sense  and  good  will  he  kept  his  hold  on  men  of  both 
sides,  and  averted  any  divisions  in  his  congregation.  In  1807 
his  new  church  edifice  was  completed,  built  by  subscription 
on  the  site  at  present  occupied  by  the  same  society.  At  first 
it  was  occupied  two  Sundays  out  of  three,  but  after  a  short 
time  every  Sunday.  The  borough  of  Bridgeport  was 
incorporated  in  1800,  with  two  hundred  and  fifty  inhabitants, 
and  by  a  rapid  growth  it  gradually  absorbed  the  dwellers  of 
the  more  ancient  settlement.  In  1821  the  town  of  Bridgeport 
was  erected  and  the  parish  of  Stratfield,  practically,  ceased  to 
exist.  The  church  soon  felt  the  effects  of  Mr.  Waterman's 
invigorating  administration.  August  6,  1806,  a  confession  of 
faith,  a  covenant,  and  standing  rules  were  adopted,  and  from 
that  time  the  half-way  covenant  was  discontinued.  In  1814 
a  Sunday-school  was  organized  by  Piatt  Benedict,  which  was 
the  first  in  the  town,  and  was  ultimately  taken  under  the  care 
of  the  church. 


Bridgeport.  63  5 

In  April,  1821,  the  church  purchased  the  land  where  the 
chapel  stands  for  a  "conference  room  and  academy,"  and  a 
building  was  erected  to  answer  both  purposes.  Mr.  Water- 
man instructed  a  number  of  students  in  theology  and  proposed 
to  establish  a  theological  school,  but  did  not  succeed  in  this 
purpose. 

When  Mr.  Waterman  was  installed  the  church  consisted 
of  forty-seven  members.  To  these  there  was  a  steady  growth, 
until  in  1815,  over  one  hundred  had  been  added,  mostly  on 
profession  ol  faith.  Then  came  a  powerful  revival  which 
resulted  in  eighty-four  additions.  Four  more  years  of  quiet 
growth  followed,  and  then  another  revival  season  came,  and 
seventy-seven  more  were  added  to  the  membership.  The 
whole  number  added  during  his  ministry  was  about  three 
hundred  and  sixty. 

In  1825,  while  Mr.  Waterman  was  on  a  visit  to  Spring- 
field, Mass.,  he  was  taken  ill  of  typhus  fever  and  died  there 
October  nth  of  that  year.  The  church  sent  a  committee  to 
bring  hither  his  remains  for  interment,  and  thus  ended  a 
useful  life  and  a  most  successful  ministry.' 

In  the  settlement  of  a  successor  a  difference  of  views 
arose  which  ripened  a  few  years  later.  The  candidates  were 
a  son  of  the  former  pastor,  the  Rev.  Thomas  T.  Waterman, 
and  the  Rev.  Franklin  Vail.  Mr.  Vail  was  finally  chosen,  but 
he  had  a  short  pastorate. 

Thomas  Tileston  Waterman,^  son  of  the  Rev.  Elijah 
Waterman  was  born  in  Windham,  Conn.,  September  24,  1801, 
and  four  years  after  removed  with  his  parents  to  Stratfield, 
and  was  prepared  for  college  by  his  father  and  at  Hartford, 
and  was  graduated  at  Yale  in  the  class  of  1822.  He  studied 
theology  with  his  father,  and  was  ordained  pastor  of  the 
Richmond  street  Congregational  Church,  of  Providence, 
R.  I.,  December  13,  1826.  In  1837  he  became  pastor  of  the 
Fifth  Presbyterian  Church,  of  Philadelphia,  where  he  con- 
tinued until  1843,  when  he  returned  to  Providence,  and  was 
installed  pastor  of  the  Fourth  Congregational  Church,  which 

■'  Sermon  of  the  Rev.  C.  Ray  Palmer. 
^  Fairfield  County  History,  i66. 


636  History  of  Stratford.    . 

soon  after  became  known  as  the  Free  Evangelical  Church. 
After  leaving  this  church  he  held  pastorates  in  the  Second 
Presbyterian  Church  at  Galena,  111.,  and  in  the  Congrega- 
tional Churches  at  Winona,  Minn.,  Danielsonville,  Conn., 
Spencer,  Mass.,  and  Monroe,  Conn. 

On  December  11,  1827,  Mr.  Waterman  married  Delia, 
daughter  of  Dann  Storrs,  a  native  of  Mansfield,  Conn.,  and 
they  had  children:  Thomas  S.,  Alfred  T.,  George  I.,  Lucy 
M.,  and  Edwin  S.  Waterman.  The  Rev.  Thomas  T.  Water- 
man died  in  Stratford,  Conn.,  August  7,  1S73,  aged  71  years. 

Mev,  Franklin  Y.  Vail  was  born  at  East  Hampton, 
L.  I.,  in  1797,  entered  Yale  College,  but  did  not  graduate, 
studied  theolog}^  in  New  York,  and  was  ordained  here  Octo- 
ber 4,  1826.  Neither  his  health  nor  his  tastes  fitted  him  for  a 
pastorate  as  well  as  for  what  became  his  life-work  afterwards 
— the  raising  of  funds  for  beneficent  enterprises.  He  was  for 
many  years  the  general  agent  of  the  American  Tract  Society, 
and  was  greatly  valued  by  that  institution.  He  afterwards 
was  the  principal  agent  in  founding  and  endowing  Lane 
Theological  Seminary  at  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  and  an  institution 
for  female  education  in  that  vicinity.  He  died  in  that  city 
June  23,  1868,  aged  seventy-one  years.  His  ministry  at 
Bridgeport  ended  July  8,  1828,  and  was  notable  for  a  revival 
season  in  the  winter  of  1827  and  8,  after  which  thirty  were 
added  to  the  church. 

In  the  settlement  of  a  successor  to  Mr.  Vail  a  decided 
difference  of  theological  sentiment  became  quite  prominent. 
Mr.  John  Blatchford,  as  a  candidate  in  1828,  was  understood 
to  be  decidedly  a  new  school  man,  and  the  more  conservative 
section  of  the  church  were  opposed  to  calling  him.  In  Janu- 
ary, 1829,  the  church  proved  to  be  nearly  equally  divided, 
and  the  call,  issued  by  a  majority  of  only  four,  Mr.  Blatchford 
declined.  It  proved  impossible  to  harmonize  the  conflicting 
elements,  and,  at  length,  December  28,  1829,  a  division  of  the 
church  was  resolved  upon.  On  January  24,  1830,  three  dea- 
cons, thirty-six  other  men,  and  sevent^'^-eight  women  were 
dismissed  from  the  church,  at  their  own  request,  to  form  a 
second  church,  the  old  church  giving  them  one-half  of  the 


Bridgeport.  637 

church  propert}' and  funds,  and  also  contributed  two  thousand 
dollars  toward  the  erection  of  a  church  edifice.  One  week 
later,  January  31,  1830,  those  abiding  in  the  old  church,  being 
one  hundred  and  seventy  in  number,  renewed  the  call  to  Mr, 
Blatchford.  which  he  promptly  accepted,  and  served  them 
until  July  26,  1836,  when  he  was  dismissed. 

Mev.  John  Blatchford^  son  of  the  Rev.  Samuel  Blatch- 
ford, D.D.,  a  former  pastor  of  this  church,  was  born  May  24, 
1799,  in  Stratfield,  graduated  at  Union  College  in  1820,  stud- 
ied theology  in  Princeton  Theological  Seminary,  and  was 
ordained  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  at  Pittstown, 
N.  Y.,  in  August,  1823.  He  was  installed  pastor  of  the  Pres- 
b3'terian  Church  in  Stillwater,  in  April,  1825,  and  on  February 
10,  1830,  he  was  installed  here.  After  being  dismissed  as 
above,  he  removed  to  the  West,  resided  successively  at  Jack- 
sonville and  Chicago,  111.,  and  at  Wheeling,  Va.  From  1841 
to  1844  he  was  connected  with  Marion  College,  the  latter 
part  of  the  period  as  president.  He  removed  thence  to  West 
Ely,  Mo.,  and  thence  to  Quincy  111.,  where  he  died  in  April, 
1855.  He  received  the  degree  of  D.D.  from  Marion  College 
in  1841.  He  possessed  a  bright,  ready  mind,  a  genial  spirit 
and  pleasing  manners.  His  general  appearance  was  attract- 
ive and  he  was  almost  any  where  an  acceptable  minister.  A 
very  interesting  revival  occurred  under  his  labors  here  in 
Bridgeport  in  1831,  which  added  eighty-six  to  the  church 
membership,  and  the  church  parted  with  him  reluctantly. 

J?ei*.  John  Woodhridge  followed  Mr.  Blatchford,  being 
installed  here  June  14,  1837,  and  continued  about  seventeen 
months  and  was  in  1839  installed  over  the  North  Church  in 
New  Hartford,  Conn, 

Rev,  John  H.  Hunter  succeeded  Dr.  Woodbridge, 
being  installed  here  February  27,  1839,  ^"d  continued  until 
November  13,  1845.  He  soon  after  went  west  to  look  after 
lands  left  him  by  his  father  and  was  not  again  settled  in  the 
ministry.  This  church  grew  under  his  ministry,  especially 
in  1844,  vvhen  twenty-five  members  were  added  at  one  time. 


638  History  of  Stratford. 

Mev,  Henjamin  St.  John  Patfe  was  installed  pastor 
here  February  10,  1847,  ^"^  continued  until  August  30,  1853. 
During  his  pastorate  here  the  present  house  of  worship  was 
erected.  The  old  house  was  removed  northward  a  short 
distance  and  occupied  while  building  the  new  one,  and  was 
used  by  this  society  for  public  worship  the  last  time,  April 
7,  1850.  It  was  purchased  for  the  use  of  Christ  Church, 
removed  to  a  new  site  on  John  street  west  of  Broad,  and  in 
1851  was  accidentally  destroyed  by  fire.' 

The  new  house  was  built  and  fitted  up  at  a  cost  of  about 
$25,000 — raised  by  subscription — the  first  paper  bearing  the 
date  June  i,  1848.  About  two-thirds  of  the  amount  was  in 
stock,  bearing  interest  at  the  rate  of  six  per  cent,  per  annum. 
Most  of  this — both  principal  and  interest — was  subsequently 
given  to  the  society.  Thomas  Dixon,  of  Stamford,  Conn., 
was  the  architect.  The  builders  were,  William  A.  Dowd, 
mason,  and  Beardsley  and  Daskam,  carpenters  and  joiners. 
The  building  committee  consisted  of  Freeman  C.  Bassett,  Ira 
Sherman,  Hanford  Lyon  and  Sherman  Hartwell.  The  two 
first  named  were  the  active  members  of  the  committee. 

This  edifice  was  dedicated  on  Thursday,  April  11,  1850, 
and  on  the  Sunday  following  was  opened  for  public  worship, 
and  is  well  represented  by  the  accompanying  engraving — in 
which  the  steeple  of  the  former  house,  on  its  temporary  site, 
also  appears.  Beyond  that  is  faintly  seen  the  steeple  of  the 
former  St.  John's  Church. 

In  1882  a  thorough  renovation  and  some  improvement  in 
the  interior  of  this  edifice  was  deemed  necessary  for  the  com- 
fort and  prosperity  of  the  church  and  society.  Accordingly 
the  side  galleries  were  removed,  the  walls,  ceiling  and  orna- 
mental plastering  repaired,  and  all  suitably  decorated.  Ele- 
gant stained-glass,  memorial  windows  were  furnished,  also 
two  new  furnaces,  new  carpets  and  cushions,  at  a  total  cost 
of  six  thousand  dollars. 


*  The  history  of  the  First  Congregational  Church  and  its  ministers  thus  far 
given  has  been  taken  largel)-  from  the  manuscript  of  the  Rev.  C.  R.  Palmer,  cheer- 
fully granted  for  this  purpose,  it  having  been  obtained  by  him  during  several 
years'  research  and  inquiry. 


THE    ITRST    CONGK^EGATIONAL    CHURCH,    EKECTEU    IN    184S. 


Bridgeport.  639 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  memorial  windows: 
Rev.  Charles  Chauncey,  pastor,  1695-1714. 
Rev.  Elijah  Waterman,  pastor,  1 806-1 825. 
Rev.  Samuel  Blatchford,  D.D.,  pastor,  1797-1804.  ) 
Rev.  John  Blatchford,  D.D.,  pastor,  1830-1836.      S 
Hanford  Lyon,  Rev.  Henry  Jones. 

Ira  Sherman.  \  Sherman  Hartwell.  \ 

James  C.  Loomis.  S  Sophia  Todd  Hartwell.  \ 

Dea.  Sylvanus  Sterling.  )  Frederick  W.  Parrott.  ) 

Thomas  C.  Wordin.         i  Henry  R.  Parrott.  i 

Dea.  Isaac  Sherman.  [  Vestibule  with  historical  dates. 

Dea.  Rowland  B.  Lacey.  \ 

A  List  of  the  Deacons  of  the  old  Stratfield  Church  of 
Christ,  which  is  now  the  First  Congregational  Church,  of 
Bridgeport : 

David  Sherman,  chosen  in  1695,  and  died  in  1753,  aged  88  years. 
Thomas  Hawley,  chosen  in  171 2,  and  died  in  1722,  aged  44  years. 
Lemuel  Sherwood,  chosen  in  1722,  and  died  in  1732. 
Joseph  Booth,  chosen  in  1733,  and  died  in  1763,  aged  74  years. 
Richard    Hubbell,  son  of  one  of    the   first    members   of   this 

church,  was  chosen  m   1738,  and   died   in   1788,  aged   92 

years.     He  gave  to  the  church  in  1738  the  silver  tankard 

now  in  use  in  the  communion  service,  on  which  his  name 

is  engraved. 
William   Bennett,  chosen  in  1754,  removed  to  North  Fairfield 

— now  Easton — in  1756,  and  died  in  1788,  aged  79  years. 
Henry  Rowland,  chosen  in  1756,  and  died  in  1775. 
Abel  Seeley,  chosen  in    1775,  served  until   1779,  and  died  in 

1810,  aged  84  years. 
Elijah   Hawley,  chosen  in   1776,  removed   from   the  town   in 

1790,  and  died  in  Ohio  in  1825,  aged  81  years. 
Seth  Seeley,  chosen  in   1779,  served  until  1806,  when,  at  his 

own  request,  he  was  excused  from  further  service,  and 

died  in  18 17,  aged  79  years. 
Seth  Sherman,  chosen  in  1806,  died  in  1807. 
Doct.  James  E.  Beach,  chosen  October  10,  1806,  and  died  in 

1838,  aged  y6  years.     He  gave  to  the  church  the  silver 

flagon  now  in  use  in  the  communion  service. 


640  History  of  Stratford. 

John  P.  Austin,  chosen  October  21,  1807,  served  until  1813, 

when  he  removed  from  the  place. 
William  DeForest,  chosen  in  1813,  was  dismissed  at  his  own 

request  with  others  to  form  the  Second  Congregational 

Church. 
Stephen   Hawley,  chosen  August  31,   1821,  and  dismissed  at 

his  own  request  for  the  same  purpose  as  Dea.  DeForest. 
Josiah  B.  Baldwin,  chosen  in   1821,  dismissed  the  same,  and 

for  the  same  purpose  as  Dea.  DeForest. 
Isaac  Sherman,  chosen  in  1830,  and  died  November  23,  1863, 

aged  75  years. 
Sylvanus  Sterling,   chosen    November  4,    1831,   and   died   in 

1848,  aged  61  years. 
David  Sherwood,  chosen  November  4,  1831,  and  died  in  1873, 

aged  94  years. 
Samuel  Beach,  M.D.,  chosen  May  4,  T849,  ^"*^^  died  May  6, 

1853,  a  victim  of  the  railroad  accident  at  Norwalk  bridge. 
Rowland  B.  Lacey,  chosen  August  30,  1850,  and  is  still  serving. 
John  W.  Hincks,  chosen  Sept.  i,  1854,  died  Feb.  6,  1875. 
Rev.  Henry  Jones,  chosen  Feb.  15,  1858,  died  Nov.  9,  1878. 
Elbert  E.  Hubbell,  chosen  February  25,  1858. 
Rev.  Guy  B.  Day,  chosen  April  i,  1874,  and  is  still  serving. 
Samuel  R.  Wilmot,  chosen  March,  1875,  and  is  still  serving. 
William  B.  Hincks,  chosen  March,  1875,  ^^^d  is  still  serving. 

The  communion  service  of  the  First  Congregational 
Church  is  of  solid  silver,  and  is  an  aggregation  of  gifts  dating 
from  an  early  period  in  the  history  of  the  church,  consisting 
of  various  antique  patterns  with  inscriptions,  highly  valued 
as  memorials  of  those  who  have  passed  on  to  the  communion 
of  a  higher  sphere.     The  list  contains  the  following: 

One  silver  tankard,  the  gift  of  Lieut.  Richard  Hubbell  to  the 

Church  of  Christ  in  Stratfield,  A.  D.  1738. 
One    silver   flagon,    presented    to   the    First    Congregational 

Church  in  Bridgeport  by  Doct.  James  E,  Beach,  in  1830. 
One  silver  cup,  a  gift  to  the  Church  of  Christ  in  Stratfield  by 

Matthew  Sherwood,  January,  1713. 
One  silver  cup,  presented  by  Mr.  John  Edwards  in  1746. 
One  silver  cup,  presented  to  the  First  Congregational  Church 

of  Bridgeport,  by  Salmon  Hubbell,  in  1829. 


Bridgeport.  641 

One  silver  cup,  presented  by  Isaac  Sherman  in  1836. 

One  silver  cup,  presented  by  Isaac  E.  Beach  in  1839. 

One  silver  cup,  presented  by  Mrs.  Sylvanus  Sterling  in  1839. 

One  silver  cup,  presented  by  Ira  Sherman  in  1839. 

One  silver  cup,  presented  by  Mrs.  Ellen  Porter  in  1843. 

Two  silver  cups,  not  inscribed. 

Three  silver  goblets,  presented  by  Mrs.  Ira  Sherman  in  1868. 

One  silver  plate,  presented  by  the  Rev.  Henry  Jones  in  1867. 

One  silver  plate,  presented  by  Hanford  Lyon  in  1867. 

One  silver  plate,  presented  by  Dea.  John  W".  Hincks  in  1867. 

One  silver  plate,  presented  by  Dea.  Rowland  B.  Lacey  in  1867. 

Hev.  Joseph  H,  Totvne  became  pastor  of  this,  the  First 
Congregational  Church  of  Bridgeport,  June  13,  1854,  and 
continued  here  until  June  29,  1858.  He  was  pastor  in  Salem 
Street  Church  in  Boston  about  1838,  when  he  was  joined  by  a 
portion  of  his  church  in  founding  the  Leyden  Chapel,  located 
in  the  same  vicinity.  This  enterprise  embraced  some  excel- 
lent men,  but  was  not  successful.  They  inaugurated  a  new 
departure  in  the  order  of  worship,  which  was  much  com- 
mented upon  at  the  time.  It  consisted  in  the  introduction  of 
responsive  reading  and  chants,  an  order  adopted  since  that 
day  by  manv  Congregational  churches  in  New  England. 
Mr.  Towne  was  an  able  and  very  interesting  preacher.  Dur- 
ing his  pastorate  the  congregations  were  large,  and  in  1857 
and  8  there  occurred  one  of  the  most  extensive  revivals  this 
church  has  ever  known. 

Hev,  Matson  Mier  Smith,  successor  to  Mr.  Towne, 
was  born  in  Harlem — now  New  York — April  4,  1826,  was 
graduated  at  Columbia  College,  N.  Y.,  in  1843,  ^"d  at  the 
Union  Theological  Seminary,  N.  Y.,  in  1847.  He  was  or- 
dained by  the  Presbytery  of  Geneva,  October  23,  1849,  *^^ 
pastor  of  the  church  in  Ovid,  N.  Y.,  and  in  the  same  year, 
November  14,  he  married  Mary  Stuart,  daughter  of  Norman 
White,  Esq.,  of  New  York  City,  where  she  was  born.  He 
resigned  his  charge  in  Ovid  March  21,  185 1,  to  accept  a  call 
to  the  Harvard  Church,  Brookline,  Mass.,  where  he  was 
installed  June  5,  1851.  There  he  labored  until  he  was  dis- 
missed November  23,   1858,  to  accept  a  call  to  this  church, 


642  History  of  Stratford. 

where  he  was  installed  January  5,  1859,  ''^"d  dismissed  June 
6,  1865.  On  March  6,  1866,  he  was  ordained  deacon  in  the 
Protestant  Episcopal  Church  by  Bishop  Eastburn,  at  Boston, 

Mass. 

Hev,  George  Michai'ds,  a  native  of  New  London,  was 
graduated  at  Yale  College  in  1840,  associate  pastor  for  a  time 
in  Summer  street  in  Boston,  after  that  was  pastor  in  Litch- 
field, Conn.,  from  which  place  he  came  to  this  church  and 
was  installed  January  3,  1866.  He  was  dismissed  August  24, 
1870,  and  died  October  20,  1870. 

Itei\  CJiarles  Hay  Palmer  was  born  in  New  Haven, 
May  2,  1834,  and  was  the  son  of  the  Rev.  Ray  Palmer,  D.D., 
and  Ann  Maria,  the  daughter  of  Marmaduke  VVaud,  Esq.,  ot 
New  York  City.  His  father  with  his  family  at  the  time 
occupied  the  school  building  on  the  lower  green  as  a  Young 
Ladies'  Institute.  In  the  autumn  of  that  year  he  removed 
eastward,  and  in  Ma3\  1835,  to  Bath,  Maine,  where  he  became 
pastor  and  continued  fifteen  and  a  half  years.  Charles  R. 
Palmer's  education  commenced  in  the  academy  at  Bath,  and 
in  September,  1849,  he  entered  Billings  Academy  at  Andover, 
Mass.,  in  the  middle  class,  where  he  was  graduated  in  185 1, 
and  entered  Yale  College.  He  was  graduated  at  Yale  in 
1855,  and  went  to  Mississippi  as  a  private  tutor  for  a  year  in 
the  family  of  John  Murdock,  Esq.,  a  planter.  In  the  autumn 
of  1856  he  entered  the  Andover  Theological  Seminary,  where 
he  graduated  in  1859.  ^"  August  29,  i860,  he  was  ordained 
pastor  of  the  Tabernacle  Church  of  Salem,  Mass.,  where  he 
labored  nearly  twelve  years.  In  1865  he  spent  seven  months 
in  Europe.  On  February  10,  1869,  he  married  Mary  Chapin, 
eldest  daughter  of  A.  S.  Barnes,  Esq.,  of  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. 
She  was  born  in  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  but  in  her  infancy  her 
parents  removed  to  Brooklyn,  where  she  was  educated. 

On  August  15,  1872,  Mr.  Palmer  commenced  his  pastoral 
labors  here,  and  on  the  nth  of  the  next  September  was 
installed  pastor  of  this  church  and  society.  In  1875  his 
health  failed  to  such  a  degree  that  he  signified  his  willingness 
to  resign  his  pastorate,  but  from  which  he  was  dissuaded. 
He  went  to  Europe,  spent  live  months  there,  returned  and 
the  next  March  resumed  his  labors. 


Bridgeport. 


643 


In  1880  he  again  went  to  Europe  for  rest  and  the  benefit 
of  his  health,  which  has  become  fully  established,  and  his 
labors  as  preacher  and  pastor  of  the  First  Congregational 
Church  at  the  present  time  are  highly  appreciated  and  cor- 
dially accepted. 

The  Second  Congreffafional  Cluiveli  of  Bridgeport 
has  been  earnestly  pursuing  the  object  for  which  it  was 
organized,  fifty-six  years ;  has  had  good  success  and  attained 
a  strong  position  in  the  community. 

On  the  i8th  of  March,  1880,  it  held  its  semi-centennial 
anniversary,  at  which  time  a  paper,  prepared  by  the  standing 
committee,  was  read,  in  connection  with  other  public  ad- 
dresses, from  which  the  following  history  of  the  church  is 
taken,  mostly  in  the  words  of  the  committee,  since  better 
could  not  easily  be  produced  :'" 

"This  church  was  organized  January  28,  1830,  by  one 
hundred  and  seventeen  persons" — thirty-nine  men  and  sev- 
enty-eight women — who  had  been  dismissed  for  the  purpose 


10  This  sketch  of 
S.  Hawley,  upon  the 

''  The  following 
in   1835  : 
Seth  B.  Jones, 
William  B.  Dyer, 
Burr  Knapp, 
Josiah  Hubbell, 
Victory  Curtis, 
Joseph  Wood, 
Fitch  Wheeler, 
Jesse  Sterling, 
Charles  Deforest, 
Munson  Hawley, 
x\bijah  Hawley, 
David  Perry, 
Stephen  Hawley, 
Edwin  B.  Gregory, 
R.  Thorborne, 
Rowell  Lewis, 
Mrs.  Wm.  Burr, 
David  Hubbell, 
Elliot  Morris, 


the  Second  Congregational  Church  was  prepared  by  Edmund 
request  of  the  committee. 

is  a  list  of  pew  holders  in  the  Second  Congregational  Church 


Sherwood  Sterling, 
George  Sterling, 
Wilson  Hawley, 
William  DeForest, 
Lockwood  DeForest, 
Bronson  Hawley, 
Charles  B.  Middlebrook, 
Edward  Burroughs, 
Harry  Judson, 
Josiah  B.  Baldwin, 
Nichols  Northrop, 
Ransom  C.  Canfield, 
Benjamin  DeForest, 
Mrs.  Talman  Perry, 
Edwin  Porter, 
James  Robinson, 
E.  C.  Warren, 
Bradley  Gould, 
Samuel  Morse, 


John  Brooks,  Jr., 
James  Jennings, 
Naihan  Baldwin, 
Samuel   Peet, 
Josiah  S.  Fayerweather, 
Josiah  B.  Hall, 
William  B.  Nash, 
Charles  Sherman, 
George  Wheeler, 
Daniel  B.  Oviatt, 

D.  Mallory, 
Zenas  R.  Mood)^ 
Benjamin  Pilgrim, 
Nathan  Shepard, 
Capt.  E.  Doane, 

E.  D.  Bull, 
John  Cogswell, 
William  Allis. 


644  History  of  Stratford. 

from  the  Stratfield — now  First  Congregational — Church  of 
this  city  ;  they  being  recognized  as  such  the  same  day  by  a 
council  of  ministers  convened  to  assist  in  its  organization  ; 
and  after  entering  into  church  covenant,  William  DeForest, 
Stephen  Hawley  and  Josiah  B.  Baldwin  were  chosen  dea- 
cons. Religious  services  were  temporarily  held  in  the  high 
school  house  on  State  street,  while  measures  were  at  once 
taken  for  the  erection  of  a  house  of  worship.  A  lot  on  the 
corner  of  Broad  and  Gilbert  streets,  where  the  church  now 
stands,  was  purchased,  and  its  first  edifice,  built  of  wood,  was 
erected  that  year.  It  cost  about  $5,000,  besides  the  founda- 
tion and  the  finishing  of  the  basement,  which  was  done  mainly 
by  the  members  of  the  church,  some  furnishing  materials, 
many  working  with  their  hands,  and  all  doing  something  to 
forward  the  work;  the  ladies,  as  well,  taking  an  active  inter- 
est in  everything  connected  with  the  prosperity  of  the  church. 
The  house  was  soon  completed,  and  on  November  30,  1830, 
it  was  dedicated  to  the  worship  of  God,  at  which  time  the 
church  numbered  one  hundred  and  twenty-eight  members. 
At  a  meeting  of  the  church  held  August  28,  1830,  the  Rev. 
Nathaniel  Hewit,  D.D.,  was  unanimously  invited  to  become 
its  pastor,  which  call  was  accepted  and  he  was  installed 
December  i,  1830,  Dr.  Woods,  of  Andover,  preaching  the 
sermon. 

"  During  Dr.  Hewit's  ministry  of  nearly  twenty-three 
years,  he  had  the  confidence  and  respect  of  his  church  and 
the  whole  community.  It  was  his  custom  to  preach  three 
times  on  the  Sabbath,  and  lecture  every  Thursday  evening. 
He  was  a  power  in  the  church  and  in  the  world,  and  it  is  our 
pleasure  to  bear  testimony  to  his  rare  endowments  and  many 
virtues,  and  to  render  our  humble  tribute  to  his  memory. 

"  In  the  summer  of  183 1  a  friend  of  the  cause  of  temper- 
ance offered  to  pay  Dr.  Hewit's  expenses  if  he  would  go  to 
England  and  present  the  cause  of  temperance  in  that  country. 
To  this  the  church  assented,  and  he  sailed  at  the  short  notice 
of  four  days.  During  his  absence  of  nearly  six  months  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Hermance  supplied  the  pulpit.  Protracted  meet- 
ings were  held,  and  for  a  considerable  time  prayer  meetings 
were  held  in  the  basement  of  the  old  church  in  the  morning 


SECOND   CONGREGATIONAL   CHURCH,   ERECTED   IN    1860  AND   61. 


Bridgeport.  645 

at  sunrise.  In  these  much  interest  was  taken  and  as  a  result 
forty-seven  were  added  to  this  church,  and  a  large  number  to 
the  First  Church. 

"  Dr.  Hewit  was  an  eloquent  man,  mighty  in  the  Scrip- 
tures, and  his  warnings  and  denunciations  against  intemper- 
ance and  moderate  drinking,  his  bold  and  heroic  rebuke  of 
fashionable  vice  and  immorality,  at  home  and  abroad,  made  a 
deep  impression  on  the  public  mind.  During  the  latter  part 
of  his  ministry  the  old  church  edifice  was  altered,  enlarp-ed 
and  repaired,  at  considerable  expense.  He  continued  pastor 
until  September  21,  1853,  when  he  was  dismissed,  and  on 
October  9,  seventy-eight  members  were,  at  their  own  re- 
quest, dismissed  to  organize  a  Presbyterian  church,  of  which 
Dr.  Hewit  became  pastor.  The  results  of  Dr.  Hewit's  minis- 
try are  here  presented  as  written  by  himself  on  the  records 
of  the  church.  'At  my  installation,  December  i,  1830,  there 
were  128  members  in  the  church.  Of  these  52  remain.  There 
have  been  added  by  profession,  153;  by  letter,  220.  Total, 
373.  Of  these  there  remain  238.  There  are  on  record  131 
infant  baptisms.  One  hundred  church  members  have  depart- 
ed this  life.  One  hundred  and  thirty  marriages  have  been 
solemnized  by  me.  The  amount  taken  up  for  charitable 
objects,  also  by  legacies,  subscriptions,  etc.,  is  at  least  $24,000, 
five  thousand  of  which  is  a  legacy  of  the  late  Alfred  Bishop 
to  the  American  Bible  Society,  and  one  thousand  a  recent 
donation  by  his  widow  to  found  a  permanent  scholarship  in 
the  Literary  and  Theological  Institute  at  East  Windsor.' 

"  The  second  pastor,  the  Rev.  Asahel  L.  Brooks,  was 
installed  January  25,  1854,  and  continued  thus  a  little  over 
two  years,  he  being  dismissed  March  11,  1856,  during  which 
time  there  was  a  gain  of  37  members.  His  removal  to  an- 
other field  of  labor  was  much  regretted  by  the  church  and 
society.  He  died  recently  at  the  residence  of  his  son  in  New 
Jersey. 

"  The  Rev.  Benjamin  L.  Swan  succeeded  Mr.  Brooks  as 
acting  pastor,  and  his  ministry  of  two  and  a  half  years  was 
very  acceptable  to  the  church  and  congregation.  He  left  the 
church  with  twenty-nine  members  more  than  when  he  began 
his  labors  with  it. 
42 


646  History  of  Stratford. 

"  The  fourth  pastor,  the  Rev.  Alexander  R.  Thompson, 
entered  upon  his  labors  March  i,  1859,  ^"d  continued  here 
for  three  years.  In  the  summer  of  i860  two  mission  Sunday 
schools  were  established,  through  the  instrumentality  of  Mr. 
Thompson,  one  in  East  Bridgeport  in  the  old  carriage  factory 
on  William  street,  which  proved  very  successful  and  which, 
it  is  believed,  resulted  finally  in  the  present  large  Congrega- 
tional Church  of  East  Bridgeport.  The  other  school  was 
among  the  colored  children  in  the  lower  part  of  the  city, 
formerly  called  "  Liberia."  This  was  successfully  sustained 
some  time. 

"  In  the  autumn  of  i860  the  old  church  was  removed  to  a 
vacant  lot  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  street  and  the  founda- 
tion for  the  present  edifice  was  laid.  Notwithstanding  the 
calamities  of  the  civil  war,  which  soon  began,  this  work  went 
forward  and  the  new  church  was  dedicated  January  20,  1862, 
the  sermon  being  preached  by  the  Rev.  R.  S.  Storrs,  D.D.,  of 
Brooklyn.  Mr.  Thompson's  able  and  earnest  preaching  filled 
the  old  and  the  new  house  with  attentive  listeners,  and  his 
many  labors  of  love  in  the  church  and  in  the  whole  commun- 
ity are  still  fresh  in  the  recollections  of  the  people." 

"  Mr.  Thompson  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  Francis 
Lobdell,  who  was  installed  in  April,  1863,  and  dismissed 
February,  1865.  During  his  labors,  in  February,  1864,  the 
Rev.  E.  P.  Hammond  held  services  with  this  church  and 
fifty-three  members  were  added.  The  same  year  a  heavy 
debt  on  the  church  and  society  was  removed  by  the  generous 
subscriptions  received. 

"  In  the  spring  the  Rev.  Daniel  Lord  was  invited  to 
become,  and  in  May,  1865,  was  installed  pastor  of  this  church 
and  society.  He  resigned  in  April,  1869,  to  accept  the  pas- 
torate of  a  church  in  Chicago.  He  left  the  church  in  a  pros- 
perous condition. 

"  The  next  pastor,  the  Rev.  Edwin  Johnson,  was  installed 
in  November,  1870.  His  labors  were  blessed  of  God,  and 
many  were  added  to  the  church.     He  resigned  his  charge  in 

^2  Some  special  account  of  a  number  of  men  who  went  from  this  church  in  the 
civil  war  will  be  found  in  the  war  record  of  Bridgeport. 


Bridgeport.  647 

November,  1876,  after  a  faithful  and  successful  ministry  of  six 
years. 

"The  present  pastor,  the  Rev.  R.  G.  S.  McNeille,  was 
installed  December  4,  1877,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Noble,  of  New 
Haven,  preaching  the  sermon.  The  following-  summer  our 
pastor  was  absent  about  four  months  on  a  tour  in  Europe,  and 
on  his  return  gave  two  courses  of  very  interesting  lectures 
on  Northern  Italy,  the  proceeds  being  for  the  ladies'  sewing 
society." 

In  the  summer  of  1879  this  church  edifice  was  repaired, 
with  considerable  alterations  and  adornments,  at  a  cost  of 
over  seven  thousand  dollars.  Alterations  and  improvements, 
also,  in  the  chapel  were  made  at  the  expense  and  under  the 
direction  of  the  ladies  of  the  church,  at  a  cost  of  over  three 
thousand  dollars. 

The  present  pastor  of  the  church  is  the  Rev.  R.  G.  S. 
McNeille,  and  the  following  have  been  or  are  deacons:  Wil- 
liam DeForest,  chosen  in  1830,  died  in  1853  ;  Stephen  Haw- 
ley,  chosen  in  1830,  resigned  in  1842;  Josiah  B.  Baldwin, 
chosen  in  1830,  resigned  in  1841  ;  Sherwood  Sterling,  chosen 
in  1833,  died  in  1869;  Harvey  Higby,  chosen  in  1841,  died 
May  29,  1875;  George  Sterling,  chosen  in  1847,  died  Septem- 
ber 8,  1871  ;  Thomas  Lord,  chosen  in  1867,  resigned  November 
4,  1870  ;  Edward  Sterling,  chosen  in  1867  ;  Edward  W.  Marsh, 
chosen    in    1867;   William    E.    Brown,    chosen    in    1867,    died 

November    15,    1873;    Joel    Blakeslee,   chosen  ;  Thomas 

Calef,  chosen  November  5,  1875 ;  Leonard  Wood,  chosen 
February  28,  1883,  died  February  6,  1886.  Superintendent 
of  the  Sunday  school,  Edward  W.  Marsh;  assistant  superin- 
tendents, A.  H.  Warner,  Miss  Sarah  L.  Baldwin. 

The  First  I^resbytericm  Church  of  Bridgeport  was 
constituted  October  16,  1853,  at  which  time  eighty-two  per- 
sons, who  had  previously  obtained  letters  of  dismissal  from 
the  Second  Congregational  Church,  entered  into  covenant 
and  resolved  to  connect  themselves  with  the  Presbytery  of 
New  York.  Dr.  Hewit,  who  had  received,  at  his  request, 
letters  of  dismissal  from  the  consociation,  was  admitted  to  the 
Presbytery  of  New  York,  October  19,  1853,  and  the  Presby- 


648  History  of  Stratford. 

tery  met  at  Bridgeport  the  same  month — October  31 — and 
took  the  church  under  its  care,  and  installed  Dr.  Hewit  its 
pastor.  In  i860  this  church  was  transferred  to  the  Presbytery 
of  Connecticut,  and  in  1870  to  the  Presbytery  of  Westchester, 
to  which  it  still  belongs.  The  services  of  installation  were  held 
in  the  Second  Congregational  Church  edifice.  At  the  instal- 
lation of  the  pastor  the  following  persons  were  ordained  and 
installed  ruling  elders:  Stephen  Hawley,  Thomas  Hawley, 
John  Brooks,  Henry  M.  Hine  and  Stiles  M.  Middlebrook. 

On  February  i  the  chapel  on  Myrtle  avenue  was  dedi- 
cated, having  cost  about  three  thousand  dollars.  The  church 
adjoining,  on  the  corner  of  Myrtle  avenue  and  West  Liberty 
street,  was  dedicated  August  8,  1855,  and  cost  $28,000.  The 
lot  on  which  the  church  and  chapel  stood  was  the  gift  of 
Capt.  John  Brooks  and  Capt.  Burr  Knapp. 

From  this  time  Dr.  Hewit  labored,  as  usual,  with  much 
success  until  failing  strength  made  it  necessary  that  he  should 
have  a  colleague,  and  hence  the  Rev.  H.  G.  Hinsdale,  from 
Germantown,  Pa.,  and  formerly  of  New  York  City,  was 
installed  pastor  October  28,  1862.  Upon  this,  or  soon  after, 
Dr.  Hewit  insisted  on  being  relieved  from  any  responsibility 
in  the  pulpit  except  by  invitation. 

Nathaniel  Hewit,  D,D.f  was  born  in  New  London,  Ct., 
August  28,  1788,  and  graduated  at  Yale  College  in  1808, 
licensed  to  preach  September  24,  181 1,  and  afterwards  studied 
theology  at  Andover.  He  was  installed,  in  his  first  charge, 
pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  at  Plattsburgh,  N.  Y.,  July 
5,  181 5.  The  severity  of  the  climate  necessitated  his  resigna- 
tion, and  he  was  dismissed  October  2,  1817,  and  on  the  14th 
of  the  next  January  was  installed  pastor  of  the  Congregational 
Church  at  Fairfield,  Conn.,  where  he  labored  ten  years  with 
much  success.  He  was  a  strong  advocate  of  temperance,  and 
in  1827  was  engaged  in  the  service  of  the  American  Temper- 
ance Society,  and  lectured  in  the  principal  cities  of  Connecti- 
cut, Rhode  Island,  New  York  and  Pennsylvania,  and  organized 
many  temperance  societies.  After  great  success  as  a  temper- 
ance lecturer  and  organizer  three  years,  he  was  installed  on 
December    i,    1830,   pastor   of    the    Second    Congregational 


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650  History  of  Stratford. 

of  carved  stone,  the  gift  of  the  children  of  the  Sunday  school. 
To  a  memorial  discourse  delivered  on  the  occasion  of  his 
funeral,  February  6,  1867,  by  Rev.  Lyman  H.  Atwater,  D.D., 
of  Princeton,  N.  J.,  we  are  indebted  for  much  of  the  foregoing 
sketch.     Of  him  it  may  be  well  said, — 

"  He  being  dead  yet  speaketh."''' 

In  the  autumn  of  1872  an  organ  was  placed  in  the  church 
at  an  expense  of  nearly  $5,000. 

In  1873  the  chapel  was  taken  down  and  a  new  one,  cost- 
ing $ii,ooa,  was  erected,  and  the  work  of  enlarging  the 
church  organ,  already  one  of  the  finest  in  New  England,  and 
putting  a  new  roof  on  the  church,  amounting  to  about  $6,000, 
was  also  accomplished. 

These  and  other  improvements  were  not  quite  completed 
when,  on  Wednesday  evening,  December  9,  1874,  both  church 
and  chapel,  with  all  their  contents,  were  destroyed  by  fire, 
probably  occasioned  by  the  careless  use  of  candles  by  a  work- 
man. The  burning  steeple,  227  feet  in  height,  was  a  brilliant 
spectacle.  The  loss  upon  the  buildings  and  their  contents 
amounted  to  $70,000,  the  insurance  being  $35,000.  Resolu- 
tions of  condolence  and  tenders  of  the  use  of  their  several 
edifices  were  made  by  most  of  the  other  churches  in  Bridge- 
port, but  the  church  preferred  to  occupy  the  opera  house, 
corner  of  State  and  Main  streets,  for  a  season.  Owing  to  the 
liberality  of  Capt.  Brooks  and  other  members  of  the  society, 
rebuilding  was  promptly  commenced.  The  old  site  was  sold 
and  the  present  one  on  the  corner  of  State  street  and  Myrtle 
avenue  was  purchased,  and  the  work  commenced  April  28, 
1875,  and  on  the  12th  of  October,  1876,  the  new  church  was 
dedicated,  it  having  cost,  including  chapel,  organ  and  furni- 
ture, about  $94,000.  With  the  new  and  advantageous  facili- 
ties the  people  were  encouraged  and  the  work  of  the  church 
prospered. 

In  October,  1877,  Mr.  Hinsdale  was  dismissed  by  the 
Presbytery  to  accept  a  call  to  the  pastorate  of  the  Presbyte- 
rian Church  at  Princeton,  N.  J.  He  was  succeeded  February 
14,   1878,  by  the  Rev.  H.  A.  Davenport,  who  is  at  present  a 

'^  From  a  historical  sermon  by  the  Rev.  Horace  G.  Hinsdale. 


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Bridgeport.  651 

successful  pastor  of  the  church.  The  late  Mrs.  Mary  Bishop 
was  one  of  the  most  liberal  benefactors  of  this  church,  having 
subscribed  largely  to  build  it  and  also  to  cancel  the  debt 
incurred  in  its  erection. 

Ruling  Elders  in  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  : 

Stephen  Hawley,  ordained  October  31,  1853,  died  November 
4,  1861. 

Thomas  Hawley,  ordained  October  31,  1853,  dismissed  Octo- 
ber 26,  1 86 1. 

John  Brooks,  ordained  October  31,  1853,  died  December  7, 
1881. 

Stiles  M.  Middlebrook,  ordained  October  31,  1853,  dismissed 
February  10,  1878. 

Henry  M.  Hine,  ordained  October  31,  1853,  dismissed  in  June, 
1879. 

Egbert  Marsh,  elected  in  April,  i860,  dismissed  February  10, 
1878. 

David  F,  Hollister,  elected  in  April,  i860. 

Alexander  Wheeler,  elected  December,  1878. 

Alexander  Lane,  elected  December,  1878. 

Richard  H.  Townsend,  elected  December,  1878. 

Mev,  Henry  Adolplitis  Daveiipovt  is  a  native  of 
Stamford,  Conn.,  and  descended  in  a  direct  line  from  the 
first  minister  at  New  Haven.  He  was  educated  at  VVilliston 
Seminary,  Amherst  College,  Mass.,  and  the  Union  Theolog- 
ical Seminary  of  New  York  City,  a  part  of  which  time 
he  was  engaged  in  teaching.  He  was  ordained  in  June, 
1873,  and  preached  four  and  a  half  years  in  a  chapel  of  the 
Fifth  Avenue  Reformed  Church  of  New  York  City.  He  was 
installed  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  Bridgeport 
Februar}^  14,  1878,  and  is  serving  this  parish  at  present,  as 
also  heretofore,  with  much  credit  and  faithfulness.  The 
membership  of  this  church  numbers  300,  and  the  Sunday 
school  350. 

The  German  Reformed  Church  was  organized  Octo- 
ber I,  i860,  the  Rev.  Andrew  Schroeder  being  pastor  from 
i860  to  1864.     In  1868  the  church  was  reorganized,  having 


652  History  of  Stratford. 

for  their  pastor  the  Rev.  Caspar  Brunner,  who  still  continues 
in  that  office  with  good  success.  In  the  same  year  the  society 
purchased  the  Polanna  Chapel,  standing  on  State  street, 
nearly  opposite  Myrtle  avenue,  which  they  occupied  until 
the  beginning  of  the  year  1883,  when  they  sold  this  property, 
purchased  another  site  on  Congress  street  near  Main,  running 
through  to  Chapel  street,  and  built  upon  it  a  church  edifice 
and  parsonage,  both  of  brick,  at  an  expense  of  about  $20,000. 
The  membership  numbers  about  150,  having  made  good  pro- 
gress during  the  short  time  since  their  organization. 

Christ  Church  (Episcopal). — The  call  for  the  first 
meeting  of  "  persons  interested  in  the  formation  of  a  new 
parish  in  this  city,"  was  read  by  the  rector  of  St.  John's 
Church  August  3,  1850,  and  a  meeting  of  such  persons  was 
appointed  for  Tuesday  evening,  August  6,  at  the  vestry  room 
of  St.  John's  Church.  A  meeting  was  holden  at  that  time 
and  place,  at  which  Charles  Bostwick  presided  and  John  S. 
Smith  was  secretary.  At  a  meeting  holden  August  13,  1850, 
a  resolution  was  passed  "  that  a  Parish  of  the  Protestant 
Episcopal  Church  be  formed,"  and  the  name  "  Parish  of 
Christ  Church"  was  formally  adopted.  On  August  16,  1850, 
the  parish  organized  by  the  election  of  the  following  officers: 
Senior  Warden,  Charles  Bostwick;  Junior  Warden,  Russell 
Tomlinson  ;  Vestry,  Charles  B.  Ferguson,  Chauncey  M.  Hatch, 
Charles  M.  Booth,  Samuel  Stratton,  Aaron  T.  Beardsley, 
Philip  B.  Segee  ;  Treasurer,  Henry  Shelton ;  Clerk,  John  S. 
Smith. 

The  first  rector  was  the  Rev.  J.  Howard  Smith,  who  was 
called  November  7,  1850,  and  who  was  rector  till  April,  1854. 
During  this  time  the  land  was  bought  for  the  present  church 
on  Courtland  street,  the  corner  stone  of  which  was  laid  on 
Good  Friday,  April  9,  1852.  The  building  committee  were 
Stephen  Tomlinson,  S.  B.  Fergurson,  and  Aaron  T.  Beardsley. 
The  church  edifice  was  completed  in  1853,  and  was  consecra- 
ted by  Bishop  Thomas  Church  Brownell,  on  the  21st  day  of 
April  of  that  year.  It  is  built  of  brown  stone,  and  cost  about 
$32,000. 

The  rectors  succeeding  Mr.  Smith  have  been  as  follows : 


Bridgeport,  653 

the  Rev.  William  Preston,  1854-1856;  Rev.  George  E.  Thrall, 
1856-1859;  Rev.  L.  W.  Bancroft,  1860-1861  ;  Rev.  Henry  M. 
Stewart,  1861-1863  ;  Rev.  John  Falkner  Blake — subsequently 
John  Blake  Falkner,  1863-1870;  Rev.  John  J.  Harrison,  April 
12,  1870-November  28,  1870;  Rev.  N.  L.  Briggs,  1871-1875; 
Rev.  Dr.  H.  N.  Powers,  1875-1885  ;  Rev.  Beverly  E.  Warner, 
1885,  present  incumbent.  During  its  existence  the  following 
have  at  different  times  been  Wardens  of  the  church  :  Charles 
Bostwick,*  S.  B.  Fergurson,*  Russell  Toralinson,*  P.  H. 
Skidmore,  S.  S.  Clapp,*  Clapp  Spooner,  L.  W.  Clark,  Daniel 
Hatch,*  George  C.  Waldo,  William  H.  Noble,  George  Hun- 
ger. Those  marked  with  an  asterisk  are  deceased.  The 
Parish  Clerks  have  been  :  John  S.  Smith,  R.  T.  Clark,  Robert 
C.  Booth,  John  S.  Beers  (eight  3'ears),  J.  B.  Hay,  M.  H.  Tom- 
linson,  Edwin  Hurd,  D.  W.  Kissam,  L.  M.  Segee  (five  years), 
S.  R.  Tomlinson,  Charles  W.  McCord.  The  church  chapel, 
in  the  rear  of  the  church,  was  erected  in  1867  at  a  cost  of 
about  nine  thousand  dollars.  During  the  rectorship  of  the 
Rev.  M.  Briggs  the  brick  block  on  Courtland  street  opposite 
the  church,  and  in  which  was  the  residence  of  the  rector,  was 
burned,  and  many  of  the  parish  records  and  papers  were  lost. 
Among  these  was  the  roll  of  the  parish,  containing  upwards 
of  three  hundred  families.  At  the  parish  meeting  for  1885-6, 
held  on  April  9,  the  following  officers  were  elected  :  Senior 
Warden,  John  McCord  (Mr.  McCord  subsequently  declined 
and  William  H.  Noble  was  chosen  in  his  place);  Junior  War- 
den, George  Munger;  Vestry,  L.  W.  Clark,  George  C.  Waldo, 
S.  F.  Raymond,  H.  H.  Pyle,  Clapp  Spooner,  F.  M.  Wilson, 
C.  B.  Hotchkiss,  L.  N.  Van  Keuren,  A.  B.  Beers,  John 
McCord,  C.  F.  Wood,  S.  B.  Beardsley,  George  Richardson, 
P.  B.  Segee,  S.  W.  Ely,  R.  T.  Whiting,  S.  S.  Jarvis,  A.  J. 
Cable,  John  North,  C.  W.  McCord,  Blaise  Soules,  C.  S.  Lup- 
ton,  C.  R.  Brothwell,  A.  H.  Doolittle,  John  M.  Wheeler, 
H.  C.  Fairchild  ;  Treasurer,  L.  N.  Van  Keuren  ;  Clerk,  Charles 
W.  McCord. 

It  will  be  seen  that  but  one  of  these  gentlemen,  P.  B. 
Segee,  was  a  member  of  the  original  vestry  at  the  founding 
of  the  parish.  The  church,  in  point  of  ecclesiastical  polity, 
might  be  called  a  low,  broad  church,  and  its  membership  has 


654  History  of  Stratford. 

been  largely  drawn  from  the  liberal  portion  of  the  community. 
It  has  a  large  and  flourishing  Sunday  school,  which  has 
always  been  an  important  adjunct  to  its  work  and  a  source 
of  strength.  It  has  also  a  very  active  Ladies'  Aid  Society, 
which  is  constant  in  work  of  a  charitable  and  helpful  char- 
acter. Since  the  loss  of  the  parish  records  no  census  has 
been  taken  of  the  membership,  but  the  present  rector,  Mr. 
Warner,  is  engaged  in  compiling  one.  The  church  is  the 
most  centrally  located  Episcopal  church  in  Bridgeport  and 
the  parish  is  a  large  and  able  one. 

The  church  has  suffered  severely  by  death  in  the  last 
fifteen  years.  Beside  those  marked  above  among  its  wardens 
as  deceased,  there  have  died  of  its  prominent  members,  I.  H. 
Whiting,  Frederick  Wood,  Benjamin  Ray,  George  Keeler, 
and  Samuel  Titus. 

Horatio  Nelson  Powers^  D.Z>.,  was  born  in  Amenia, 
Duchess  Co.,  N.  Y.,  prepared  for  college  at  the  Amenia 
Seminary,  graduated  at  Union  College,  Schenectady,  studied 
theology  in  the  General  Theological  Seminary,  New  York, 
and  was  ordained  in  Trinity  Church,  New  York,  July  i,  1855. 
He  served  as  assistant  to  the  Rev.  Dr.  Samuel  Bowman,  St. 
James's,  Lancaster,  Pa.,  till  the  spring  of  1857,  when  he  mar- 
ried Clemence  Emma,  only  daughter  of  Prof.  Francis  Fauvel 
Gouraud,  of  the  University  of  France,  and  removed  to  Dav- 
enport, Iowa.  He  resided  there  as  rector  of  St.  Luke's 
Church,  and  afterwards  as  President  of  Griswold  College, 
till  the  fall  of  1868,  when  he  accepted  a  call  to  St.  John's 
Church,  Chicago,  where,  in  addition  to  his  ministerial  rela- 
tions, he  was  a  Regent  of  the  Chicago  University,  President 
of  the  Foundling's  Home,  Corresponding  Secretary  of  the 
Chicago  Literary  Club,  of  which  he  was  one  of  the  founders, 
and  a  lecturer  before  the  Athenaeum.  In  November,  1875,  he 
took  charge  of  Christ  Church,  Bridgeport.  His  connection 
with  this  parish  terminated  October,  1885.  In  Bridgeport 
he  was  president  and  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Scientific 
Society.  He  is  an  honorary  member  of  several  learned  bod- 
ies, and  a  Fellow  of  the  Clarendon  Historical  Society,  of 
Edinburgh,   Scotland.     Dr.   Powers   received   the   degree   of 


Bridgeport.  655 

D.D.  from  his  Alma  Mater  in  1867.  He  has  contributed, 
either  in  prose  or  verse,  to  most  of  the  prominent  periodicals 
in  the  country,  such  as  the  "Centur}-,"  "Harper's  Magazine," 
"  Lippincott's,"  "  International  Review,"  "  Literary  World," 
New  York  "Evening  Post,"  "  The  Independent,"  "Round 
Table,"  "  The  Critic,"  "  The  Chicago  Dial."  He  has  also 
been  the  American  contributor  to  "-LArt,''  the  great  art 
journal  of  France.  His  books  are  "  Through  the  Year,"  pub- 
lished by  Roberts  Brothers  ;  poems  "  Early  and  Late,"  Jan- 
sen,  McClurg  (S:  Co.;  and  "A  Brief  Biography  of  William 
Cullen  Bryant,"  Appleton  &  Co.  He  has  been  fortunate  in 
his  friendships;  Philip  Gilbert  Hamerton  dedicated  to  him 
his  beautiful  work,  "The  Unknown  River,"  and  presented 
him  with  two  of  his  admirable  oil  paintings — the  only  ones 
by  this  artist  and  critic  in  America.  He  was  on  intimate 
terms  with  Bryant  and  Bayard  Taylor.  Specimens  of  Dr. 
Powers'  poetry  are  found  in  nearly  all  the  important  collec- 
tions of  the  American  poets — Bryant's,  Longfellow's,  Epes 
Sargent's,  Stoddard's,  Piatt's,  F.  F.  Brown's,  etc. 

C  W,  deL,  KicholSf  candidate  for  Holy  Orders  from 
Christ  Church  parish,  is  connected,  through  his  father's  fam- 
ily, with  some  of  the  most  distinguished  Episcopal  clergymen 
of  the  diocese,  including  the  last  one  who  went  to  Scotland 
for  Orders  and  the  first  one  who  was  ordained  in  the  United 
States.  Mr.  Nichols  has  had  an  unusually  advantageous 
preparation  for  the  study  of  divinity.  He  graduated  from 
the  classical  department  of  Williston  Seminary,  Easthampton, 
Mass.,  in  1874,  with  high  honors.  Mr.  Nichols  was  afterwards 
bred  at  the  Johns  Hopkins  University,  besides  having  spent 
many  years  elsewhere  in  general  culture.  For  two  years  he 
was  instructor  in  metaphysics  and  English  literature  in  the 
preparatory  department  of  Seabury  Divinity  School,  under 
Bishop  Whipple,  at  Faribault,  Minnesota,  until  in  the  year 
1884  he  entered  the  General  Theological  Seminary  at  New 
York,  where  he  is  at  present  studying.  Mr.  Nichols  is  also 
familiar  with  philosophical  circles  in  various  parts  of  the 
country,  and  has  written  articles  on  philosophic,  historic 
and  literary  themes. 


656  History  of  Stratford. 

Trinity  Cliurch,,  Sridgepovt. — This  parish  was  organ- 
ized June  I,  1863,  and  was  admitted  into  union  with  the  Con- 
vention of  the  Diocese  of  Connecticut,  June  10,  1863.  A 
hall  on  the  second  floor  of  the  New  York  and  New  Haven 
Railroad  depot  was  quickly  and  tastefully  prepared  for  tera- 
*porary  occupancy  by  the  parish,  and  in  it  the  first  service 
was  held  on  Sunday,  June  14,  1863.  The  corner-stone  of  the 
church,  on  the  corner  of  Fairfield  avenue  and  Broad  street, 
was  laid  on  the  2d  of  November  in  the  same  year.  The 
edifice  was  finished  in  the  following  spring  and  early  sum- 
mer, services  began  to  be  held  in  it  Sunday,  July  3,  1864,  and 
it  was  consecrated  by  the  Right  Reverend  John  Williams, 
D.D.,  Assistant  Bishop  of  Connecticut,  on  Wednesday,  Nov- 
ember 2,  1864.  It  is  a  substantial  building  of  brown  stone 
from  the  Portland  quarries,  Gothic — of  the  early  English 
period — in  its  style  of  architecture,  and  has  a  seating  capacity 
of  six  hundred. 

The  parish  was  formed  by  members  from  St.  John's 
Church,  Bridgeport.  Sixty  families  took  part  in  its  organi- 
zation. Its  motive  was  this,  viz  :  a  desire  to  work  for  the 
Saviour's  glory  and  to  advance  His  Kingdom — a  Kingdom  of 
righteousness,  mercy,  truth,  honor  and  charity.  It  has  en- 
joyed nearly  a  quarter  of  a  century  of  unbroken  harmony  and 
of  quiet  and  steady  growth,  and  is  now  one  of  the  first  par- 
ishes in  the  Diocese.  It  has  had  thus  far  but  one  rector,  the 
Rev.  Sylvester  Clarke,  who  was  born  at  Newtown,  in  this 
county,  was  ordained  to  the  ministry  in  1858,  and  became 
rector  of  the  church  in  Oxford,  Conn.,  com.ing  from  that  par- 
ish to  Bridgeport  in  March,  1861.  Hon.  Jarratt  Morford  has 
been  the  Senior  Warden  of  this  parish  since  its  organization. 
Its  Junior  Wardens  have  been  as  follows  :  Ira  Gregory,  Esq.,* 
1863-1883,  Hon.  E.  B.  Goodsell,*  1883-1884,  Hon.  D.  N. 
Morgan,    1885,  now  serving. 

Trinity   lleinorial    Chnrchf    West   Stratford,  is   a 

mission  of  Trinity  Church,  Bridgeport.  On  the  20th  of 
September,  1871,  the  first  of  a  series  of  Wednesday  evening 
services  was  held  at  the  residence  of  Silas  Scofield,  Esq., 
Newfield  district.  On  the  following  Sunday,  September  24, 
in  the  common  school  house  of  the  same  district,  a  Sunday 


Bridgeport.  657 

school  was  begun.  The  corner-stone  of  a  chapel  was  laid  by 
Bishop  Williams,  November  29,  1871.  This  building  was  fin- 
ished in  the  May  succeeding.  It  is  of  wood,  cost  about  $6,000, 
and  will  seat  nearly  300  persons.  The  first  service  in  it  was 
that  of  the  holy  communion  on  Sunday  morning  (Whit  Sun- 
day), May  19,  1872.  It  is  a  memorial  of  the  Rev.  Gurdon 
Saltonstall  Coit,  D.D.,  twenty-eight  years  rector  of  St.  John's 
Church,  Bridgeport.  At  the  present  time  about  40  families 
are  connected  with  this  mission,  and  it  has  an  interesting 
Sunday  school  of  85  members. 

The  Church  of  the  Nativity  (Episcopal),  a  very  pic- 
turesque stone  building  located  on  Sylvan  avenue  and  Carson 
street,  was  erected  mainly  at  the  expense  of  the  Rev.  E.  F. 
Bishop,  of  Bridgeport,  with  some  assistance  from  Joseph 
Richardson,  of  North  Bridgeport.  Previous  to  this  a  mis- 
sion school  had  been  maintained  by  members  of  St.  John's 
Church,  Bridgeport,  in  a  small  building  belonging  to  the 
woolen  mills,  then  under  the  proprietorship  of  Nathaniel 
Green.  E.  F.  Bishop  officiated  as  lay  reader,  under  the 
direction  of  the  rector  of  St.  John's  Church,  the  Rev.  Gurdon 
S.  Coit,  from  the  time  he  was  licensed  to  that  office  by  the 
Rt.  Rev.  Thomas  C.  Brownell,  Bishop  of  Connecticut,  Nov- 
ember 21,  1856. 

This  church  was  organized  June  4,  1856,  the  persons 
present  being  Mr.  Bishop,  Joseph  Richardson,  Eli  Thompson, 
Ira  Gregory,  John  Hurd,  William  M.  Hubbell,  and  Henry 
M.  Sherman,  all  laymen  of  St.  John's  Church.  The  sittings 
have  always  been  free,  and  the  service  choral.  The  services 
have  been  conducted  much  of  the  time  by  Mr.  Bishop  himself. 
Rev.  Gurdon  S.  Coit,  D.D.,  held  the  rectorship  until  1863  or 
4.  Mr.  Bishop,  having  been  ordained  deacon  May  21,  i860, 
and  priest  September  22,  1863,  by  the  Rt.  Rev.  John  Wil- 
liams, assistant  bishop  of  the  diocese,  was  elected  to  the  rec- 
torship, being  assisted  at  various  times  by  the  Rev.  H.  C. 
Stowell,  the  Rev.  Charles  H.  W.  Stocking,  D.D.,  the  Rev. 
O.  L.  Prescott,  the  Rev.  Joseph  W.  Hill,  until  1872,  when  the 
Rev.  Henry  Darby  was  elected  rector  and  held  it,  nominally, 
until  1884,  though  much  of  the  time  he  was  absent  from  the 
charge.     The  services  were  carried  on  during  this  time  partly 


658  History  of  Stratford. 

by  the  priests  of  St.  John  the  Evangelist,  with  which  society 
he  was  at  first  connected  ;  then  by  the  Rev.  D.  Lounsbury, 
and  Lewis  W.  Wells,  D.D.  Mr.  Bishop  frequently  officiated 
here  until  near  the  time  of  his  decease,  December  7,  1883. 

A  choral  service  in  this  part  of  the  country,  at  the  time 
it  was  started  in  this  place,  was  a  new  thing  and  called  forth 
much  comment. 

On  the  day  of  the  consecration  of  this  church  the  bishop 
and  clergy  having  returned  to  dine  with  Mr.  Bishop  at  his 
home,  were  listening  to  the  amusing  incident  which  was 
being  related  by  some  one  at  the  table,  that  an  owl  had 
obtained  an  entrance  into  the  church  in  some  way  and  lodged 
itself  among  the  beams  so  securely  that  it  required  much 
trouble  to  eject  it  before  the  service  began.  Much  merri- 
ment was  excited  by  Mr.  Bishop's  mother  (who  was  a  Presby- 
terian) pithily  remarking  that  "  Perhaps  it  came  in  to  make 
the  responses." 

The  First  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  of  Bridge- 
port.— In  1784  William  Black,  a  preacher  of  the  Methodist 
church  in  Nova  Scotia,  visited  the  United  States  for  the 
purpose  of  consulting  Dr.  Coke  and  procuring  assistance. 
He  traveled  by  way  of  Boston,  Mass.,  where  he  preached 
twice.  He  met  Dr.  Coke  in  Maryland  and,  either  on  his  way 
thither  or  when  returning,  he  preached  several  times  in  the 
Congregational  Church  in  Stratfield,  then  standing  at  what  is 
the  corner  of  North  and  Park  avenues.  The  impression  made 
by  his  preaching  was  at  first  favorable,  but  upon  a  discovery 
of  his  Arminian  theology  he  was  pronounced  a  wolf  in  sheep's 
clothing.  In  one  sermon,  while  preaching,  he  was  interrupted 
by  the  pastor  of  the  church,  who  stamped  upon  the  floor  and 
declared  his  doctrine  to  be  damnable.'"  He  was  the  first 
Methodist  preacher  known  to  have  visited  the  State  of 
Connecticut  or  New  England.  There  is  evidence  that  his 
preaching  had  good  results,  for,  according  to  Rev.  Jesse  Lee 
(memoirs,  page  no),  a  desire  was  thereby  awakened  for  the 
ministrations  of  Methodism.  About  the  same  time,  or  soon 
after  a  number  of  persons  began  to  assemble  for  the  purpose 

'3  Rev.  Robert  Ross. 


Bridgeport.  659 

of  social  religious  exercises.  Among  those  who  thus  assem- 
bled were  a  Mrs.  Wells  and  a  Mrs.  Wheeler,  both  living  at 
the  south  end  of  Park  avenue,'^  then  called  Mutton  Lane. 

In  May,  1789,  a  Methodist  conference  was  held  in  the 
city  of  New  York,  where  Jesse  Lee,  the  pioneer  of  New 
England  Methodism,  was  appointed  to  the  Stamford  circuit, 
which  appears  to  have  included  the  greater  part  of  the  State 
lying  west  of  the  Connecticut  river.  On  the  17th  of  June, 
1789,  he  preached  his  first  sermon  in  the  State  under  a  tree 
at  Norwalk.'^  June  i8th  he  rode  to  Fairfield  and  preached  in 
the  Court  House  at  6  o'clock  in  the  evening  to  about  forty 
persons.  He  stopped  over  night  at  a  public  house  kept  by  a 
Mr.  Penfield.  The  next  morning  Mrs.  Penfield,  who  heard 
him  preach,  gave  him  a  note  of  introduction  to  her  sister, 
Mrs.  Wheeler  of  Park  avenue,  representing  her  as  interested 
in  the  subject  of  religion,  and  desiring  him  to  call  on  her. 

While  Mr.  Lee  was  approaching  the  place  Mrs.  Wells  was 
at  the  house  of  Mrs.  Wheeler  on  a  visit,  and  the  two  were  in 
conversation  upon  the  religious  interests  of  the  neighborhood. 
Just  at  the  moment  of  his  arrival  that  conversation  became 
a  point  of  extraordinary  interest.  Mrs.  Wells  told  Mrs. 
Wheeler  that  on  the  preceding  night  she  had  dreamed  that 
a  man  rode  up  to  a  house  where  she  was,  got  off  his  horse, 
took  his  saddle-bags  on  his  arm,  and,  walking  directly  into 
the  house,  said :  "  I  am  a  minister  of  the  Gospel  of  Jesus 
Christ,  and  am  come  to  preach  to  the  people  of  this  place. 
If  you  will  call  your  neighbors  together  1  will  preach  to 
them  to-night."  Then  Mrs.  Wells  said  she  retained  so  per- 
fect a  recollection  of  the  man's  face  and  general  appearance 
that  she  would  certainly  know  him  if  she  should  ever  see  him. 
While  she  was  yet  speaking  she  looked  out  the  window  and 
exclaimed,  "  Why,  there  is  the  man  now  !"  Mr.  Lee  rode  up, 
dismounted,  took  his  saddle-bags  on  his  arm,  entered  the 
house,  and  addressing  the  women,  said:  "  I  am  a  minister  of 

^•*  No.  3,  on  page  505. 

'^  "  The  Rev.  Cornelius  Cook  preached  the  first  Methodist  sermon  in  Norwalk, 
near  the  New  Canaan  parish  line,  in  1787  ;  the  Rev.  Jesse  Lee  preached  the  next 
sermon  on  the  17th  of  June,  1789,  in  the  highway,  near  the  centre  of  the  town." — 
Hall's  History  of  Norwalk,  lyo. 


66o  History  of  Stratford. 

the  Gospel  of  Jesus  Christ,  and  have  come  to  preach  to  the 
people  of  this  place.  If  you  will  call  your  neighbors  together 
I  will  preach  to  them  to-night."  Mrs.  Wells  was  so  deeply 
affected  as  to  be  scarcely  able  to  stand.  Mr.  Lee  was  wel- 
comed, the  neighbors  were  called  together,  Mr.  Lee  preached 
to  them,  and  tradition  says  three  conversions  was  the  result, 
and  that  two  of  them  were  Mrs.  Wells  and  Mrs.  Wheeler. 
This  service  was  held  in  the  old  yellow  house  on  the  south 
end  and  east  side  of  Park  avenue,  on  the  19th  of  June,  1789. 

After  visiting  other  places  in  the  State  Mr.  Lee  preached 
on  the  3d  of  July  at  the  house  of  Deacon  Elijah  Hawley,  at 
Stratfield,  and  on  the  5th  of  August  preached  again  at  the 
same  house,  though  in  the  latter  entry  in  his  journal  it  is  said 
to  have  been  at  Newfield.  The  house  is  still  standing  on  the 
northwest  corner  of  Thomas  and  Water  streets.  On  the  14th 
of  August  Mr.  Lee  was  again  in  this  vicinity  and  preached  at 
the  house  of  Mr.  Wells.  The  nucleus  of  the  first  Methodist 
society  in  this  neighborhood,  and,  it  is  believed,  the  first  in 
New  England,  consisted  of  a  class  organized  by  Mr.  Lee 
September  26,  1789,  in  a  house  which  stood  on  Toilsome 
Hill,  on  the  west  side  of  the  highway,  and  hence  in  Fairfield. 
The  three  persons  composing  the  class  were  Mrs.  Wells,  Miss 
Ruth  Hall  her  sister,  and  a  Mrs.  Risley.  These  all  died  in 
great  peace,  within  the  memory  of  persons  now  connected 
with  this  church. 

In  1790  Mr.  Lee  was  made  Presiding  Elder  of  the  New 
England  work,  but  at  that  time  the  districts  had  no  name, 
and  scarcely  any  limits.  The  name  of  the  circuit  including 
this  region  of  country  was  called  Fairfield,  and  it  extended 
to  several  townships.  Redding  being  one  of  them.  In  this 
neighborhood  preaching  was  held  on  week-day  evenings, 
somewhat  regularly,  at  the  four  following  places:  at  Stephen 
Wells',  on  Division  street,  at  widow  Nichols',  on  Pequonnock 
Green,  Ebenezer  Brown's,  on  Toilsome  Hill,  at  Father  Pen- 
field's,  on  Holland  Hill,  the  house  being  occupied  now,  or 
recently,  by  Lewis  Penfield.  In  1797  a  Methodist  Church 
was  built  on  Division  street  road  north  of  Toilsome  Hill  at 
the  corners  of  the  roads  about  three  miles  north  of  the  pres- 
ent North  avenue.  The  late  Dea.  David  Sherwood,  who  died 
January  24,   1873,  aged  94  years,  was  at  the  raising  of  this 


Bridgeport.  66l 

church,  being  then  eighteen  years  of  age.  This  statement 
was  made  by  Dea.  Sherwood  to  Dea.  R.  B.  Lacey  and  others, 
and  written  down  at  the  time  for  permanent  record.  After 
1797  preaching  was  held,  probabl}',  most  regularly  at  the  new 
meeting  house  on  Toilsome  Hill,  until  181 5.  During  this 
early  stage  of  this  church  the  Conference,  Circuit,  Presiding 
Elders,  and  Preachers  were: 

1790.  Jesse  Lee,  Presiding  Elder,  Fairfield  circuit;  John 
Bloodgood,  preacher. 

1791.  Nathaniel  B.  Mills  and  Aaron  Hunt,  preachers. 

1792.  Jacob  Brush,  P.  E. ;  Joshua  Taylor  and  Smith  Weeks, 
preachers. 

1793.  Thomas  Ware,  P.  E. ;  Aaron  Hunt  and  James  Coleman, 
preachers. 

1794.  George  Roberts,  P.  E. ;  Zebulon  Kankey  and  Nicholas 
Sneathan,  preachers. 

1795.  The  name  of  the  circuit  was  changed  to  Redding; 
George  Roberts  was  P.  E.,  and  Daniel  Dennison  and 
Timothy  Dewey,  preachers. 

1796.  There  were  two  P.  E's,  Freeborn  Garretson  and  Syl- 
vester Hutchinson,  dividmg  all  New  England  between 
them.  The  preachers  for  Redding  circuit  were  Elijah 
Woblsey  and  Robert  Leeds. 

1797  to  1800.  S.  Hutchinson,  P.  E. ;  preachers:  1797,  David 
Buck,  Augustus  Jocelyn  ;  1798,  William  Thatcher;  1799, 
David  Brown. 

1800.  F.  Garretson,  P.  E. ;  Augustus  Jocelyn,  preacher. 

1801.  The  ministers  began  to  give  names  to  the  districts; 
this  circuit  was  in  the  New  York  district;  F.  Garretson, 
P.  E. ;  S.  Marvin,  Isaac  Candee,  preachers. 

1802.  The  same  P.  E. ;  J.  Coleman  and  \.  Candee,  preachers. 

1803.  The  same  P.  E. ;  James  Campbell  and  N.  W.  Tompkins, 
preachers. 

1804  to  1807.  Wm.  Thatcher,  P.  E. ;  preachers:  1804,  P.  Mo- 
riarty  and  Sylvester  Foster;  1805,  P.  Moriarty  and  S. 
Mervvin  ;   1806,  Nathan  Felch  and  Oliver  Sj^kes. 

1807  to  1810.  Joseph  Crawford,  P.  E. ;  preachers:  1807,  J-  M. 
Smith  and   Zalmon   Lyon;    1808,  Noble  W.   Thomas,  J. 

43 


662  History  of  Stratford. 

Lyon;   1809,  Billy  Hibbard  and  1.  Candee  ;   1810,  Nathan 

Emory  and  John  Russell. 
181 1.  Redding  circuit  was  included  in  the  Rhinebeck  district. 

Wm.  Anson,  P.  E.,  two  years;  preachers:  A.  Hunt,  O. 

Sykes,  J.  Reynolds;  1812,  S.  Rowell,  G.  Lyon,  S.  Beach, 
1813  to  1817.  Nathan  Bangs,  P.  E. ;  preachers:  A.  Hunt  and 

Henry  Eames ;   1814,  E.  Washburn  and  Reuben  Harris; 

1815,  E.  Woolsey  and  R.  Harris;   1816,  S.  Bushnell  and 

John  Boyd. 

During  this  year  the  old  Congregational  meeting  house 
at  Pequonnock  was  purchased  for  use  by  the  Methodists,  and 
for  about  six  years  this  was  their  gathering  place  for  public 
worship,  the  services  by  the  conference  ministers  being  held 
on  week-day  evenings,  unless  some  services  were  held  on 
Sundays  at  the  old  meeting  house  at  the  corner  of  the  roads 
on  Toilsome  Hill.  During  the  year  1816  Benoni  English  and 
Elisha  P.  Jacobs,  who  were  not  members  of  the  conference, 
preached  on  Sundays  at  the  Pequonnock  house. 

1817.  For  the  first  time  Bridgeport  appears  in  the  conference 
minutes,  meaning  the  old  Pequonnock  church. 

1817  to  1821.  Ebenezer  Washburn,  P.  E. ;  preacher,  Aaron 
Hunt,  who  being  ill,  Cyrus  Silliman,  a  local  preacher, 
supplied;  1818,  Bridgeport  disappears  from  the  minutes, 
being  connected  with  Stratford  circuit,  Samuel  Bushnell, 
preacher;  1819,  S.  Merwin,  P.  E. ;  preachers:  Bela  Smith 
and  J.  Coleman. 

1822.  The  same  P.  E. ;  the  preachers  being  Laban  Clark  and 
Eli  Barnett.  The  Rev.  John  N.  Maffit,  the  revivalist, 
spent  a  portion  of  this  year  in  this  place,  and  from  this 
time  preaching  was  discontinued  in  the  old  meeting  house. 

1823.  Bridgeport  again  appears  on  the  minutes  with  Wm.  L 
Pease  as  preacher.  His  pastoral  care  did  not  extend 
beyond  the  township,  and  under  his  labors  the  first  Meth- 
odist church  within  the  city  limits  was  erected. 

1824.  Samuel  Luckey,  P.  E.  for  three  years;  the  preacher 
being  Humphrey  Humphreys. 

1825  and  6.  Bridgeport  was  again  connected  with  the  Red- 
ding circuit,  the  preachers  being  Marvin  Richardson, 
H.  Humphreys  and  F.  W.  Sizer. 


Bridgeport.  663 

1827.  Samuel  Ostrander,  P.  E. ;  preachers,  Henry  Stead  and 
John  Lovejoy. 

1828.  Bridgeport  was  again  connected  with  the  Stratford 
circuit. 

1829.  Laban  Clark,  P.  E. ;  the  preachers  were  J.  Lovejoy  and 
James  H.  Romer. 

1830  and  31.  The  preachers  were  H.  Bartlett  and  Charles 
Sherman. 

1832.  Heman  Bangs,  P.  E. ;  preachers:  S.  Martindale  and 
Laban  C.  Cheney. 

1833.  Preachers:  James  Youngs  and  J.  Tackerberry. 

1834.  Bridgeport  becomes  a  permanent  station  on  the  min- 
utes of  the  conference  ;  S.  Martindale,  P.  E.,  and  Davis 
Stocking  the  preacher. 

1835  and  6.  Wm.  Jewett,  P.  E.,  and  Charles  F.  Pelton  was  the 
preacher. 

1837.  Harmon  D.  Goslin  was  the  preacher,  but  becoming  ill, 
J.  W.  Lefevre  supplied  the  remaining  part  of  the  year. 

1838.  Daniel  Smith,  pastor,  and  Mr.  Goslin  died  and  was 
buried  here. 

1839.  Nicholas  White,  P.  E. ;  pastor,  Daniel  Smith. 

1840  to  1844.  Charles  VV.  Carpenter,  P.  E. ;  the  pastor  in  1840 
was  John  M.  Pease;  in  1841  and  2,  Salmon  C.  Perry,  and 
in  1843  ^"d  4»  John  L.  Gilder. 

1844  to  1848.  Laban  Clark,  P.  E. ;  pastors:  1845  ^nd  6,  James 
H.  Perry;   1847,  H.  Bangs. 

1848  to  1852.  Heman  Bangs,  P.  E. ;  pastor  in  1848  and  9, 
George  Brown.  At  the  session  of  the  general  conference 
held  in  1848  the  New  York  conference  was  divided,  and 
Bridgeport  lay  within  the  bounds  of  the  New  York  East 
conference,  and  during  the  second  year  of  Mr.  Brown's 
pastorate  the  present  church  was  erected.  It  is  a  very 
commodious  and  appropriate  edifice.  In  1850  John  B. 
Stratton  was  pastor,  and  in  185 1  and  2,  Edwin  L.  Janes. 

1852  and  3.  William  H.  Norris,  P.  E. ;  pastor  in  185;^  and  4, 
Thomas  G.  Osborn. 

1853  and  4.  E.  L.  Janes,  P.  E. ;  pastor  in  1855  and  6,  Charles 
Fletcher.  In  1856  Bridgeport  gives  name  to  a  district  in 
the  New  York  east  conference. 


664 


History  of  Stratford. 


1856  to  i860.  E.  E.  Griswold,  P.  E. ;  pastor  in   1857,  John  M. 

Reid,  and  in  1859,  William  F.  Collins. 
i860  to  1863.  William  C.  Hoyt,  P.  E. ;  pastor  in  i860  and  61, 

Albert  Nash.     During  the  pastorate  of  Mr.  Nash  there 

was  a  reunion  of  the   church,  at  which   time  the  debt, 

amounting  to  $8,000,  was  paid. 

The  following  items  of  history  are  compiled  from  a  sketch 
prepared,  and  read  on  that  occasion,  by  Mr.  Nash: 

"After  the  organization  of  the  first  class  in  1789,  I  am 
unable  to  give  any  satisfactory  account  of  the  members  of  the 
society  for  thirty-four  years.  It  is  probable  that  there  was  no 
register  kept  for  a  number  of  years,  and  that  for  several  years 
succeeding,  it  was  found  in  connection  with  Redding  circuit. 
Under  the  labors  of  Mr.  Maffit,  in  1822,  a  class  was  formed  in 
the  city  proper.  In  1823,  about  the  time  the  first  church  was 
erected  here,  we  have  a  register  of  the  persons  then  connected 
with  the  society.'* 


"  "  Nathaniel  Ruggles, 

local  preacher, 
Burr  Penfield, 
Stephen  Wells, 
Mary  Wells, 
Mar)'  Edwards, 
Julia  Ruggles, 
Silas  Turney, 
Polly  Turney, 
John  P.  McEwen, 
Harriet  McEvven, 
James  Penfield, 
Mary  Penfield, 
Anna  Turney. 
Anna  Wheeler, 
Phoebe  Nichols, 
Catharine  Nichols, 
Hannah  Penfield, 
John  W.  Beardsley, 
Betsey  Porter, 
Sarah  Burritt, 
Sophia  Plumb, 
Eliza  Cable, 
Harriet  Gould, 
Fanny  Middlebrook, 


Griswold  Odell, 
Elias  A.  Hall, 
Chauncy  Ward, 
William  Bardsley, 
Ezra  Morris, 
Stephen  Durand, 
Esther  Durand, 
Phoebe  Hawkins, 
Mary  Hildroup, 
Betsey  Downs, 
Catharine  Ufford, 
Mary  Ann  Hopkins, 
Samantha  Mosure, 
Sally  S.  Curtis, 
Charles  G.  Brisco, 
Charles  H.  Wakelee, 
Susan  Wakelee, 
Stiles  Nichols, 
Ebenezer  Brown, 
Sail)'  Green, 
Harpin  Blake, 
Harriet  Hubbell, 
Hannah  Morris, 
Mary  Baldwin, 
Eliza  Evitts, 


Ann  Cables, 
Mary  Ann  Patchin, 
William  Daggett, 
Ruth  Edwards, 
John  Beardsley, 
Marietta  Wells, 
Hannah  Blackman, 
Catharine  Witherill, 
Ruth  Hall, 
Alice  Hall. 
Sylvina  Booth, 
Sally  Brown, 
Patience  Mitchell, 
Ruth  Turney, 
Susannah  Tupler, 
William  L.  Peet, 
Seth  Turney, 
Maria  Nichols, 
Sally  Hubbell, 
John  Feeley, 
Zilpha  Feeley, 
Tracy  Freeman, 
Diana  Lewis, 
EfTa  Freeman." 


Bridgeport.  665 

"  The  following  is  a  review  of  church  enterprises : 

"  Before  the  church  at  Pequonnock  was  abandoned  in 
1821,  a  room  was  procured  for  holding  Methodist  meetings 
in  the  borough  in  what  was  then  called  the  New  Block,  at 
the  corner  of  Main  and  State  streets,  over  the  drug  store. 
This  place  appears  to  have  been  procured  mainly  by  the 
efforts  of  Nathaniel  Ruggles,  who  had  been  converted  a  few 
years  previous  under  the  labors  of  the  Rev.  Benoni  English, 
at  the  Pequonnock  Church.  From  my  best  information  I 
conclude  this  hall  was  first  occupied  by  our  people  in  the 
winter  of  182 1  and  2,  and  that  John  N.  Maffit  then  held  a 
series  of  meetings  in  it. 

"In  the  year  1822  measures  were  taken  for  the  erection 
of  our  first  house  of  worship  in  this  city.  The  members  of 
the  society  were  first  organized  into  an  ecclesiastical  body 
according  to  law,  June  30,  1821,  and  the  principal  members 
are  stated  in  the  warrant  to  have  been  Nathaniel  Ruggles, 
Burr  Penfield,  Agur  Bassett,  Richard  Fuller  and  Stephen 
Durand. 

"At  the  first  meeting,  held  for  the  purpose  of  organiza- 
tion, Stiles  Nichols,  long  and  favorably  known  as  the  editor 
of  the  Republican  Farmer,  acted  as  chairman  ;  N.  Ruggles 
was  chosen  clerk;  and  A.  Bassett,  John  P.  McEwen,  and  R. 
Fuller  were  chosen  the  trustees. 

"On  the  nth  of  February,  1822,  the  meeting  voted  to 
proceed  in  the  erection  of  a  house  of  worship,  and  N.  Ruggles 
was  entrusted  with  all  the  business  necessary  to  be  done  in 
the  matter.  The  site  of  the  church  was  located  at  a  meeting 
held  May  13,  1823,  and  the  house,  though  for  some  years 
remaining  unfinished,  was  occupied  for  worship  the  latter 
part  of  that  year,  Mr.  Maffit  preaching  the  first  sermon  in  it. 
The  trustees  at  the  time  of  its  erection  were  Charles  H. 
Wakeley,  J.  P.  McEwen,  B.  Penfield,  Abram  S.  Smith,  and 
Elias  A.  Hall.  That  church  stood  on  the  site  of  the  present 
one.  It  was  forty  by  sixty  feet,  and  its  cost,  with  the  lot,  was 
about  three  thousand  dollars.  That  house  stood  about  twenty- 
six  years,  and  in  1849  ^^  was  burned.  Measures  were  imme- 
diately taken  to  erect  the  present  church  edifice,  and  while  it 
was  being  built  the  society  worshiped  in  Wordin's  Hall,  at 


666  History  of  Stratford. 

the  corner  of  State  and  Water  streets.  On  the  14th  of  Feb- 
ruary, 1850,  this  house  was  dedicated — the  Rev.  Dr.  Durbin 
and  the  Rev.  Allen  Steele  preaching  on  the  occasion.  At  its 
completion  a  debt  of  about  nine  thousand  dollars  remained, 
which  was  paid  in  i860,  Mr.  Eben  Fairchild  generously  giving 
half  the  sum  upon  the  rest  being  raised  by  others. 

"The  first  Sunday  school  in  connection  with  this  society 
was  organized  during  the  conference  year  commenceing  in 
1828.  The  records  of  this  school  were  burned  with  the 
church  in  1849." 

The  pastors  in  this  church  since  1862  have  been:  1862 
and  3,  John  Mi  ley  ;  1864  and  5,  Ichabod  Simmons;  1866  and 
7,  Frank  Bottome ;  1867,  8  and  9,  James  M.  Carroll;  1870, 
John  Dickenson;  1871,  2  and  3,  S.  H.  Piatt;  1874,  5  and  6, 
Daniel  O.  Ferris;  1877,  8  and  9,  George  A.  Hubbell ;  1879,  ^o 
and  81,  Charles  E.  Harris;  1881  and  82,  H.  Q.  Judd  ;  1883,  4, 
5,  W.  W.  Clark." 

The  Washington  Varh  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 

was  organized  September  12,  1853.  The  first  church  edifice 
was  erected  on  the  corner  of  Barnum  and  Noble  streets,  and 
was  completed  and  occupied  in  the  same  year.  Its  original 
cost  was  four  thousand  dollars,  but  in  1867  it  was  enlarged 
and  improved  at  an  expense  of  eleven  thousand  dollars.  This 
structure  was  removed  in  1883,  and  a  commodious  brick  edi- 
fice erected  on  the  old  site,  with  a  chapel  and  parlor  rooms 
adjoining,  for  Sunday  school  and  social  meetings.  The  cor- 
ner-stone of  this  edifice  was  laid  May  23,  1883,  and  the  dedi- 
cation services  were  held  March  30,  1884.  Their  present 
pastor  is  the  Rev.  Edwin  G.  Blake.'* 

The  Tabernacle  Methodist  JEpisco/Kil  C7iu7*c7i  was 

founded  in  July,  1873.  In  March,  1874,  the  house  of  worship, 
which  stands  on  North  Main  street,  at  the  foot  of  Frank  street, 
was  completed,  and  in  the  following  month  the  Rev.  A.  B. 
Sanford  was  appointed  its  pastor.  His  successors  have  been 
the   Rev.   S.   H.  Smith,  the  Rev.  David   Osborn,  the  Rev. 

'"'  This  historical  sketch  is  taken  from  a  record  made  in  the  church  book  by 
the  Rev.  D.  O.  Ferris,  the  pastor,  at  the  time,  1878  or  9. 

'*  After  the  type  were  set  for  this  history  a  pamphlet  was  obtained  containing 
a  full  account  of  the  church. 


Bridgeport.  66"/ 

Joseph  R.  Dumble,  who  commenced  his  hibors  here  in  March, 
1880.  The  cost  of  the  church  edifice,  including-  the  lot,  was 
about  $4,500.     Their  present  pastor  is  the  Rev.  O.  F.  Tree. 

The  African  Methodist  JEjnscopal  Chcix>els  are  two, 
located  on  Broad,  near  Whiting  street.  The  older,  or  Bethel 
Church,  was  built  in  1835  ;  the  j^ounger  and  larger,  known  as 
Zion  Church,  was  completed,  as  a  tablet  over  the  door  informs 
the  passer  by,  in  June,  1843.  These  churches  hold  regular 
church  and  Sunday  school  services. 

The  German  3Iethodist  Ej^iscopal  Church  is  located 
on  East  Main  street,  and  the  Rev.  Gustave  Bobolin  is  pastor. 

A  Stillivellite  Methodist  Church  had  an  existence 
several  years  in  Bridgeport.  The  Stillwell  itinerant  ministers 
commenced  preaching  here,  at  Zoar  Bridge,  and  in  Derby  in 
182 1  or  2.  Their  services  here  were  held  in  the  old  Congre- 
gational meeting  house,  at  the  corner  of  North  and  Park 
avenues,  which  had  been  several  years  occupied  by  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  of  Bridgeport.  Their  ministers' 
names  were  David  P.  Candill,  Lounsbury,  and  Brewer.  The 
Rev.  Mr.  Tuckerman  came  in  1824  and  remained  about  five 
years,  when  the  society  was  merged  into  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church.  There  was  a  class  formed  of  the  Still- 
wellites  and  a  leader  appointed.  The  following  were  some 
of  the  members:  Anson  Bradley,  of  Toilsome  Hill,  Samuel 
Hodges,  of  Bridgeport,  Joel  Mitchell  and  wiie,,  Mills  Middle- 
brook  and  wife,  Benjamin  Bennett,  Mrs.  Isaac  Odell,  Capt. 
Thomas  Brothvvell  and  wife. 

The  meetings  were  attended  by  the  community,  and  Mr. 
Tuckerman  was  much  esteem.ed,  and  was  supported  by  mem- 
bers of  various  churches  living  in  that  neighborhood.  He 
afterwards  joined  the  Congregational  church,  and  preached  a 
time  in  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y.,  where  he  died  in  the  pulpit. 

After  Mr.  Tuckerman  left,  a  Protestant  Methodist  came 
and  preached  a  short  time.  Lorenzo  Dow  preached  in  this 
old  church  to  crowded  congregations,  the  capacity  of  the 
house  being  such  as  to  seat  about  four  hundred.'* 

"  For  all  the  particulars  of  this  Stillwell  Church,  see  manuscript  of  Mr.  S.  M, 
Main,  deposited  with  the  Fairfield  County  Historical  Society. 


668  History  of  Stratford. 

The  Hehreiv  congregation  (JBenai  Israel),  in  Bridge- 
port, was  organized  September  19,  1859,  the  first  minister 
being  the  Rev.  A.  Jacobs,  and  the  place  of  worship  No.  35 
Wall  street.  The  ministers  have  changed  frequently.  For  a 
time  the  congregation  met  at  Freedman's  Building,  on  State 
street  opposite  the  court  house,  but  it  now  meets  every  Fri- 
day evening  at  seven  o'clock  and  every  Saturday  morning  at 
eight  o'clock,  in  the  Curtis  Building,  483  Main  street.  The 
Rev.  Gustav  Gumpel  is  the  pastor. 

The  Advent  Christian  Church  of  Bridgeport  was 
organized  in  November,  1849,  with  fourteen  members,  and 
has  maintained  regular  services  ever  since,  on  Sunday  and 
week-day  evenings,  although  most  of  the  time  without  a 
pastor.  About  eighty  members  have  been  added  since  the 
church  was  formed.  The  place  of  meeting  is  Temperance 
Hall,  on  Beach  street. 

The  Church  of  Christ  in  Bridgeport  have  held  meet- 
ings since  the  year  1871,  but  were  not  formally  organized  as 
a  church  until  August  23,  1874,  under  the  leadership  of  Dr. 
W.  A.  Belding,  of  Troy,  N.  Y.  The  meetings  were  at  first 
held  in  a  private  house,  but  for  several  years  past  they  have 
been  conducted  in  the  hall  at  No.  356  Main  street,  on  Sunday 
and  two  week-day  evenings.  The  church  has  had  no  regu- 
larly installed  or  employed  pastor,  but  has  had  the  service  of 
revivalists,  especially  that  of  Charles  Abercrombie,  in  May, 
1880. 

St,  Augustine's  Church — Catholic. — The  Rev.  Father 
McDermott  was  the  first  Catholic  priest  who  celebrated  mass 
in  Bridgeport.  This  was  in  the  house  of  Mr.  Farrell,  on 
Middle  street,  in  the  year  1834,  there  being  then  about 
eighteen  Catholic  families  residing  in  this  city.  Soon  after- 
wards, by  order  of  Bishop  Fenwick,  the  Rev.  James  Smith 
visited  Bridgeport  once  a  month  for  the  purpose  of  holding 
services.  He  built  the  brick  church  which  stood  on  the 
corner  of  Arch  street  and  Washington  avenue,  and  the 
church  was  called  St.  James's  Church.  The  Rev.  Michael 
Lynch  was  the  first  settled  pastor  of  this  church  and  of  the 
Catholic  people  in  Bridgeport,  and  received  his  appointment 
here  in  December,  1842. 


Bridgeport.  669 

On  September  2,  1852,  the  Rev.  Thomas  J.  Synnot  was 
appointed  by  Bishop  O'Reilly  pastor  of  this  church.  Soon 
after  his  arrival  he  commenced  building  the  church  of  St. 
Mary,  on  Crescent  avenue,  in  East  Bridgeport,  and  finished 
it  in  the  following  year.  In  this  same  year  he  began  St. 
Thomas'  Church,  at  Fairfield,  and  finished  it  in  1854.  In 
1864,  the  brick  church  on  Washington  avenue  having  become 
too  small,  the  foundation  of  the  present  edifice  was  laid  on 
the  corner  of  Washington  avenue  and  Pequonnock  street. 
This  church,  which  is  the  largest  in  Bridgeport,  was  named 
St.  Augustine  Church  and  dedicated  March  17,  1867,  and 
cost  about  one  hundred  thousand  dollars.  It  is  built  of  gray 
granite  from  the  quarries  of  North  Bridgeport.  It  is  intended 
to  carry  the  spire  about  ninety  feet  higher  than  its  present 
termination,  making  it  far  the  highest  object  in  the  city,  and 
the  more  so  because  of  its  location  on  Golden  Hill.  The 
whole  number  of  Catholics  embraced  in  the  St.  Augustine 
parish  is  about  four  thousand  souls,  and  the  average  attend- 
ance at  mass  is  estimated  to  be  three  thousand.  The  Sunday 
school  contains  about  six  hundred  and  fifty  members.  The 
amount  raised  for  church  purposes,  parish  expenses,  and 
buildings,  during  the  pastorate  of  twenty-eight  years  of  the 
Rev.  Father  Synnot,  cannot  be  far  from  a  quarter  of  a  million 
dollars. 

Adjoining  this  church  on  the  west  is  a  large,  imposing 
structure,  built  of  granite  from  Plymouth,  Conn.,  which  is 
the  home  of  the  Sisters  of  Mercy  and  an  academy  for  young 
ladies.  It  was  completed  in  1881  and  cost  about  the  same  as 
the  church. 

Church  of  Sacred  Ifeart  of  Jesus'wa.s  erected  in  the 
year  1884,  on  Myrtle  avenue  near  Prospect  street.  It  is  built 
of  brick  with  granite  trimmings,  in  the  equilateral  Gothic  style, 
large  and  commodious,  the  ceiling  being  vaulted  and  groined. 
Rev.  Dennis  J.  Cremin  is  the  pastor. 

St,  Mary's  Church — Catholic — of  Bridgeport,  is  loca- 
ted on  the  corner  of  Pembroke  and  Steuben  streets,  and  is  a 
fine  brick  edifice  with  stone  basement.  This  church  was 
commenced  as  an  out  mission  of  St.  James's,  now  St.  August- 


6/0  History  of  Stratford. 

ine's,  and  was  a  frame  building  located  on  the  corner  of  Cres- 
cent avenue  and  Church  street,  erected  in  1854.  The  first 
missionaries  to  this  church  were  the  Reverends  M.  O'Neil, 
P.  Lamb  and  Dr.  Wallace.  The  first  pastor  was  the  Rev. 
Peter  A.  Smith,  installed  in  April,  1857,  who  built  the  par- 
sonage house  and  continued  pastor  until  February  10,  1862. 
He  afterwards  died  while  pastor  at  Norwalk,  Conn.  He  was 
succeeded  by  the  Rev.  Francis  J.  Lenihan,  who  continued 
pastor  until  November  i,  1866,  when  he  was  transferred  to 
Woonsocket,  R.  1.,  where  he  died.  He  was  followed  by  the 
Rev.  Richard  O.  Gorman,  who  served  until  October  6,  1867, 
and  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  Thomas  Dea,  who  continued 
to  his  death,  July  23,  1873.  These  all  ministered  in  the  old 
church.  The  Rev.  John  F.  Rogers  was  transferred  from 
Newtown,  Conn,,  where  he  was  pastor  five  years,  to  this 
parish  the  Sunday  following  the  decease  of  Father  Dea.  He 
was  graduated  at  Mount  St.  Mary's  College,  at  Emmetsburgh, 
Md.  He  commenced  the  new  church  edifice  in  June,  1874, 
located  on  the  corner  of  Pembroke  and  Steuben  streets,  the 
corner-stone  was  laid  May  16,  1875,  and  the  house  was  dedi- 
cated October  14,  1877,  by  the  late  Bishop  Galbury.  The 
edifice  is  built  in  the  Romanesque  style,  the  basement  of 
stone  and  the  superstructure  of  brick,  74  feet  front  on  Pem- 
broke street  and  154  feet  in  length,  with  a  spire  187  feet  in 
height.  Its  principal  ornament  inside  is  a  Roman  altar  35 
feet  in  height.  The  basement  is  14  feet  in  height,  completed 
and  occupied  as  a  Sunday  school  room  and  for  the  meeting 
of  various  societies  connected  with  the  church.  The  parson- 
age was  built  in  1881,  adjoining  the  church  on  the  south,  the 
lot  extending  to  Sherman  street. 

The  old  church  edifice  has  been  remodeled  into  a  paro- 
chial school  building,  the  school  being  taught  by  the  Sisters 
of  Mercy,  residing  in  the  old  parsonage  adjoining.  Mr.  Rog- 
ers was  the  first  to  introduce  the  Sisters  into  Bridgeport. 
This  parish,  including  West  Stratford,  now  contains  about 
three  thousand  souls. 

The  assistant  pastor  is  the  Rev.  J.  C.  O'Connell,  and  the 
trustees  are  Patrick  Cullen,  John  Flood;  the  committee, 
Martin  Lee,  John  B.  Sullivan,  Martin  Quinlan,  Patrick  Gil- 


Bridgeport.  671 

martin,  Thomas  McGovern ;  organist,  Sister  Mary  Burk- 
mans ;  the  superintendents  of  the  Sunday  school  are  the 
Sisters  of  Mercy. 

The  Gevif¥ian  Catliolic  Church  was  organized  in  De- 
cember, 1874,  and  for  a  time  held  religious  services  in  a  hall 
in  Wheeler's  Building,  on  Main  street.  From  this  they  re- 
moved to  the  building  No.  449  Main  street.  The  present 
house  of  worship,  on  Madison  avenue  near  Washington,  was 
commenced  in  October,  1878,  and  completed  in  April  of  the 
following  year,  at  a  cost,  including  the  lot,  of  eight  thousand 
dollars.  The  Rev.  Joseph  A.  Schaele,  of  New  Haven,  has 
been  the  pastor  from  the  organization  of  the  church  to  the 
present  time.  There  were  at  first  twenty-five  families  in  the 
congregation,  which  now  numbers  seventy-five  families,  or 
about  three  hundred  persons.  The  Sunday  school  has  one 
hundred  members.  Mass  is  celebrated  and  a  sermon  preached 
every  Sunday  morning,  the  pastor  returning  to  New  Haven 
at  the  conclusion  of  the  services. 

The  Parlz  Street  Congreffational  Church  is  located 
on  the  corner  of  Park  and  Barnum  streets,  fronting  Washing- 
ton Park.  A  movement  toward  the  organization  of  a  Congre- 
gational church  in  that  part  of  the  city  of  Bridgeport  lying 
east  of  the  Pequonnock  river,  was  made  in  November,  1867. 
The  first  meeting  to  consider  the  subject  was  held  on  the  22d 
of  that  month  at  the  house  of  Mr.  W.  E.  Smith,  corner  of 
Barnum  and  William  streets.  The  Rev.  B.  B.  Beardsley,  of 
the  First  Congregational  Church,  and  Mr.  Thomas  Lord,  of 
the  Second,  were  present  and  offered  to  hire  the  Bethesda 
Mission  Chapel — now  the  East  Washington  avenue  Baptist 
Church — for  at  least  one  year,  for  the  use  of  a  Congregational 
church,  should  one  be  formed,  and  in  view  of  this  proposition 
it  was  thought  advisable  to  occupy  the  chapel,  and  the  Rev. 
Joel  H.  Linsley,  D.D.,  of  Greenwich,  was  engaged  to  preach 
on  four  Sundays. 

The  first  public  services  were  held  November  24,  1867, 
and  on  the  i6th  of  December  following  a  meeting  was  held  in 
the  basement  of  the  Bethesda  Chapel,  at  which  it  was  "  Re- 
solved, as  the  sense  of  this  meeting,  that  it  is  expedient  to 


6/2  History  of  Stratford. 

take  measures  for  organizing  a  Congregational  church  in  East 
Bridgeport."  A  council  was  accordingly  called  on  the  15th 
of  January,  1868,  to  devise  respecting  the  matter,  and  if 
deemed  expedient,  to  assist  in  the  organization  of  a  church. 
The  council  when  convened  voted  that  it  was  desirable  to 
form  a  church,  and  proceeded  in  the  formal  services  to  that 
end.  The  church  thus  constituted,  consisted  of  thirty-nine 
members,  of  whom  twenty-three  had  been  dismissed  from  the 
First  Church,  five  from  the  Second  Church,  five  from  the 
church  in  Newington,  three  from  the  church  in  Westport, 
two  from  the  church  in  Monroe,  and  one  from  the  Chapel 
street  church  of  New  Haven. 

On  the  19th  of  March,  1868,  Andrew  L.  Winton  and 
James  P.  Bishop  were  elected  deacons  of  the  new  church,  and 
on  the  first  day  of  Jul}^  Mr.  John  G.  Davenport,  of  Wilton, 
having  supplied  the  pulpit  for  three  months,  and  received  a 
unanimous  call  to  its  pastorate,  was  ordained  and  installed 
pastor  of  the  church  and  society. 

A  site  for  a  house  of  worship  having  been  purchased  on 
the  corner  of  Park  and  Barnum  streets,  the  corner-stone  of  a 
church  edifice  was  laid  November  i,  1870.  Services  were 
held  in  the  Bethesda  Chapel  until  the  ist  of  July,  1871,  when 
the  basement  of  the  new  edifice  was  occupied,  and  on  the  17th 
of  October  the  church,  having  cost  about  $25,000,  was  dedi- 
cated to  the  worship  of  Almighty  God. 

Until  the  close  of  the  year  1871  the  church  was  under  the 
fostering  care  of  the  Connecticut  Home  Missionary  Society, 
when  it  became  self-supporting.'" 

The  following  have  served  as  deacons,  each  retiring  at 
the  end  of  four,  five  or  six  years,  the  present  rule  being  that 
each  term  expires  at  the  end  of  four  years,  any  one  being 
eligible  to  reelection  after  an  interval  of  one  year:  Andrew 
L.  Winton,  James  P.  Bishop,  Charles  M.  Minor,  David 
Wooster,  Harmon  Lane,  James  P.  Bishop,  Charles  M.  Minor, 
Frederick  W.  Storrs,  David  Wooster,  James  P.  Bishop, 
Charles  M.  Minor. 

The  success  of  this  church  has  been  very  marked  and 

'°  Historical  sketch  in  the  Church  Manual,  printed  in  1881. 


Bridgeport.  673 

continuous  to  the  present  time.  Mr.  John  G.  Davenport  was 
ordained  its  pastor  July  i,  1868,  and  labored  with  much  suc- 
cess until  the  summer  of  1881,  when  he  was  dismissed  to 
accept  a  call  to  the  Second  Congregational  Church  of  Water- 
bury,  where  he  was  installed  November  9,  1881.  His  suc- 
cessor was  the  Rev.  George  S.  Thrall,  who  was  installed  in 
October,  1881,  and  after  nearly  three  years  of  very  acceptable 
service  was  dismissed,  at  his  own  request,  on  account  of  ill 
health. 

The  Rev.  Frederick  E.  Hopkins,  the  present  pastor,  was 
installed  March  26,  1884,  and  the  prosperity  of  the  church  is 
continued.  During  the  summer  of  1885  an  addition  was  made 
to  the  church  edifice  and  considerable  changes  in  the  audience 
room,  at  a  cost  of  about  $2,500. 

Olivet  Church  (Congregational). — About  the  year  1866 
a  mission  Sunday  school  was  commenced  by  members  of  the 
First  Congregational  Church  and  others  in  the  northern  part 
of  the  city.  The  school  met  at  first  in  the  upper  story  of  No. 
114  North  Washington  avenue,  afterwards  at  Olivet  Hall, 
upon  the  corner  of  Grand  street.  After  some  time  the  school 
developed  into  the  church  now  known  as  Olivet  Congrega- 
tional Church,  which  was  formally  organized  by  a  council 
convened  for  the  purpose,  November  16,  1870,  and  on  Decem- 
ber 14,  1870,  the  Rev.  DeForest  B.  Dodge  was  ordained  pas- 
tor, and  he  resigned  October  11,  1871,  and  letters  of  dismis- 
sion w*ere  granted  to  forty-nine  members  of  this  church  to 
join  him  in  forming  a  new  ecclesiastical  body.  His  success- 
ors as  the  pastors  of  Olivet  Church  have  been  :  the  Rev.  S. 
Hopkins  Emory,  April,  1872;  the  Rev.  Allen  Clark,  Septem- 
ber, 1874;  the  Rev.  John  S.  Wilson,  August,  1879.  The 
building  now  used  by  the  society,  on  the  corner  of  Main 
street  and  North  avenue,  was  completed  and  occupied  for 
worship  December  24,  1876.  It  cost,  including  the  site, 
about  $3,500.  The  Rev.  S.  D.  Gaylord  became  pastor  of 
this  church  November  8,  1882,  and  died  in  office  December 
31,  1884.  Mr.  Edwin  R.  Holden,  of  Yale  Divinity  School, 
commenced  the  supply  of  the  pulpit  in  March,  1885,  and  was 
ordained  pastor  June  9,  1885.  This  church  has  received 
assistance  largely  from  the  First  Congregational  Church  and 


6/4  History  of  Stratford. 

to  some  extent  from  other  churches,  for  many  years.  It  is 
under  the  care  and  aid  of  the  Connecticut  Home  Missionary 
Society. 

Tlie  Colorado  Street  Chapel  is  located  in  the  western 
part  of  the  city.  About  the  end  of  February,  1884,  a  mission 
Sunday  school  was  commenced  under  the  auspices  of  the 
First  Presbyterian  Church,  which  at  the  end  of  the  year  they 
relinquished,  and  in  May,  1885,  it  became  a  branch  of  the 
Sunday  school  of  the  First  Congregational  Church,  under  the 
charge  of  an  assistant  superintendent.  The  school  met  at 
first  in  an  unoccupied  store  on  State  street,  then  in  a  cottage 
on  Howard  street,  but  the  Congregational  church  decided  at 
once  to  build  a  chapel,  and  land  on  Colorado  street  was 
purchased  on  the  nth  of  May,  and  a  building  erected.  This 
was  done  by  the  Rev.  C.  R.  Palmer  and  Col.  Charles  H, 
Russell,  acting  for  the  standing  committee  of  the  church. 
This  chapel  was  completed  September  8th  and  dedicated  Sep- 
tember 13th,  with  appropriate  services.  It  was  occupied  by 
the  Sabbath  school  from  that  date.  As  soon  as  a  gas  pipe 
had  been  laid  through  the  street,  so  that  the  building  could 
be  lighted,  services  were  held  on  Sabbath  evenings,  and  these 
have  continued  until  the  present  time."  Until  January  i,  1886, 
the  pulpit  was  supplied  by  various  gentlemen,  under  the 
direction  of  Mr.  Palmer.  From  that  date  Mr.  Robert  W. 
Sharp  became  the  stated  supply.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
senior  class  in  Yale  Divinity  School,  to  graduate  in  May  next. 
The  chapel  has  been  conveyed  by  the  builders  to  the  First 
Congregational  Church  (an  incorporated  body),  in  the  expect- 
ation that  it  will  be  conveyed  ultimately  to  a  religious  society 
at  the  west  end.     It  is  valued  at  $4,200,  with  its  contents. 

Mr.  James  L.  Harlem  was  the  original  superintendent  of 
the  school,  when  it  was  in  Presbyterian  hands,  and  has  been 
continued  in  office  by  the  Congregationalists.  The  success  of 
it  is  largely  due  to  the  energy  and  enthusiasm  which  he  has 
displayed  from  the  beginning. 

The  First  Baptist  Church  in  Bridgeport  was  consti- 
tuted September  20,  1837,  with  thirty-nine  members.  At  that 
time  the  population  of  the  city  was  about  three  thousand,  and 


Bridgeport.  675 

the  only  Baptist  church  then  within  ten  miles  was  at  Strat- 
field,  three  miles  distant,  which  was  under  the  pastoral  care 
of  the  Rev.  James  H.  Linsley,  who  resided  in  Stratford. 
There  were  but  three  or  four  Baptists  residing  in  the  city, 
one  of  whom,  Miss  Hannah  Nichols,  a  devoted  and  active 
member  of  the  Stratfield  church,  about  the  year  1835  pro- 
posed the  purchase  of  land  upon  which  to  erect  a  church  in 
the  future.  There  were  three  brothers,  named  Whitney,  also 
members  of  the  Stratfield  church,  residing  about  a  mile  from 
the  city,  who  had  frequently  consulted  together,  and  with 
Miss  Nichols,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Linsley,  and  others,  upon  the 
practicability  of  establishing  a  Baptist  church  in  Bridgeport. 
They  were  all  waiting  for  a  providential  opening  to  enable 
them  to  accomplish  that  object,  when  the  way  was  opened, 
sooner  than  they  expected,  by  the  offer  of  the  Episcopal 
society  to  sell  their  church  edifice,  on  the  corner  of  State  and 
Broad  streets,  for  $3,650.  Mr.  Linsley  circulated  the  subscrip- 
tion paper  until  he  secured  $3,000,  and  paid  it  to  the  Episco- 
pal society,  and  a  deed  was  received  August  8,  1835,  During 
this  time  a  meeting  was  called  and  on  July  24,  1835,  a  Baptist 
society  was  organized,  composed  of  six  members,  namely  : 
Benjamin  Wakeman,  Raymond,  Roswell,  Bennett  Whitney, 
and  two  other  persons  whose  names  are  not  known. 

It  was  expected  that  the  Rev.  Mr.  Linsley  would  accept 
the  pastorate,  but  failing  health  compelled  him  to  relinquish 
preaching,  and  the  services  of  the  Rev.  Wm.  W.  Evarts,  then 
a  student  in  Madison  University,  were  temporarily  secured. 
Public  worship  commenced  in  the  church  April  23,  1837,  but 
five  weeks  afterwards  Mr.  Evarts  returned  to  his  studies,  and 
the  church  being  unable  to  procure  a  permanent  pastor, 
public  worship  was  discontinued  until  the  latter  part  of  1838, 
when  the  Rev.  James  W.  Eaton,  of  Boston,  became  the  first 
settled  minister  of  the  church,  and  thus  continued  for  two  and 
a  half  years,  laboring  faithfully  and  zealously  until  March  26, 
1840,  when  he  removed  to  Springfield,  Mass.  During  his 
ministry  the  church  prospered  and  increased  its  membership 
from  39  to  106.  On  the  i8th  of  September,  1840,  a  unanimous 
call  was  extended  to  the  Rev.  Daniel  Harwington,  of  Fort 
Ann,  N.  Y.,  and  he  became  pastor  of  the  church  on  the  3d  of 


6y6  History  of  Stratford. 

the  following  month.  He  resigned  October  i6,  1842,  the 
church  having  then  123  members.  The  next  pastor  was  the 
Rev.  William  Smith,  of  Camden,  N.  J.,  who  was  settled  here 
Nov.  21,  1842,  and  remained  until  July  8,  1845,  during  which 
time  the  church  suffered  severely  by  many  of  its  members 
embracing  the  teachings  of  Millerism  ;  but  toward  the  close 
of  his  ministry  many  new  converts  were  added  to  the  church, 
through  the  labors  of  the  Rev.  Jacob  Knapp. 

The  church  was  without  a  pastor  from  that  time  until 
January  3,  1846,  when  the  Rev.  William  Reid  was  settled, 
after  having  previously  occupied  the  pulpit  for  two  or  three 
months,  and  he  continued  in  the  pastorate  for  more  than  eight 
years,  closing  his  labors  May  28,  1854.  At  this  time  the  num- 
ber of  members  was  reported  to  be  225.  During  this  ministry 
the  house  of  worship  was  repaired  and  the  church  debt  liqui- 
dated, but  towards  the  close  of  his  service  a  division  arose 
among  its  members  which  resulted,  afterwards,  in  the  forma- 
tion of  the  second  Baptist  church  of  Bridgeport.  After  the 
resignation  of  Mr.  Reid,  June  i,  1854,  the  church  extended  a 
call  to  the  Rev.  J.  R.  Storrs,  of  New  York,  who  accepted  it, 
but  after  supplying  the  pulpit  a  few  Sundays,  resigned.  A 
call  was  then  extended  to  the  Rev.  W.  C.  Richards,  who 
accepted,  but  resigned  without  entering  upon  his  pastoral 
duties.  The  Rev.  A.  G.  Palmer,  D.D.,  then  became  the 
pastor  of  the  church,  and  the  formation  of  the  second  Baptist 
church,  which  now  took  place,  greatly  enfeebled  the  church 
and  discouraged  the  new  pastor.  He  commenced  his  pastor- 
ate October,  1855,  and  resigned  September  27,  1857.  The 
Rev.  J.  L.  Hodge,  D.D.,  succeeded  him  and  labored  for  the 
church  three  years,  commencing  in  November,  1857.  During 
his  ministry  a  new  house  of  worship,  commodious  and  sub- 
stantial, was  erected,  and  the  church  was  placed  in  a  better 
position  for  prosperity.  Dr.  Hodge  labored  earnestly,  not 
only  in  his  regular  ministrations,  but  to  bring  about  a  union 
of  the  two  churches,  and  to  complete  the  new  edifice.  After 
the  removal  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Hodge  the  church  extended  a 
call  to  the  Rev.  A.  McGregor  Hopper,  D.D.,  who  had  just 
closed  his  labors  with  the  Baptist  church  at  Auburn,  N.  Y. 
He  accepted  the  call  and  commenced  his  pastorate  in  March, 


Bridgeport,  677 

1861.  Soon  after  the  settlement  of  Dr.  Hopper  the  second 
church  disbanded  and  most  of  its  members  returned  to  the 
first  church.  Through  the  efforts  of  Dr.  Hopper  the  debt 
remaining  on  the  new  edifice  was  paid,  and  he  found  much 
success  in  his  work.  The  membership  was  increased  to  331. 
Dr.  Hopper  resigned  September  i,  1877,  the  Rev.  M.  H, 
Pogson  became  the  settled  pastor  January  30,  1878,  and 
labored  with  much  success  until  January  2,  1884,  when  he 
resigned  to  accept  a  pastorate  in  New  York  City.  The  Rev. 
Wm.  V.  Garner  was  settled  as  pastor  in  this  church  June  4, 
1884,  being  the  present  minister.  The  deacons  of  this  church 
are:  W.  E.  Payson,  M.  E.  Morris,  Albert  Wisner  and  Louis 
Skinner.     The  present  membership  is  364. 

The  WashingtOTi  Avenue  Baptist  Church  was  or- 
ganized January  30,  1874,  with  forty-seven  members,  the  Rev. 
C.  W.  Ray  being  the  first  pastor.  The  price  paid  for  the 
church  edifice  and  lot,  which  fronts  on  Washington  Park,  and 
originally  belonged  to  the  Bethesda  Mission  Sunday  school, 
was  $10,000,  and  about  $3,500  additional,  were  expended  in 
repairs  and  improvements.  The  Rev.  Charles  Coleman  was 
pastor  some  years,  but  resigned  in  1885.  The  Rev.  W.  M. 
Ingersoll  is  the  present  pastor,  and  the  deacons  are :  P.  J. 
Black,  C.  W.  Scarrit,  J.  H.  Gunn,  and  C.  W.  Beers. 

St.  JPauVs  Church  (Episcopal),  was  organized  June  4, 
1858,  at  the  house  of  William  H.  Noble,  on  Stratford  avenue, 
and  the  Rev.  G.  S.  Coit,  D.D.,  of  St.  John's  Church,  was 
chosen  rector.  The  Sunday  school  met,  at  first,  in  the  coal 
office  of  D.  W.  Thompson,  near  the  east  end  of  the  Centre 
Bridge,  afterwards  in  rooms  over  a  store  upon  the  corner  of 
Crescent  avenue  and  East  Main  street.  The  Rev.  N.  S. 
Richardson,  D.D.,  was  the  first  settled  pastor  of  this  parish, 
his  ministry  beginning  in  January,  1868.  The  corner-stone 
of  St.  Paul's  Church,  a  handsome  stone  building  upon  Kos- 
suth street,  fronting  Washington  Park,  was  laid  by  Bishop 
Williams,  October  6,  1868;  the  edifice  was  dedicated  and 
occupied  for  worship  July  29,  1869,  but  not  consecrated  until 
May  18,  1880.  It  cost  about  thirty  thousand  dollars.  Di". 
Richardson,  in  addition  to  parochial  duties,  was  editor  of  the 

44 


678  History  of  Stratford. 

"Church  Guardian,"  a  newspaper  published  in  New  York 
City,  the  Rev.  George  S.  Pine  assisting  him  in  the  care  of  the 
parish.  The  other  pastors  have  been  Rev.  M.  Clark,  Rev. 
James  O.  Drum,  and  the  incumbent,  Rev.  Mildridge  Walker. 

The  Church  of  the  Medee^ner  (Universalist),  was  or- 
ganized in  1850,  and  the  brown  stone  edifice  on  Fairfield 
avenue,  near  Broad  street,  originally  known  as  the  Church 
of  our  Saviour,  but  now  called  the  Church  of  the  Redeemer, 
was  dedicated  near  the  close  of  the  following  year.  The  Rev. 
Olympia  Brown — afterwards  Mrs.  Olympia  Brown  Willis — 
was  pastor  of  this  church  from  1869  to  1875.  The  Rev.  John 
Lyon,'*  the  present  pastor,  was  settled  here  December  3,  1876. 
The  cost  of  the  house  of  worship,  including  the  site,  was 
$34,000.  The  trustees  of  this  church  are:  P.  T.  Barnum, 
James  Staples,  Jerome  Orcutt,  G.  W.  Longstaff,  Benjamin 
Fletcher,  Albert  R.  Lacey. 

Public  Schools. 

The  inhabitants  in  that  part  of  Fairfield  which  afterwards 
became   Pequonnock  had    established    a   school   as   early  as 
1678,  and  petitioned  the  court  to  release  them  from  paying 
school  rates  at  Fairfield  village.     At  that  time  the  inhabitants 
in  the  Stratford  part  of  Pequonnock  sent  their  children  to 
the  Pembroke  school  at  Old  Mill,  and  thus  the  schools  con- 
tinued  until  the   Stratfield   society  was  established   in   1691, 
when  it  took  charge  of  all  school  interests  within  its  bounda- 
ries."     A  school   house,   probably  the   second,  was  built  in 
1703,    near   the  junction    of   the    present    Park   avenue   and 
Pequonnock  street.     Among  the  first  teachers  of  those  times 
was  William  Rogers,  whose  agreement  with  the  committee, 
Samuel  Hubbell  and  Benjamin  Fayerweather,  made  in  1710, 
is  still  extant.     A  noted   master  after  this,  for  many  years, 
was  John  Wheeler,  whose  salary  in  1736  for  teaching  a  sum- 
mer school  was  £62,.     The  second  school  was  formed  in  1738, 
and  the  house  built  near  the  present  Toilsome  Hill  school 
house  in  Fairfield.     In  1766  the  Stratfield  society  was  divided 
into  three  districts,  called  the  North,  Middle  and  South. 


21  See  biographical  sketch  of  Mr.  Lyon. 
-■2  See  pages  472-4  of  this  book. 


Bridgeport.  679 

The  schools  continued  to  be  managed  by  the  committees 
chosen  annually  by  the  parish  until  1796,  when  a  school 
society  was  formed  in  accordance  with  a  law  enacted  the 
previous  year,  which  provided  that  the  interest  on  moneys 
received  from  the  sale  of  the  lands  of  the  "  Western  Reserve 
should  be  paid  school  societies  respectively."  These  lands 
were  sold  for  $1,200,000,  which  formed  the  foundation  of  the 
present  State  school  fund.  This  society  continued  until  1856, 
when,  with  the  other  school  societies  in  the  State,  it  was 
abolished  and  its  property  and  obligations  transferred  to  the 
town.  In  1801  there  were  five  districts,  called  Bridgeport, 
Old  South,  Island  Brook,  Toilsome  and  North. 

In  1841  authority  was  given  by  the  State  to  the  Stratfield 
society  to  maintain  a  school  exclusively  for  colored  children. 
Such  a  school  was  organized  by  the  Bridgeport  district, 
which  occupied  a  building  on  Gregory  street  until  1871, 
when  the  school  was  transferred  to  a  room  in  a  wing  of  the 
Prospect  street  school  house,  which  had  recently  been  built. 
This  was  continued  as  a  separate  ungraded  school  until  the 
fall  of  1876,  when  the  pupils  were  placed  in  their  proper 
grades  in  the  different  rooms  of  the  same  building. 

In  1858  the  Bridgeport  district,  after  an  exciting  discus- 
sion, voted  to  abolish  the  bills  for  tuition,  or  "rate  bills,"  as 
they  were  called.  This  was  ten  years  before  the  law  was 
enacted  by  the  State  making  it  compulsory  upon  all  the 
towns  to  support  free  schools. 

When  Bridgeport  was  incorporated  as  a  town  in  1821 
there  were  two  school  districts  in  the  territory  east  of  the 
Pequonnock  river.  The  northern  one,  called  Pembroke,  was 
established  in  1717,"  the  house  being  erected  some  years  later 
on  Old  Mill  Green,  where  one  still  stands,  and  is  in  use.  The 
other  district  was  called  New  Pasture  Point,  and  built  its 
school  house  in  1796.  In  1859  it  erected  the  brick  building 
on  Nichols  street,  which  is  still  in  use. 

In  1870  the  Black  Rock  district  was  transferred  from 
Fairfield  to  Bridgeport. 

Some  of  the  above  districts  were  divided  and  new  ones 

^^  See  page  280  of  this  book. 


68o  History  of  Stratford. 

formed  at  different  times,  so  that  in  1876  there  were  eleven 
school  districts  in  the  town  of  Bridgeport. 

During  the  year  1875  Mr.  Henry  T.  Shelton  published 
several  articles  in  the  "  Standard"  in  favor  of  consolidating 
the  public  schools.  These  articles  awakened  a  general  inter- 
est in  the  subject,  which  was  discussed  and  so  agitated  that, 
although  there  was  great  opposition  to  the  measure,  yet  the 
town  of  Bridgeport,  at  its  annual  meeting  April  3,  1876,  voted 
to  consolidate  its  eleven  district  schools  under  one  govern- 
ment, by  a  majority  of  172  votes  in  a  total  of  3,998  cast;  and 
on  Tuesday,  April  11,  1876,  the  following  named  persons 
were  elected  a  school  committee:  Andrew  Burke,  James 
Staples,  Frederick  W.  Zingsen,  Henry  T.  Shelton,  James  C. 
Loomis,  Daniel  H.  Sterling,  Augustus  H.  Abernethy,  Edward 
Sterling,  George  W.  Bacon,  Joseph  D.  Alvord,  David  Gi- 
nand,  Julius  S.  Hanover.  These  persons  met  and  organized 
under  the  name  and  title  of  the  "  Board  of  Education."  They 
divided  themselves  into  three  classes,  the  terms  of  office  of 
the  first  four  to  expire  in  one  3^ear,  the  next  four  in  two  years, 
and  the  next  four  in  four  years.  They  elected  James  C. 
Loomis,  president ;  Daniel  H.  Sterling,  vice-president ;  Hen- 
ry T.  Shelton,  secretary,  and  subsequently,  Henry  M.  Har- 
rington, superintendent.  In  the  practical  working  of  the  new 
system  it  was  found  at  the  end  of  the  first  year  that  the  money 
expended  was  more  than  $10,000  less  per  year  than  under  the 
old  system. 

On  the  first  day  of  March,  1877,  the  first  death  of  a  mem- 
ber of  the  board  occurred,  as  seen  by  the  following  record  : 

"As  co-laborer  with  the  late  Hon.  Daniel  H.  Sterling, 
vice-president  and  chairman  of  the  finance  committee  of  the 
Board  of  Education,  we  desire  to  testify  to  his  earnest  and 
thorough  work  with  us  in  the  advancement  of  public  schools,^ 
and  herewith  express  our  high  appreciation  of  his  valuable 
counsel  and  advice  from  our  organization  until  the  present 
time."  It  is  also  recorded  that  on  the  nth  day  of  July,  1877, 
the  resignation  of  Joseph  D.  Alvord,  on  account  of  ill  health, 
was  accepted  with  sincere  regrets. 

During  the  first  year  of  consolidation  the  establishment 
of  the  public  high   school  was  another  of  the  important  ad- 


Bridgeport.  68 1 

varices  made.  The  adjustment  of  the  financial  interests  be- 
tween the  districts  and  the  town  was  the  most  difficult  part 
of  the  work.  This  was  done  by  placing  all  the  accounts  in 
the  hands  of  a  committee  consisting  of  R.  B.  Lacey,  M.  B. 
Beardsley,  and  James  King,  as  auditors,  whose  exhaustive 
report  became  the  basis  of  a  full  and  satisfactory  settlement. 

On  March  5,  1877,  Edward  W.  Marsh  was  elected  in  place 
of  Daniel  H.  Sterling,  deceased,  and  on  September  16,  1877, 
another  memorial  entry  was  made  on  the  records:  "Death 
has  again  visited  our  board  during  the  year  and  removed  the 
first  president,  the  Hon.  James  C.  Loomis,  one  of  the  warm- 
est friends  of  education  in  the  State,  and  member  of  the  State 
Board  of  Education  at  the  time  of  his  death.  His  memory 
we  will  ever  cherish,  remembering  his  worth  to  us,  and  ten- 
dering our  warmest  sympathy  to  the  widow,  who,  more  than 
any  other,  is  bereaved." 

On  August  13,  1877,  Daniel  N.  Morgan  succeeded  J.  D. 
Alvord,  resigned,  and  on  October  8th  of  the  same  year  David 
M,  Read  succeeded  J.  C.  Loomis,  deceased,  for  the  remaining 
portion  of  the  3'ear.  At  the  annual  election  in  April,  1878, 
the  Rev.  Thomas  J.  Synnott  was  elected  for  three  years,  and 
Hon.  Nathaniel  Wheeler  for  one  year,  to  fill  a  vacancy. 

On  June  21,  1877,  Island  Brook  school  house  was  burned 
and  the  present  brick  structure  was  immediately  erected  on 
the  old  site.  On  November  12,  1877,  Julius  S.  Hanover  was 
elected  president,  and  F.  W.  Zingsen,  vice-president.  Ed- 
ward Sterling  resigned  March  12,  1879,  on  account  of  business 
engagements,  and  the  board  made  the  following  entry  :  "Ver- 
ily !  in  him  we  have  lost  a  co-laborer — a  member  of  the  board 
since  its  organization — whom  at  all  times  we  have  found  true 
to  the  great  and  important  duty  of  educating  the  youth  of  his 
native  city."  George  C.  Waldo  was  elected  in  place  of  Mr. 
Sterling  for  the  balance  of  the  year;  and  during  the  summer 
of  that  year  the  new  heating  apparatus  was  put  into  the 
Prospect  school  building,  and  a  training  school  for  teachers 
was  established.  On  October  27,  1879,  Edward  W.  Marsh 
was  elected  secretary  of  the  board.  At  the  spring  election  of 
1880,  Peter  W.  Wren  and  George  C.  Waldo  were  elected  for 
three  years,  and  following  them  the  following  persons  have 


682 


'History  of  Stratford. 


Bridgeport.  683 

been  elected,  most  of  them  to  serve  three  years:  Rev,  Caspar 
Brunner,  Frederick  Hurd,  Henry  Cowd,  Warren  W.  Porter, 
Marshall  E.  Morris,  Emory  F.  Strong,  Morris  B.  Beardsley, 
Thomas  F.  Martin,  John  H.  Colgan. 

The  completion  of  the  high  school  building,  on  Congress 
street,  in  October,  1882,  and  its  opening  for  school  purposes, 
was  the  marked  educational  event  of  the  year.  Its  novel  plan 
for  heating  and  ventilating  was  a  departure  from  the  com- 
monly accepted  theories,  and  its  practical  utility  has  been 
demonstrated  during  the  four  years  since,  as  the  best  in  the 
State,  if  not  in  the  nation.  The  building  has  been  visited  by 
experts  from  all  parts  of  the  country,  and  the  plan  of  heating 
and  ventilation  has  been  adopted  by  school  boards,  not  only  in 
this  State,  but  in  Vermont,  Massachusetts,  and  New  York. 
It  was  built  under  the  supervision  of  a  committee  chosen  on 
the  part  of  the  town  and  one  from  the  Board  of  Education. 
These  committees  were  identical  and  consisted  of  the  follow- 
ing persons:  Julius  S.  Hanover,  Nathaniel  Wheeler,  Edward 
W.  Marsh,  and  George  C.  Waldo.  At  the  expiration  of 
E.  W.  Marsh's  term  in  1884,  he  declined  a  reelection. 

The  decease  of  the  Rev.  Thomas  J.  Synnot,  pastor  of  the 
St.  Augustine  Catholic  Church,  April  30,  1884,  was  noticed 
by  the  following:  "  The  Board  of  Education  recognize  in  the 
death  of  the  Rev,  Thomas  J,  Synnot  a  severe  loss  to  the  cause 
of  education  and  one  which  it  will  be  difficult  to  repair, — a 
man  of  education,  tact  and  ability,  and  although  a  clergyman, 
still  a  man  without  prejudice  or  bigotry,  his  was  a  happy  and 
tolerant  disposition.  Being  pastor  of  one  church  in  this  city 
for  more  than  thirty  years,  he  has  so  borne  himself  through 
this  long  period  as  to  endear  himself  to  the  entire  community. 
As  a  mark  of  respect  and  esteem  the  members  of  the  board 
will  attend  his  funeral." 

During  the  summer  of  1883  the  Washington  school  house, 
on  Pembroke  street,  was  repaired,  new  heating  apparatus 
placed  in  it,  and  in  the  autumn  the  new  school  building  on 
the  Newtown  turnpike  was  first  occupied  for  school  purposes. 

Another  memorandum  is  made  of  the  departed:  "  When 
this  Board  of  Education  was  organized  in  April,  1876,  Au- 
gustus H.  Abernethy,  M.D.,  was  elected  a  member,  and  con- 


684 


History  of  Stratford. 


Willi 


■"^m&^M wM 


Bridgeport. 


685 


tinued  such  until  his  decease  on  the  evening  ot  November  9, 
1884.  We  make  this  tribute  to  his  memory  on  our  records: 
Resolved,  That  in  obedience  to  the  will  of  him  who  doeth  all 
things  for  the  best,  we  bow  in  humble  submission,  with  the 
feeling  that  this  community,  and  especially  the  cause  of 
education  in  our  city,  has  sustained  a  great  loss;  that  as  an 
honorable,  upright  and  highly  esteemed  citizen  and  member 
of  this  board,  we  will  ever  cherish  his  memory." 

Two  new  school  buildings  were  occupied  at  the  com- 
mencement of  the  fall  term  of  1884,  one  on  Myrtle  avenue — 
school  No.  2 — the  other  on  North  avenue — school  No.  9 — 
corner  of  Oak  street,  which  have  commended  themselves  as 
models  of  convenience  and  adaptation  to  school  purposes. 
They  are  warmed  and  ventilated  by  the  same  plan  as  the 
high  school  building,  except  that  the  air  is  warmed  by  fur- 
naces instead  of  steam  coils.  The  internal  arrangement  of 
these  buildings  is  regarded  as  very  advantageous  and  com- 
mendable.    See  cuts  on  the  two  following  pages. 

In  Januar}',  1885,  the  Hon.  P.  T.  Barnum  donated  $1,000, 
the  income  to  be  expended  in  the  purchase  of  two  gold 
medals,  to  be  presented  each  year  to  the  two  students  in  the 
high  school  who  shall  write  and  publicly  pronounce  the  two 
best  English  orations."* 


''*  Sometimes  it  is  said  that  the  higher  grades  of  schools  are  maintained  for  the 
benefit  of  the  wealthy  classes  rather  than  for  the  common  people.  In  order  to 
ascertain  how  far  this  view  is  correct,  as  applied  to  this  high  school,  a  careful 
examination  has  been  made,  which  shows  the  following  occupations  represented 
among  the  parents  of  the  pupils  : 


Farmers 2 

Policemen 

Government  officer 

Town  officer 

Citj'  officer 

Bank  officer 

Doctor 


Mechanics 44 

Merchants ig 

Manufacturers 13 

Clerks  and  salesmen _  11 

Laborers g 

Supts.  or  foremen  of  factory 7 

Contractors 4 

Retired  from  business 4     Keeper  of  boarding  house 

Clergymen 4     Photographer 

Builders 3     Undertaker--- , 

Teachers 3     Coachman.-. 

Laborers 3     Truckman --. 

Printers - 2 

In  addition  to  the  above  there  were  the  children  of  twenty-seven  widows  in 
attendance,  making  in  all  one  hundred  and  sixty-seven  families  represented  in  the 
school.     In  other  words,  this  high  school  fairly  represents  all  classes  in  the  city. 


686 


History  of  Stratford. 


BASEMENT    PLAN    OF    NOS.    2    AND    9. 


Bridgeport. 


687 


PLAN   OF    FIRST   AND    SECOND    STORIES    OF    NOS.    2    AND    9. 


688  History  of  Stratford. 

The  rooms  for  the  accommodation  of  the  Board  of  Edu- 
cation are  now  in  the  United  Bank  Building,  corner  of  Main 
and  Bank  streets,  they  being  very  pleasant  and  commodious. 

The  population  of  the  town  of  Bridgeport — including  the 
city — as  estimated  by  school  enumeration,  was  in  1876-7, 
24,745,  and  in  January,  1886,  39,006.  In  1876  there  were  78 
teachers,  and  in  1886,  120. 

The  cost  per  scholar  of  maintaining  the  Bridgeport 
schools,  compared  with  others  in  the  State  as  reported  by 
the  State  Board  of  Education  for  the  3^ear  1884,  is  as  follows: 
Hartford,  $34.19;  Norwich,  $23.45;  New  Britain,  $23.35; 
New  Haven,  $22.81;  Stamford,  $21.41;  Norwalk,  $20.05; 
Meriden,  $19.65;  Waterbur_y,  $19,52;  New  London,  $19.33; 
Danbury,  $19.17  ;  Middletown,  $19.03  ;  Bridgeport,  $15.43. 

The  officers  of  the  Board  of  Education  for  1885-6  are: 
Julius  S.  Hanover,  President;  Nathaniel  Wheeler,  Vice-Presi- 
dent; Morris  B.  Beardsley,  Secretary.  The  members  of  the 
board  are:  Peter  W.  Wren,  Henry  Cowd,  Frederick  Hurd, 
Marshall  E.  Morris,  Morris  B.  Beardsley,  Emory  F.  Strong, 
William  B.  Hincks,  Thomas  F.  Martin,  Julius  S.  Hanover, 
Nathaniel  Wheeler,  David  Ginand,  John  H.  Colgan.  H.  M. 
Harrington,  Superintendent  of  Schools. 

The  Bridgeport  Public  Tdhrary  and  Heading 
Mooin  has  acquired  a  high  position  in  the  estimation  and 
care  of  the  citizens  of  Bridgeport,  as  the  beginning  of  what 
they  hope  to  make  a  large  and  influential  institution  of  culture 
in  the  city.  About  sixty  years  ago  a  boy  wrote  some  brief 
articles  which  were  printed  in  a  newspaper  of  Bridgeport, 
and  in  them  called  for  a  public  meeting  of  citizens  for  the 
purpose  of  establishing  a  public  library.  The  meeting  was 
held  by  a  few  persons,  the  boy  being  among  them,  but  he  did 
not  at  that  time  let  it  be  known  that  he  wrote  the  articles 
and  called  the  meeting.  The  result  of  the  meeting  was  that 
a  library  was  established  about,  perhaps,  a  )^ear  or  two  before 
1830.  This  library  was  continued  until  about  1855,  when  it 
purchased  the  library  of  the  Calliopean  Literary  Society  of 
Yale  College,  which  had  disbanded,  numbering  about  1,000 
volumes,  and  the  Bridgeport  Library  Association  was  estab- 


Bridgeport. 


689 


lished  December  7,  1857.  For  many  years  it  was  supported 
as  a  subscription  library,  charging  a  fee  for  membership  and 
its  privileges. 


BURROUGHS    PUBLIC    LIBRARY    BUILDING. 


In  1881  Mr.  Clarence  Sterling,  calling  upon  Mr.  John  D. 
Candee,  then  editor  of  the  Bridgeport  "  Standard,"  requested 
that  the  "  Standard"  would  favor  the  establishing  of  a  free 


690  History  of  Stratford. 

public  library,  in  accordance  with  a  recent  law  of  the  State, 
granting  such  libraries  to  towns  and  cities,  to  be  supported  by 
a  tax  on  the  grand  list."  Mr.  Candee  cheerfully  took  up  the 
matter  and  Mr.  Sterling  started  a  petition  to  the  Common 
Council  of  the  city.  Then  upon  consultation  with  Hon.  D. 
B.  Lockwood,  president  of  the  old  library  association,  and 
others  interested  in  it,  that  library  was  offered  to  the  new 
project  upon  condition  that  the  debts  of  the  old  society, 
amounting  to  about  $800,  should  be  assumed  by  the  new 
society,  which  was  accepted.  Upon  the  matter  coming 
before  the  Common  Council  the  motion  which  gave  to 
Bridgeport  a  free  public  library  was  carried  with  but  one 
dissenting  vote,  and  the  Mayor,  Hon.  John  L,  Wessels, 
appointed  the  following  board  of  officers :  W.  D.  Bishop, 
President;  John  D.  Candee,  Vice-President;  Charles  Sher- 
wood, Secretary  ;  William  B.  Hincks,  Treasurer ;  and  Fred- 
erick Hurd,  W.  J.  Hills,  S.  S.  Blake,  and  Bernard  Winghofer, 
who  held  their  first  meeting  July  2,  1881. 

By  the  lamented  death  of  Mr.  Winghofer,  the  removal 
from  the  city  of  Mr.  Blake,  and  the  resignation  of  the  Hon. 
W.  D.  Bishop,  three  changes  have  since  taken  place  in  the 
board.  The  successors  of  these  gentlemen  are  A.  B.  Beers, 
Patrick  Coughlin,  and  W.  D.  Bishop,  Jr. 

The  rooms  of  the  old  library  association,  at  440  Main 
street,  were  altered  and  enlarged,  and  on  the  loth  of  January, 
1882,  the  Bridgeport  Public  Library  and  Reading  Room 
opened  its  doors.  The  first  ticket  of  membership  was  issued 
to  P.  T.  Barnum — occupation,  showman — guarantor,  James 
Staples.  By  the  first  of  June  the  new  library  had  3,193 
members,  and  had  circulated  36,547  volumes.  The  difficulties 
arising  from  the  small  number  of  books  were  tided  over  by 
the  gift  of  a  hundred  dollars  from  Mrs.  James  C.  Loomis,  and 
the  purchase  by  the  Hon.  P.  T.  Barnum  of  a  thousand  dollars 
worth  of  the  best  recent  works  in  science  and  general  litera- 
ture. The  original  library  hours  were  from  2  to  10  P.  M. 
daily ;  but  it  soon  became  necessary  to  open  the  institution 
from  9  A.  M.  to  10  P.  M.     In  November,  1882,  at  the  request  of 

^^  Manuscript  of  J.  D.  Candee. 


Bridgeport.  691 

many  intelligent  workingmen,  the  directors  resolved  to  try 
the  experiment  of  Sunday  opening,  hitherto  only  attempted 
in  the  New  England  States  by  the  public  libraries  of  Boston 
and  Worcester.  The  change  was  so  greatly  appreciated  that 
in  1884  they  determined  to  conduct  the  library  on  the  "  never- 
closing"  system,  and  the  reading  room  is  now  open  every  day 
in  the  year. 

In  January,  1883,  Mrs.  Catharine  A.  Pettengill  bequeathed 
to  the  public  library  the  valuable  property  known  as  the 
Burroughs  Building,  in  order  that  it  might  be  converted  into 
a  permanent  home  for  the  institution.  The  money  accruing 
from  the  rental  of  the  building  has  been  left  to  accumulate 
towards  paying  for  its  alteration,  and  it  is  hoped  that  the 
library  will  occupy  its  new  quarters  by  the  winter  of  1887. 

In  1884  the  Hon.  W.  D.  Bishop  resigned  the  office  of 
president,  and  was  succeeded  by  John  D.  Candee,  Esq.,  who 
had  rendered  the  library  much  valuable  service  as  vice-presi- 
dent and  member  of  the  book  committee.  The  career  of  the 
library  has  been  one  of  unbroken  success.  During  the  year 
ending  July  i,  1885,  9i;030  books  were  circulated  for  home 
use,  and  15,160  were  consulted  in  the  reading  room.  The 
present  membership  is  above  7,000.  The  number  of  volumes 
contained  in  the  library  is  16,400.^* 

Officers  of  the  public  library  for  the  year  1885:  Presi- 
dent, John  D.  Candee;  Vice-President,  Frederick  Hurd  ; 
Secretary,  Charles  Sherwood  ;  Treasurer,  William  D.  Bishop, 
Jr.  The  present  members  of  the  board  of  directors  are: 
William  D.  Bishop,  Jr.,  Frederick  Hurd,  William  J.  Hills, 
William  B.  Hincks,  Charles  Sherwood,  Alfred  B.  Beers, 
David  B.  Lockwood,  John  D.  Candee,  Patrick  Caughlin. 
Librarian,  Mrs.  Agnes  Hills;  Assistant  Librarian,  William  J. 
Hills;  Attendants,  Theodore  F.  Crane,  Jr.,  Robert  Bruce 
Nelson. 

Mev.  Henry  Jones,  son  of  Daniel  and  Rhoda  (Mather) 
Jones,  was  born  in  Hartford,  Conn.,  October  15,  1801,  gradu- 
ated at  Yale  College  in  the  class  of  1820,  and  graduated  at 
Andover  Theological  Seminary  in   1824.     He  married   Eliza 

^•^  Manuscript  ofWilliam  J.  Hill. 


692  History  of  Stratford. 

S.  Webster,  daughter  of  Noah  Webster,  LL.D.,  September  5 
1825,  and  was  ordained  pastor  of  the  second  society  in  Berlin 
— now  the  first  Congregational  society  of  New  Britain 
October  12,  1825.  He  was  dismissed  at  his  own  request 
December  19,  1827,  and  in  the  following  year  opened  a  select 
school  for  young  ladies  at  Greenfield,  Mass.,  which  he  con- 
ducted with  success  nearly  ten  years. 

In  1838  he  removed  to  Bridgeport  and  erected  a  cottage 
he  ever  afterward  occupied  on  the  western  slope  of  Golden 
Hill.  Here  he  opened  a  classical  school  for  young  men  and 
boys,  and  continued  it  with  much  success  as  to  reputation 
and  income,  over  thirty  years,  when  he  gradually  closed  his 
school  and  ceased  active  labor. 

When  he  came  to  Bridgeport  he  connected  himself  with 
the  First  Congregational  Church,  of  which  he  remained  a 
valued  and  useful  member  until  his  decease,  November  9, 
187S.  The  golden  wedding  of  himself  and  wife  was  observe^ 
in  September,  1875,  and  was  a  memorable  occasion.  Hi', 
children  were:  Frances  Julia,  who  married  Rev.  Thomas  Khi 
Beecher;  Emily  Ellsworth,  married  Daniel  J.  Day,  died  Jul 
23,  1869,  leaving  one  son,  Robert  Webster  Day,  the  onl} 
grandchild ;  Eliza  Webster,  died  in  infancy ;  Henry  Web- 
ster, M.D.,  of  Chicago. 


Golden  Hill  Heminavy  for  young  ladies  and  children 
is  located  on  Golden  Hill  street,  an  elevated  locality,  in  th 
city  of  Bridgeport;  Miss  Emily  Nelson  being  the  proprietc  ^ 
and  principal.  Miss  Nelson  came  from  New  York  Cit;  1 
purchased  the  old  homestead  of  Alfred  Bishop,  and  estal^ 
lished  her  school  here  in  1880.  The  school  has  a  first  clasc 
standing  and  reputation  in  every  respect,  and  the  principal  is 
highly  esteemed  by  the  citizens  of  Bridgeport. 


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